Pārāpariyattheragāthā

Theragāthā 16.10

Verses of the Senior Monks 16.10

Vīsatinipāta

The Book of the Twenties

Paṭhamavagga

Chapter One

Pārāpariyattheragāthā

Pārāsariya (3rd)

Samaṇassa ahu cintā,

This thought came to the ascetic

pupphitamhi mahāvane;

in the forest full of flowers,

Ekaggassa nisinnassa,

as he was seated alone

pavivittassa jhāyino.

meditating in seclusion:

“Aññathā lokanāthamhi,

“The behavior of the mendicants

tiṭṭhante purisuttame;

these days seems different

Iriyaṁ āsi bhikkhūnaṁ,

from when the protector of the world,

aññathā dāni dissati.

the best of men, was still here.

Sītavātaparittāṇaṁ,

Their robes were only for covering the private parts,

hirikopīnachādanaṁ;

and protection from the cold and wind.

Mattaṭṭhiyaṁ abhuñjiṁsu,

They ate in moderation,

santuṭṭhā itarītare.

content with whatever they were offered.

Paṇītaṁ yadi vā lūkhaṁ,

Whether food was fine or coarse,

appaṁ vā yadi vā bahuṁ;

a little or a lot,

Yāpanatthaṁ abhuñjiṁsu,

they ate only for sustenance,

agiddhā nādhimucchitā.

without greed or gluttony.

Jīvitānaṁ parikkhāre,

They weren’t so very eager

bhesajje atha paccaye;

for the requisites of life,

Na bāḷhaṁ ussukā āsuṁ,

such as tonics and other necessities,

yathā te āsavakkhaye.

as they were for the ending of defilements.

Araññe rukkhamūlesu,

In the wilderness, at a tree’s root,

kandarāsu guhāsu ca;

in caves and caverns,

Vivekamanubrūhantā,

fostering seclusion,

vihaṁsu tapparāyaṇā.

they lived with that as their final goal.

Nīcā niviṭṭhā subharā,

They were used to simple things, unburdensome,

mudū atthaddhamānasā;

gentle, not pompous at heart,

Abyāsekā amukharā,

unsullied, not scurrilous,

atthacintā vasānugā.

their thoughts were intent on the goal.

Tato pāsādikaṁ āsi,

That’s why they inspired confidence,

gataṁ bhuttaṁ nisevitaṁ;

in their movements, eating, and practice;

Siniddhā teladhārāva,

their deportment was as smooth

ahosi iriyāpatho.

as a stream of oil.

Sabbāsavaparikkhīṇā,

With the utter ending of all defilements,

mahājhāyī mahāhitā;

those senior monks have now been quenched.

Nibbutā dāni te therā,

They were great meditators and great benefactors—

parittā dāni tādisā.

there are few like them today.

Kusalānañca dhammānaṁ,

With the ending

paññāya ca parikkhayā;

of good principles and understanding,

Sabbākāravarūpetaṁ,

the victor’s teaching,

lujjate jinasāsanaṁ.

full of all excellent qualities, falls apart.

Pāpakānañca dhammānaṁ,

This is the season

kilesānañca yo utu;

for bad principles and defilements.

Upaṭṭhitā vivekāya,

Those who are ready for seclusion

ye ca saddhammasesakā.

are all that’s left of the true Dhamma.

Te kilesā pavaḍḍhantā,

As they grow, the defilements

āvisanti bahuṁ janaṁ;

possess most people;

Kīḷanti maññe bālehi,

they play with fools, it seems to me,

ummattehiva rakkhasā.

like monsters with the mad.

Kilesehābhibhūtā te,

Overcome by defilements,

tena tena vidhāvitā;

they run here and there

Narā kilesavatthūsu,

among the bases for defilement,

sasaṅgāmeva ghosite.

as if they had declared war on themselves.

Pariccajitvā saddhammaṁ,

Having forsaken the true teaching,

aññamaññehi bhaṇḍare;

they argue with each other.

Diṭṭhigatāni anventā,

Following wrong views

idaṁ seyyoti maññare.

they think, ‘This is better.’

Dhanañca puttaṁ bhariyañca,

They cut off their wealth,

chaḍḍayitvāna niggatā;

children, and wife to go forth.

Kaṭacchubhikkhahetūpi,

But then they do what they shouldn’t,

akicchāni nisevare.

for the sake of a measly spoon of almsfood.

