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 This is an example of a more creative translation that does not change the doctrine, although it uses very outdated and somewhat Christianized terms.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