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# Thig 6:3 · Khemā
- URL: https://www.journal.ninthheaven.co/civilisation/trad-buddhism/thig-6-3/
- Published: 2026-06-01T00:18:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-07-13T16:52:12.000Z
- Description: Therīgāthā · Thig 6:3. Translated by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu.
- Author: Ninth Heaven Literature & Arts Association (NHLAA)
- Tags: Buddhism, Sutta Piṭaka, Text, Indian, The Elder Nuns, Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu, Therīgāthā, Verse, Pali, Early Buddhist, Library

*In [SN 5:4](https://www.journal.ninthheaven.co/civilisation/trad-buddhism/sn-5-4/), a variation of the verse attributed to Māra, and the first verse attributed here to Sister Khemā, are included in a poem attributed to Sister Vijayā (see [Thig 6:8](https://www.journal.ninthheaven.co/civilisation/trad-buddhism/thig-6-8/)). Sister Khema’s second verse is attributed to Sister Aḷavikā in [SN 5:1](https://www.journal.ninthheaven.co/civilisation/trad-buddhism/sn-5-1/). Her third verse also appears in [Thig 7:2](https://www.journal.ninthheaven.co/civilisation/trad-buddhism/thig-7-2/); its first half, in [SN 5:3](https://www.journal.ninthheaven.co/civilisation/trad-buddhism/sn-5-3/).*

Māra:

“You, a beautiful young woman;

I, a young man, full of youth.

Come, Khemā,

let’s enjoy ourselves

to the music of a five-piece band.”

Khemā:

“I’m disgusted, ashamed

of this putrid body—

disintegrating, dissolving.

Sensual craving

is rooted out.

Sensual pleasures

are like swords & spears;

the aggregates,

their executioner’s block.

What you call *sensual delight*

is *no delight* for me.

Everywhere enjoyment

is defeated;

the mass of darkness,

burst.

So know, Evil One,

that you have been,

End-maker,

struck down.”

\* \* \*

Paying homage to the zodiac stars,

tending the fire in the forest,

not knowing it as it actually was,

fools, you conceived it

as purity.

Whereas I

am one who pays homage

to the One Self-awakened,

the utmost man.

I’m one who has done the Teacher’s bidding,

entirely released

from sufferings & stress.

---

*Translated by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu. © 2014 / rev. 2017 Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu — released under the [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/?ref=journal.ninthheaven.co) licence, for free distribution only. Source: [dhammatalks.org](https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/KN/Thig/thig6%5F3.html?ref=journal.ninthheaven.co) (Metta Forest Monastery).*