{"collection":"Khuddaka Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_thig15.1/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_thig15.1","id":"suttacentral_thig15.1","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/thig15.1/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Khuddaka Nikaya"],"text":"In P\u0101\u1e6daliputta, the cream of the world, the city named for a flower, there were two nuns from the Sakyan clan, both of them ladies of quality. One was named Isid\u0101s\u012b, the second Bodh\u012b. They both were accomplished in ethics, lovers of meditation and chanting, learned, crushing corruptions. They wandered for alms and had their meal. When they had washed their bowls, they sat happily in a private place and started a conversation. \u201cYou\u2019re so lovely, Mistress Isid\u0101s\u012b, your youth has not yet faded. What problem did you see that made you dedicate your life to renunciation?\u201d Being pressed like this in private, Isid\u0101s\u012b, skilled in teaching Dhamma, voiced the following words. \u201cBodh\u012b, hear how I went forth. In the fine town of Ujjen\u012b, my father was a financier, a good and moral man. I was his only daughter, dear, beloved, and cherished. Then some suitors came for me from the top family of S\u0101keta. They were sent by a financier abounding in wealth, to whom my father then gave me as daughter-in-law. Come morning and come evening, I bowed with my head to the feet of my father and mother-in-law, just as I had been told. Whenever I saw my husband\u2019s sisters, his brothers, his servants, or even he, my one and only, I nervously gave them a seat. Whatever they wanted\u2014food and drink, treats, or whatever was in the cupboard\u2014 I brought out and offered to them, ensuring each got what was fitting. Having risen bright and early, I approached the main house, washed my hands and feet, and went to my husband with cupped palms. Taking a comb, adornments, eyeshadow, and a mirror, I myself did the makeup for my husband, as if I were his beautician. I myself cooked the rice; I myself washed the pots. I looked after my husband like a mother her only child. Thus I showed my devotion to him, a loyal, virtuous, and humble servant, getting up early, and working tirelessly: yet still my husband did me wrong. He said to his mother and father: \u2018I\u2019ll take my leave and go, I can\u2019t stand to live together with Isid\u0101s\u012b staying in the same house.\u2019 \u2018Son, don\u2019t speak like this! Isid\u0101s\u012b is astute and competent, she gets up early and works tirelessly, son, why doesn\u2019t she please you?\u2019 \u2018She hasn\u2019t done anything to hurt me, but I just can\u2019t stand to live with her. As far as I\u2019m concerned, she\u2019s just detestable. I\u2019ve had enough, I\u2019ll take my leave and go.\u2019 When they heard his words, my father-in-law and mother-in-law asked me: \u2018What did you do wrong? Boldly tell how it occurred.\u2019 \u2018I\u2019ve done nothing wrong, I haven\u2019t hurt him, or said anything bad. What can I possibly do, when my husband finds me so hateful?\u2019 They led me back to my father\u2019s home, distraught, overcome with suffering, and said: \u2018By caring for our son, we\u2019ve lost her, so lovely and lucky!\u2019 Next my dad gave me to the household of a second wealthy family-man. For this he got half the bride-price of that which the financier paid. In his house I also lived a month, before he too wanted me gone; though I served him like a slave, virtuous and doing no wrong. My father then spoke to a beggar for alms, a tamer of others and of himself: \u2018Be my son-in-law; set aside your tonsure-cloth and pot.\u2019 He stayed a fortnight before he said to my dad: \u2018Give me back my tonsure-cloth, my pot and my mug\u2014 I\u2019ll wander begging again.\u2019 So then my mum and my dad and my whole group of relatives said: \u2018What has not been done for you here? Quickly, tell us what we can do for you!\u2019 When they spoke to him like this he said, \u2018If I can make do for myself, that is enough. I can\u2019t stand to live together with Isid\u0101s\u012b staying in the same house.\u2019 Released, he left. But I sat all alone contemplating: \u2018Having taken my leave, I\u2019ll go, either to die or to go forth.\u2019 But then Mistress Jinadatt\u0101, learned and virtuous, who had memorized the monastic law, came resorting to my dad\u2019s house for alms. When I saw her, I rose from my seat and prepared it for her. When she had taken her seat, I honored her feet and offered her a meal, satiating her with food and drink, treats, or whatever was in the cupboard. Then I said: \u2018Ma\u2019am, I wish to go forth!\u2019 But my dad said to me: \u2018Child, practice Dhamma right here then! With food and drink satisfy ascetics and the twice-born.\u2019 Then I said to my dad, crying, my cupped palms raised to him: \u2018I\u2019ve done bad things in the past; I shall wear that bad deed away.\u2019 And my dad said to me: \u2018May you attain awakening, the highest state, and may you find the extinguishment that was realized by the best of men!\u2019 I bowed down to my mother and father, and my whole group of relatives; and then, seven days after going forth, I realized the three knowledges. I know my last seven lives; I shall relate to you the deeds of which this life is the fruit and result: focus your whole mind on that. In the city of Erakacca I was a goldsmith with lots of money. Drunk on the pride of youth, I had sex with someone else\u2019s wife. Having passed away from there, I burned in hell for a long time. Rising up from there I was conceived in a monkey\u2019s womb. When I was only seven days old, I was castrated by the monkey chief. This was the fruit of that deed, because of adultery with another\u2019s wife. Having passed away from there, passing away in Sindhava grove, I was conceived in the womb of a lame, one-eyed she-goat. I carried children on my back for twelve years, and all the while I was castrated, worm-eaten, and tail-less, because of adultery with another\u2019s wife. Having passed away from there, I was reborn in a cow owned by a cattle merchant. A red calf, castrated, for twelve months I drew a big plow. I shouldered a cart, blind, tail-less, feeble, because of adultery with another\u2019s wife. Having passed away from there, I was born of a slave in the street, with neither male nor female parts, because of adultery with another\u2019s wife. I died at thirty years of age, and was reborn as a girl in a carter\u2019s family. We were poor, of little wealth, greatly oppressed by creditors. Because of the massive interest we owed, I was dragged away screaming, taken by force from the family home by a caravan leader. When I was sixteen years old, seeing I was a girl of marriageable age, his son confined me as his wife\u2014 Girid\u0101sa was his name. He also had another wife, a virtuous and well-known lady of quality, loyal to her husband; yet I stirred up resentment in her. As the fruit of that deed, they abandoned me and left, though I served them like a slave. Now I\u2019ve made an end to this as well.\u201d","title":"Isid\u0101s\u012b","tradition":"Khuddaka Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":1192}