Godattattheragāthā

Theragāthā 14.2

Verses of the Senior Monks 14.2

Cuddasakanipāta

The Book of the Fourteens

Paṭhamavagga

Chapter One

Godattattheragāthā

Godatta

“Yathāpi bhaddo ājañño,

Just as a fine thoroughbred,

dhure yutto dhurassaho;

yoked to a carriage, endures the load.

Mathito atibhārena,

Though oppressed by the heavy burden,

saṁyugaṁ nātivattati.

it doesn’t shake off the yoke.

Evaṁ paññāya ye tittā,

So too, those who are as full of wisdom

samuddo vārinā yathā;

as the ocean is with water,

Na pare atimaññanti,

don’t look down on others;

ariyadhammova pāṇinaṁ.

this is the teaching of the noble ones
for living creatures.

Kāle kālavasaṁ pattā,

People who fall under the sway of time,

bhavābhavavasaṁ gatā;

the sway of rebirth in this or that state,

Narā dukkhaṁ nigacchanti,

undergo suffering,

tedha socanti māṇavā.

and those young men grieve in this life.

Unnatā sukhadhammena,

Elated by things that bring happiness,

dukkhadhammena conatā;

downcast by things that bring suffering:

Dvayena bālā haññanti,

this pair destroys the fool

yathābhūtaṁ adassino.

who doesn’t see things as they are.

Ye ca dukkhe sukhasmiñca,

But those who in suffering, and in happiness,

majjhe sibbinimaccagū;

and in the middle have overcome the weaver—

Ṭhitā te indakhīlova,

they stand like Indra’s pillar,

na te unnataonatā.

neither elated nor downcast.

Na heva lābhe nālābhe,

Not to gain nor loss,

na yase na ca kittiyā;

not to fame nor reputation,

Na nindāyaṁ pasaṁsāya,

not to criticism nor praise,

na te dukkhe sukhamhi ca.

not to suffering nor happiness—

Sabbattha te na limpanti,

the wise cling to nothing,

udabinduva pokkhare;

like a droplet on a lotus-leaf.

Sabbattha sukhitā dhīrā,

They are happy everywhere,

sabbattha aparājitā.

and victorious everywhere.

Dhammena ca alābho yo,

There’s legitimate loss,

yo ca lābho adhammiko;

and there’s illegitimate gain.

Alābho dhammiko seyyo,

Legitimate loss is better

yañce lābho adhammiko.

than illegitimate gain.

Yaso ca appabuddhīnaṁ,

There’s the fame of the unintelligent,

viññūnaṁ ayaso ca yo;

and there’s the disrepute of the discerning.

Ayasova seyyo viññūnaṁ,

The disrepute of the discerning is better

na yaso appabuddhinaṁ.

than the fame of the unintelligent.

Dummedhehi pasaṁsā ca,

There’s praise by simpletons,

viññūhi garahā ca yā;

and there’s criticism by the discerning.

Garahāva seyyo viññūhi,

Criticism by the discerning is better

yañce bālappasaṁsanā.

than praise by fools.

Sukhañca kāmamayikaṁ,

There’s the happiness of sensual pleasures,

dukkhañca pavivekiyaṁ;

and there’s the suffering of seclusion.

Pavivekadukkhaṁ seyyo,

The suffering of seclusion is better

yañce kāmamayaṁ sukhaṁ.

than the happiness of sensual pleasures.

Jīvitañca adhammena,

There’s life without principles,

dhammena maraṇañca yaṁ;

and there’s death with principles.

Maraṇaṁ dhammikaṁ seyyo,

Death with principles is better

yañce jīve adhammikaṁ.

than life without principles.

Kāmakopappahīnā ye,

Those who’ve given up desire and anger,

santacittā bhavābhave;

their minds at peace
regarding rebirth in this or that state,

Caranti loke asitā,

wander in the world unattached,

natthi tesaṁ piyāpiyaṁ.

for them nothing is beloved or unloved.

Bhāvayitvāna bojjhaṅge,

Having developed the awakening factors,

indriyāni balāni ca;

the faculties and the powers,

Pappuyya paramaṁ santiṁ,

having arrived at ultimate peace,

parinibbantināsavā”ti.

the undefiled become fully quenched.

… Godatto thero …

Cuddasakanipāto niṭṭhito.

Tatruddānaṁ

Revato ceva godatto,

therā dve te mahiddhikā;

Cuddasamhi nipātamhi,

gāthāyo aṭṭhavīsatīti.