Not identified; unlike the previous six poems, this one describes Vīrā in the third person rather than addressing her directly
Form
A single four-line verse, nothing more
Length
under 1 minute to read
Northern parallel
This reading guide does not assert a specific matching text for this poem in other Buddhist literatures.
Difficulty
★★☆☆☆ — the book's first shift into third-person description
Why this text
Every poem so far in this book has addressed its subject directly, in the second person — ‘Muttā, be released’, ‘Dhīrā, touch cessation’. This poem breaks that pattern: it describes Vīrā from outside, in the third person, explaining her name and naming Māra as the opponent she has already defeated.
Reading guide
A shift from address to description
Where Thig 1.2 through 1.6 speak to their subjects directly, this poem speaks about Vīrā: ‘she's known as Vīrā because of her heroic qualities’ — an outside voice explaining who she is, rather than instructing her.
A name's meaning stated outright, not just played on
Where Muttā's and Puṇṇā's poems relied on the reader recognizing the wordplay in their names, this verse states the connection directly: Vīrā is called that ‘because of her heroic qualities’ — vīra meaning ‘hero’ or ‘heroic’.
An achievement stated as already complete
Unlike the instructive tone of the previous poems, this verse describes something finished: ‘she bears her final body, having vanquished Māra with his legions’ — not encouragement toward a goal, but a report of it already won.
Māra named for the first time in this book
This is the first poem in the Book of the Ones to name Māra — the personification of death and temptation that recurs across the canon as the tradition's central antagonist — described here as defeated along with his forces.
Key terms
Vīrā — a nun's name, related to vīra, “hero” or “heroic” — the verse states this connection directly.
indriya — “faculties” — what the verse says Vīrā has developed, referring to the mental and spiritual capacities cultivated through practice.
Māra — the personification of death and temptation, the tradition's recurring antagonist figure, named here as defeated ‘with his legions’.
antimadeha — “final body” — the description applied to Vīrā, indicating she will not be reborn again.
cariyā — not used here; this poem, like several others in the book, closes with no formula naming a perfection, unlike the Cariyapitaka's uniform convention.
The text
The text in full: a single four-line verse, with no attribution. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
§1She’s known as Vīrā because of her heroic qualities, a nun with faculties developed. She bears her final body, having vanquished Māra with his legions.
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Self-check quiz
Ten questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.
Question 1 of 10
How does this poem's perspective differ from Thig 1.2–1.6?
Correct: B. The book's first shift from second-person address to third-person description.
Question 2 of 10
What does the verse say Vīrā's name reflects?
Correct: B. Stated directly, unlike the implicit wordplay in earlier poems.
Question 3 of 10
What does 'she bears her final body' indicate?
Correct: B. A statement of completed attainment, not an instruction toward one.
Question 4 of 10
Who is named as defeated in this verse?
Correct: B. The first appearance of Māra in this book.
Question 5 of 10
What does Māra personify in the wider tradition?
Correct: B. The tradition's recurring antagonist figure.
Question 6 of 10
What does 'indriya' mean in this verse?
Correct: A. Named as something Vīrā possesses, already developed.
Question 7 of 10
How does this poem's tone compare to the instructive tone of Thig 1.2–1.6?
Correct: B. A shift from encouragement toward a goal to a report of it already won.
Question 8 of 10
What position does this poem hold in the Book of the Ones?
Correct: B. Following Dhīrā's verse.
Question 9 of 10
Does this poem have a closing attribution?
Correct: B. Continuing the bare, unattributed pattern of several poems in this book.
Question 10 of 10
What does 'antimadeha' describe?
Correct: B. Applied to Vīrā as a statement of her attainment.
