Vaṅgantaputtaupasenattheragāthā

Theragāthā 10.6

Verses of the Senior Monks 10.6

Dasakanipāta

The Book of the Tens

Paṭhamavagga

Chapter One

Vaṅgantaputtaupasenattheragāthā

Upasena son of Vaṅgantā

“Vivittaṁ appanigghosaṁ,

In order to go on retreat,

vāḷamiganisevitaṁ;

a monk should stay in lodgings

Seve senāsanaṁ bhikkhu,

that are secluded and quiet,

paṭisallānakāraṇā.

frequented by beasts of prey.

Saṅkārapuñjā āhatvā,

Having gathered scraps from rubbish heaps,

susānā rathiyāhi ca;

cemeteries and streets,

Tato saṅghāṭikaṁ katvā,

and making an outer robe from them,

lūkhaṁ dhāreyya cīvaraṁ.

one should wear that coarse robe.

Nīcaṁ manaṁ karitvāna,

Humbling their heart,

sapadānaṁ kulā kulaṁ;

a mendicant should walk for alms

Piṇḍikāya care bhikkhu,

from family to family indiscriminately,

guttadvāro susaṁvuto.

with sense doors guarded, well-restrained.

Lūkhenapi vā santusse,

They should be content even with coarse food,

nāññaṁ patthe rasaṁ bahuṁ;

not hoping for lots of flavors.

Rasesu anugiddhassa,

The mind that’s greedy for flavors

jhāne na ramatī mano.

doesn’t enjoy absorption.

Appiccho ceva santuṭṭho,

With few wishes, content,

pavivitto vase muni;

a sage should live secluded,

Asaṁsaṭṭho gahaṭṭhehi,

mixing with neither

anāgārehi cūbhayaṁ.

householders nor the homeless.

Yathā jaḷo va mūgo va,

They should present themselves

attānaṁ dassaye tathā;

as if stupid or dumb;

Nātivelaṁ sambhāseyya,

an astute person would not speak overly long

saṅghamajjhamhi paṇḍito.

in the midst of the Saṅgha.

Na so upavade kañci,

They would not insult anyone,

upaghātaṁ vivajjaye;

and would avoid causing damage.

Saṁvuto pātimokkhasmiṁ,

Restrained in the monastic code,

mattaññū cassa bhojane.

they would eat in moderation.

Suggahītanimittassa,

Expert in the arising of thought,

cittassuppādakovido;

they would grasp well the pattern of the mind.

Samathaṁ anuyuñjeyya,

They would be devoted to practicing

kālena ca vipassanaṁ.

serenity and discernment at the right time.

Vīriyasātaccasampanno,

Though endowed with energy and persistence,

yuttayogo sadā siyā;

and always devoted to meditation,

Na ca appatvā dukkhantaṁ,

a wise person would not be too sure of themselves,

vissāsaṁ eyya paṇḍito.

until they have attained the end of suffering.

Evaṁ viharamānassa,

For a mendicant who meditates in this way,

suddhikāmassa bhikkhuno;

longing for purification,

Khīyanti āsavā sabbe,

all their defilements wither away,

nibbutiñcādhigacchatī”ti.

and they realize quenching.

… Upaseno vaṅgantaputto thero ….