Psalms of the Brethren CCXXIV: Sundara-Samudda

Adorned and clad to make a gallant show,
Crowned with a wreath and decked with many gems,
Her feet made red with lac, with slippers dight,
A woman of the town accosted me,

Doffing her slippers, greeting hands-to-head,
With soft, sweet tones and opening compliment:

‘So young, so fair, and hast thou left the world —
Stay here within my Rule and Ordinance.
Take thou thy fill of human pleasures. See,
’Tis I will give thee all the means thereto.
Nay, ’tis the truth that I am telling thee.
Or if thou doubt, I’ll bring thee fire and swear.

When thou and I are old, we both of us
Will take our staff to lean upon, and so
We both will leave the world and win both ways.’

Seeing that public woman making plea,
And proffering obeisance gaily decked
In brave array like snare of Mara laid,

Attention to the fact and to the cause.
The misery of it all was manifest;
Distaste, indifference the mind possessed;

And so my heart was set at liberty.
O see the seemly Order of the Norm!
The Threefold Wisdom have I made my own,
And all the Buddha bids us do is done.