01.07 Another Dhīrā (7)

Read aloud in “Ayya Anandabodhi & Matty Weingast’s Dharma Talks at Insight Meditation South Bay – Silicon Valley”

Note: Norman refers to her as “Another Dhīrā” but Weingast and other sources say Virā.

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

7. You are Dhīrā because of your firm (dhīra) mental states; you are a bhikkhuni with developed faculties. Bear your last body, having conquered Māra and his mount.

Weingast

Truly strong

among those

who think themselves

strong.

Truly unafraid

among those

who hide their

fear.

A hero

among those

who talk of heroes.

Don’t be fooled by outward signs—

lifting heavy things

or picking fights with weaker opponents

and running headfirst into battle.

A real hero

walks the Path

to its end.

Then shows others the way.

Bhikkhu Sujato & Jessica Walton

Available for free on SuttaCentral.net.

Sujato & Walton

She’s known as Vīrā because of her heroic qualities,
a nun with faculties developed.
She bears her final body,
having vanquished Māra and his mount.

Weingast

Truly strong

among those

who think themselves

strong.

Truly unafraid

among those

who hide their

fear.

A hero

among those

who talk of heroes.

Don’t be fooled by outward signs—

lifting heavy things

or picking fights with weaker opponents

and running headfirst into battle.

A real hero

walks the Path

to its end.

Then shows others the way.

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 This is an example of a more creative translation that does not change the doctrine, although it uses very outdated and somewhat Christianized terms.

Davids

Dhīrā, brave 93 Sister! who hath valiantly
Thy faculties in noblest culture trained,
Bear to this end thy last incarnate frame,
For thou hast conquered Māra and his host. (7)

Weingast

Truly strong

among those

who think themselves

strong.

Truly unafraid

among those

who hide their

fear.

A hero

among those

who talk of heroes.

Don’t be fooled by outward signs—

lifting heavy things

or picking fights with weaker opponents

and running headfirst into battle.

A real hero

walks the Path

to its end.

Then shows others the way.

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

7. Nun, with strong effort develop the faculties of faith, energy, mindfulness, concentration and wisdom. Keep on practicing the Dhamma. Having defeated Māra, the evil one, and his army, bear your last body.

Weingast

Truly strong

among those

who think themselves

strong.

Truly unafraid

among those

who hide their

fear.

A hero

among those

who talk of heroes.

Don’t be fooled by outward signs—

lifting heavy things

or picking fights with weaker opponents

and running headfirst into battle.

A real hero

walks the Path

to its end.

Then shows others the way.

Pali

Pali text from the Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka Buddhavasse 2500: World Tipiṭaka Edition in Roman Script.

Pali

“Vīrā vīrehi dhammehi,
bhikkhunī bhāvitindriyā;
Dhāreti antimaṃ dehaṃ,
jetvā māraṃ savāhinin”ti.

Weingast

Truly strong

among those

who think themselves

strong.

Truly unafraid

among those

who hide their

fear.

A hero

among those

who talk of heroes.

Don’t be fooled by outward signs—

lifting heavy things

or picking fights with weaker opponents

and running headfirst into battle.

A real hero

walks the Path

to its end.

Then shows others the way.

Other

2 comments

  1. There’s a loose thematic inspiration in the first three verses, while the remainder is mostly invention.

    The invented verse “Don’t be fooled by outward signs” is confused: if she really is enlightened, then why does Weingast depict her as needing to be lectured on trivialities, such as the insight that “strength” in the Dhamma is not about picking up heavy things?

    The original is pure celebration, Weingast’s inventions are mansplaining.

  2. This was one of the poems I quoted in the phone call with Matty. I had asked him why the “sassy tone” in this and a few other poems and he basically replied “I dunno ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Just came out that way.”

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