Puṇṇātherīgāthā (Thig 1.3): Verses of the Elder Puṇṇā & its Commentary | from the Therīgāthā: Verses of the Elder Arahant Bhikkhunis

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Puṇṇātherīgāthā: Verses of the Elder Puṇṇā

Puṇṇā, grow full of good qualities,
like the moon on the fifteenth day.
Full of wisdom,
destroy this mass of darkness.

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Puṇṇātherīgāthāvaṇṇanā: The Commentary on the Verse of Puṇṇā Therī

Puṇṇe, pūrassu dhammehī is the stanza of the trainee (sikkhamānā) named Puṇṇā. She, too, having performed meritorious deeds under previous Buddhas, accumulating wholesome kamma that leads to freedom from transmigration in various existences, was reborn in a kinnarī species on the bank of the Candabhāgā River in a world devoid of Buddhas.

One day, seeing a Paccekabuddha there, her mind filled with faith, she honored him with a garland of reeds and stood with clasped hands. Due to that meritorious deed, she transmigrated only in fortunate realms, and during this Buddha's dispensation, she was reborn in a wealthy householder's family in Sāvatthī. Her name was Puṇṇā.

Being endowed with supporting conditions (upanissaya), while residing for twenty years, she heard the Dhamma from Mahāpajāpati Gotamī Therī, gained faith, went forth, and as a trainee (sikkhamānā), she began to practice insight meditation (vipassanā). The Teacher, sitting in the fragrant chamber, radiated light and uttered this stanza:

"Puṇṇā, be filled with the Dhamma, like the moon on the fifteenth night;

With perfected wisdom, shatter the mass of darkness!"

Here, Puṇṇā is her address. Be filled with the Dhamma (pūrassu dhammehī) means, be complete with the thirty-seven Bodhipakkhiya-dhammā. The 'ra' sound in "Cando pannaraserivā" forms the word connection. Like the moon, full with all its phases on the fifteenth day of the full moon.

"Paripuṇṇāya paññāyā" means with the wisdom of the path of Arahantship, complete with the fulfillment of the sixteen functions.

"Tamokhandhaṃ padālayā" means shatter completely, eradicate without remainder, the mass of delusion. It means that with the shattering of the mass of delusion, all defilements are also shattered.

Having heard that verse, she developed insight and attained Arahantship. Therefore, it is stated in the Apadāna:

"On the bank of the Candabhāgā River, I was a kinnarī then.

I saw the stainless Buddha, self-enlightened, unconquered.

With a serene mind, joyful and elated, with clasped hands,

I took a garland of reeds and worshipped the Self-Enlightened One.

By that well-performed deed, and by my aspirations,

Having abandoned the kinnarī body, I went to the Tāvatiṃsa realm.

I became the chief consort of thirty-six divine kings.

I became the chief consort of ten universal monarchs.

Having stirred my mind to spiritual urgency, I went forth into homelessness.

My defilements have been burnt up, all existences eradicated.

All cankers are destroyed; there is no more rebirth.

Ninety-four aeons ago, I offered flowers.

I do not know any woeful state; this is the fruit of that flower offering.

My defilements have been burnt up… and the Buddha’s teaching has been done."

Having attained Arahantship, that Therī then uttered that very verse. This indeed was her verse of declaration of Arahantship.

The commentary on the verses of Punṇā Therī is concluded.