Udarāvadehakaṁ bhutvā,

They eat until their bellies are full,

sayantuttānaseyyakā;

and then they lie to sleep on their backs.

Kathaṁ vattenti paṭibuddhā,

When they wake up, they keep on chatting,

yā kathā satthugarahitā.

the kind of talk the Teacher criticized.

Sabbakārukasippāni,

Valuing all the arts and crafts,

cittiṁ katvāna sikkhare;

they train themselves in them.

Avūpasantā ajjhattaṁ,

Not being settled internally, they think,

sāmaññatthotiacchati.

‘This is the goal of the ascetic life.’

Mattikaṁ telacuṇṇañca,

They provide clay, oil, and talcum powder,

udakāsanabhojanaṁ;

water, lodgings, and food

Gihīnaṁ upanāmenti,

for householders,

ākaṅkhantā bahuttaraṁ.

expecting more in return.

Dantaponaṁ kapitthañca,

And in addition, tooth-picks of white fig,

pupphaṁ khādaniyāni ca;

flowers, food to eat,

Piṇḍapāte ca sampanne,

well-cooked almsfood,

ambe āmalakāni ca.

mangoes and myrobalans.

Bhesajjesu yathā vejjā,

In medicine they are like doctors,

kiccākicce yathā gihī;

in business like householders,

Gaṇikāva vibhūsāyaṁ,

in makeup like prostitutes,

issare khattiyā yathā.

in sovereignty like aristocrats.

Nekatikā vañcanikā,

Cheats, frauds,

kūṭasakkhī apāṭukā;

false witnesses, sly:

Bahūhi parikappehi,

using multiple plans,

āmisaṁ paribhuñjare.

they enjoy things of the flesh.

Lesakappe pariyāye,

Pursuing shams, contrivances, and plans,

parikappenudhāvitā;

by such means

Jīvikatthā upāyena,

they accumulate a lot of wealth

saṅkaḍḍhanti bahuṁ dhanaṁ.

for the sake of their own livelihood.

Upaṭṭhāpenti parisaṁ,

They assemble the community

kammato no ca dhammato;

for business rather than Dhamma.

Dhammaṁ paresaṁ desenti,

They teach the Dhamma to others

lābhato no ca atthato.

for gain, not for the goal.

Saṅghalābhassa bhaṇḍanti,

Those barred from the Saṅgha

saṅghato paribāhirā;

quarrel over the Saṅgha’s property.

Paralābhopajīvantā,

Lacking conscience, they do not care

ahirīkā na lajjare.

that they live on the earnings of others.

Nānuyuttā tathā eke,

Some with shaven head and robe

muṇḍā saṅghāṭipārutā;

are not devoted to practice,

Sambhāvanaṁyevicchanti,

but wish only to be honored,

lābhasakkāramucchitā.

besotted with property and reverence.

Evaṁ nānappayātamhi,

When things have come to this,

na dāni sukaraṁ tathā;

it’s not easy these days

Aphusitaṁ vā phusituṁ,

to realize what has not yet been realized,

phusitaṁ vānurakkhituṁ.

or to preserve what has been realized.

Yathā kaṇṭakaṭṭhānamhi,

When shoeless on a thorny path,

careyya anupāhano;

one would walk

Satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvāna,

very mindfully;

evaṁ gāme munī care.

that’s how a sage should walk in the village.

Saritvā pubbake yogī,

Remembering the meditators of old,

tesaṁ vattamanussaraṁ;

and recollecting their conduct,

Kiñcāpi pacchimo kālo,

even in the latter days,

phuseyya amataṁ padaṁ.

it’s still possible to realize freedom from death.”

Idaṁ vatvā sālavane,

That is what the ascetic, whose faculties

samaṇo bhāvitindriyo;

were fully developed, said in the sāl tree grove.

Brāhmaṇo parinibbāyī,

The brahmin, the seer, became fully extinguished,

isi khīṇapunabbhavo”ti.

putting an end to all future lives.

… Pārāpariyo thero …

Vīsatinipāto niṭṭhito.

Tatruddānaṁ

Adhimutto pārāpariyo,

telakāni raṭṭhapālo;

Mālukyaselo bhaddiyo,

aṅguli dibbacakkhuko;

Pārāpariyo dasete,

vīsamhi parikittitā;

Gāthāyo dve satā honti,

pañcatālīsa uttarinti.