Read aloud in “Pamela Weiss Hosts Matty Weingast”
Weingast, as well as others, title this “Sumangala’s Mother”
Because Weingast’s poem is closer to that of Ajahn Thanissaro’s, it is presented next to that one first. Note: There is not implicit or explicit sexual meaning in the Pali.
Thanissaro Bhikkhu
Ajahn Thanissaro usually formats his poems with lots of indents, so please see his web site for the original format.
Ven Thanissaro
So freed! So freed!
So thoroughly freed am I—
from my pestle,
my shameless husband
& his sun-shade making,
my moldy old pot
with its water-snake smell.
Aversion & passion
I cut with a chop.
Having come to the foot of a tree,
I do jhāna, from the bliss thinking:
“What bliss!”
Weingast
Free.
Finally free
from having to stroke
my husband’s little umbrella
until it stands up straight.
His releases came quickly—
and with lots of grunting.
Mine has taken
a little longer—
and came with
the sound
of straight bamboo
being cleanly sliced
into two even pieces.
I now know for myself
where true release
comes from,
and where it leads.
A seat at the foot of any tree.
KR Norman
KR Norman is one of the foremost modern Pali scholars and translators. His style is to be as precise and literal as possible, avoiding interpretations.
Norman
23. I am well-released, well-released, properly released from the pestle. It [the pestle] is noxious for me like a fungus; the mortar [is noxious] for me like snakes.
24. I destroy desire and hatred with a sizzling sound. Going up to the foot of a tree, [thinking] “O the happiness”, I meditate upon it as happiness.
Weingast
Free.
Finally free
from having to stroke
my husband’s little umbrella
until it stands up straight.
His releases came quickly—
and with lots of grunting.
Mine has taken
a little longer—
and came with
the sound
of straight bamboo
being cleanly sliced
into two even pieces.
I now know for myself
where true release
comes from,
and where it leads.
A seat at the foot of any tree.
Bhikkhu Sujato & Jessica Walton
Sujato & Walton
I’m well freed, well freed,
so very well freed!
My pestle’s shameless wind was wafting;
my little pot wafted like an eel.
Now, as for greed and hate:
I sear them and sizzle them up.
Having gone to the root of a tree,
I meditate happily, thinking, “Oh, what bliss!”
Weingast
Free.
Finally free
from having to stroke
my husband’s little umbrella
until it stands up straight.
His releases came quickly—
and with lots of grunting.
Mine has taken
a little longer—
and came with
the sound
of straight bamboo
being cleanly sliced
into two even pieces.
I now know for myself
where true release
comes from,
and where it leads.
A seat at the foot of any tree.
C.R. Davids & Commentary
Published in 1909, the translation by Caroline Rhys Davids was an attempt to render the verses in the Early Modern English that we associate with the King James Version. She also translated the background story for each nun. This is an example of a more creative translation that does not change the doctrine, although it uses very outdated and somewhat Christianized terms.
From the Commentary: She, too, having made her resolve under former Buddhas, and heaping up good in this rebirth and that, was born under this Buddha-dispensation in a poor family at Sāvatthī, and was married to a rush-plaiter. Her firstborn was a son, come for the last time to birth, who grew up to become the Elder Sumangala and an Arahant.124 And her name not becoming known, she was called in the Pali text a certain unknown Therī, and is known as Sumangala’s mother. She became a Bhikkhunī, and one day, while reflecting on all she had suffered as a laywoman, she was much affected, and, her insight quickening, she attained Arahantship, with thorough knowledge of the form and meaning of the Dhamma. Thereupon she exclaimed:
Davids
O woman well set free! how free am I, 125
How throughly free from kitchen drudgery!
Me stained and squalid ‘mong my cooking-pots
My brutal husband ranked as even less
Than the sunshades he sits and weaves alway.126 (23)
Purged now of all my former lust and hate,
I dwell, musing at ease beneath the shade
Of spreading boughs–O, but ’tis well with me! (24)
Weingast
Free.
Finally free
from having to stroke
my husband’s little umbrella
until it stands up straight.
His releases came quickly—
and with lots of grunting.
Mine has taken
a little longer—
and came with
the sound
of straight bamboo
being cleanly sliced
into two even pieces.
I now know for myself
where true release
comes from,
and where it leads.
A seat at the foot of any tree.
Ven. K Gnanananda Thero
The translations by Ven. K. Gnanananda are somewhat more explanatory and simplified than others. They are a good example of a faithful but non-literal translation.
Ven. Gnanananda
23. You are released from everything. Yes, you are well released. It is good that you are released from the pestle. My husband had no shame whatsoever. I disliked even his umbrella. My pots even stank badly.
24. I destroyed lust and hate with a sizzle and pop. Now, when I go up to the foot of a tree, I think, “Oh, what a wonderful happiness.” I meditate with immense happiness.
Weingast
Free.
Finally free
from having to stroke
my husband’s little umbrella
until it stands up straight.
His releases came quickly—
and with lots of grunting.
Mine has taken
a little longer—
and came with
the sound
of straight bamboo
being cleanly sliced
into two even pieces.
I now know for myself
where true release
comes from,
and where it leads.
A seat at the foot of any tree.
Pali
Pali text from the Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka Buddhavasse 2500: World Tipiṭaka Edition in Roman Script.
Pali
“Sumuttikā sumuttikā,
Sādhumuttikāmhi musalassa;
Ahiriko me chattakaṃ vāpi,
Ukkhalikā me deḍḍubhaṃ vāti.
Rāgañca ahaṃ dosañca,
Cicciṭi cicciṭīti vihanāmi;
Sā rukkhamūlamupagamma,
Aho sukhanti sukhato jhāyāmī”ti.
Weingast
Free.
Finally free
from having to stroke
my husband’s little umbrella
until it stands up straight.
His releases came quickly—
and with lots of grunting.
Mine has taken
a little longer—
and came with
the sound
of straight bamboo
being cleanly sliced
into two even pieces.
I now know for myself
where true release
comes from,
and where it leads.
A seat at the foot of any tree.