The Tale of Kiều
by Nguyễn Du
Ch. 53: Giác Duyên and the Prophetess
Translated by Vuong Thanh 

Chapter 53: Giác Duyên and the Prophetess 

After taking leave of Kiều, Giác Duyên,

with her gourd and bag, took a long pilgrimage.

She met Tam Hợp, the holy nun, 

and talked to her about Kiều and inquired Kiều’s fate:

“Such a loyal person and filial daughter Kiều is.

But why is her life so full of misfortunes?”

The nun replied, “Fortune and misfortune come from the laws of heaven,

but the root cause of it is from a person’s heart. 

Heaven has a hand, but it also come from us.

Living a moral life is the source of happiness, all passions lead to suffering. 

Thúy Kiều is lively and intelligent.

Granted, a sad lot is often reserved for a beautiful woman.

But Kiều kept holding onto man-woman love

and stubbornly enmeshed herself in its web of passions. 

Thus, when she was in those peaceful abodes,

she didn’t stay because she could not sit still.

Demons goaded her, phantoms led her on the wrong path.

Thus she had gone on a journey of heart-rending sorrow. 

After one misfortune came another.

Two times in the brothel, twice in temples.

Within the circle of raised spears and naked swords, 

she lived as a maid with the wolves and the tigers.

In the middle of the tumultuous waves,

she threw herself in the water to tempt the jaws of sea dragons. 

Her misfortunes had always followed her passions.

She knows her pains and the true cause of her sorrows.

She’d have to live a life full of sufferings and die in exile.

A heart-rending fate until the end of her life!”

On hearing her words, Giác Duyên was terrified:

“A whole life! Alas! What would be left of her?”

The prophetess replied, “But it doesn’t matter.

Her fate had been reconsidered with her merits. 

Judging  from her past sins, 

she was trapped in love but did not indulge in sexual lust.

She sacrificed her love to pay her filial debt.

She sold herself and this pious act had touched Heaven’s heart.

She caused the death of one but had saved tens of thousands.

She can tell what’s important and fair, and what’s not. 

Those merits are incomparable. 

Her past sins had now been washed clean. 

When appropriate, heaven knows how to be obliging.

Debt is paid first, then compensation for merits later. 

Giác Duyên – remember your promise to your poor friend - 

at the Chien Tang river, you can have a raft waiting for her.

Thus, you will be faithful to your given word. 

It’s an opportunity from heaven to do what’s blessed.