Selattheragāthā

Theragāthā 16.6

Verses of the Senior Monks 16.6

Vīsatinipāta

The Book of the Twenties

Paṭhamavagga

Chapter One

Selattheragāthā

Sela

“Paripuṇṇakāyo suruci,

“O Blessed One, your body’s perfect,

Sujāto cārudassano;

you’re radiant, handsome, lovely to behold;

Suvaṇṇavaṇṇosi bhagavā,

golden colored,

Susukkadāṭhosi vīriyavā.

with teeth so white; you’re strong.

Narassa hi sujātassa,

The characteristics

ye bhavanti viyañjanā;

of a handsome man,

Sabbe te tava kāyasmiṁ,

the marks of a great man,

mahāpurisalakkhaṇā.

are all found on your body.

Pasannanetto sumukho,

Your eyes are clear, your face is fair,

brahā uju patāpavā;

you’re formidable, upright, majestic.

Majjhe samaṇasaṅghassa,

In the midst of the Saṅgha of ascetics,

ādiccova virocasi.

you dazzle like the sun.

Kalyāṇadassano bhikkhu,

You’re a mendicant fine to see,

kañcanasannibhattaco;

with skin that shines like lustrous gold.

Kiṁ te samaṇabhāvena,

But with such excellent appearance,

evaṁ uttamavaṇṇino.

what do you want with the ascetic life?

Rājā arahasi bhavituṁ,

You’re fit to be a king,

cakkavattī rathesabho;

a wheel-turning monarch, chief of charioteers,

Cāturanto vijitāvī,

victorious in the four quarters,

jambusaṇḍassa issaro.

lord of the Black Plum Tree Land.

Khattiyā bhogī rājāno,

Aristocrats, nobles, and kings

anuyantā bhavanti te;

ought follow your rule.

Rājābhirājā manujindo,

Gotama, may you reign

rajjaṁ kārehi gotama”.

as king of kings, lord of mankind!”

“Rājāhamasmi sela,

“I am a king, Sela”,

(selāti bhagavā)

said the Buddha to Sela,

Dhammarājā anuttaro;

“the supreme king of the teaching.

Dhammena cakkaṁ vattemi,

By the teaching I roll forth the wheel

Cakkaṁ appaṭivattiyaṁ”.

which cannot be rolled back.”

“Sambuddho paṭijānāsi,

“You claim to be awakened,”

(iti selo brāhmaṇo)

said Sela the brahmin,

Dhammarājā anuttaro;

“the supreme king of the teaching.

‘Dhammena cakkaṁ vattemi’,

‘I roll forth the teaching’:

Iti bhāsatha gotama.

so you say, Gotama.

Ko nu senāpati bhoto,

Then who is your general,

sāvako satthuranvayo;

the disciple who follows the Teacher’s way?

Ko tetamanuvatteti,

Who keeps rolling the wheel

dhammacakkaṁ pavattitaṁ”.

of the teaching you rolled forth?”

“Mayā pavattitaṁ cakkaṁ,

“By me the wheel was rolled forth,”

(selāti bhagavā)

said the Buddha,

Dhammacakkaṁ anuttaraṁ;

“the supreme wheel of the teaching.

Sāriputto anuvatteti,

Sāriputta, taking after the Realized One,

Anujāto tathāgataṁ.

keeps it rolling on.

Abhiññeyyaṁ abhiññātaṁ,

I have known what should be known,

bhāvetabbañca bhāvitaṁ;

and developed what should be developed,

Pahātabbaṁ pahīnaṁ me,

and given up what should be given up:

tasmā buddhosmi brāhmaṇa.

and so, brahmin, I am a Buddha.

Vinayassu mayi kaṅkhaṁ,

Dispel your doubt in me—

adhimuccassu brāhmaṇa;

make up your mind, brahmin!

Dullabhaṁ dassanaṁ hoti,

The sight of a Buddha

sambuddhānaṁ abhiṇhaso.

is hard to find again.

Yesaṁ ve dullabho loke,

I am a Buddha, brahmin,

pātubhāvo abhiṇhaso;

the supreme surgeon,

Sohaṁ brāhmaṇa buddhosmi,

one of those whose appearance in the world

sallakatto anuttaro.

is hard to find again.

Brahmabhūto atitulo,

A manifestation of divinity, unequaled,

mārasenappamaddano;

crusher of Māra’s army;

Sabbāmitte vase katvā,

having subdued all my opponents,

modāmi akutobhayo”.

I rejoice, fearing nothing from any quarter.”

“Idaṁ bhonto nisāmetha,

“Pay heed, sirs, to what

yathā bhāsati cakkhumā;

is spoken by the Clear-eyed One.

Sallakatto mahāvīro,

The surgeon, the great hero,

sīhova nadatī vane.

roars like a lion in the jungle.

Brahmabhūtaṁ atitulaṁ,

A manifestation of divinity, unequaled,

mārasenappamaddanaṁ;

crusher of Māra’s army;

Ko disvā nappasīdeyya,

who would not be inspired by him,

api kaṇhābhijātiko.

even one born in a dark class?

Yo maṁ icchati anvetu,

Those who wish may follow me;

yo vā nicchati gacchatu;

those who don’t may go.

Idhāhaṁ pabbajissāmi,

Right here, I’ll go forth in his presence,

varapaññassa santike”.

the one of such outstanding wisdom.”

“Etañce ruccati bhoto,

“Sir, if you endorse

sammāsambuddhasāsanaṁ;

the teaching of the Buddha,

Mayampi pabbajissāma,

we’ll also go forth in his presence,

varapaññassa santike”.

the one of such outstanding wisdom.”

“Brāhmaṇā tisatā ime,

“These three hundred brahmins

yācanti pañjalīkatā;

with cupped palms held up, ask:

‘Brahmacariyaṁ carissāma,

‘May we lead the spiritual life

bhagavā tava santike’”.

in your presence, Blessed One?’”

“Svākkhātaṁ brahmacariyaṁ,

“The spiritual life is well explained,”

(selāti bhagavā)

said the Buddha,

Sandiṭṭhikamakālikaṁ;

“apparent in the present life, immediately effective.

Yattha amoghā pabbajjā,

Here the going forth isn’t in vain

Appamattassa sikkhato”.

for one who trains with diligence.”

“Yaṁ taṁ saraṇamāgamha,

“This is the eighth day since

ito aṭṭhame cakkhuma;

we went for refuge, O Clear-eyed One.

Sattarattena bhagavā,

In these seven days, Blessed One,

dantāmha tava sāsane.

we’ve become tamed in your teaching.

Tuvaṁ buddho tuvaṁ satthā,

You are the Buddha, you are the Teacher,

tuvaṁ mārābhibhū muni;

you are the sage who has overcome Māra;

Tuvaṁ anusaye chetvā,

you have cut off the underlying tendencies,

tiṇṇo tāresimaṁ pajaṁ.

you’ve crossed over, and you bring humanity across.

Upadhī te samatikkantā,

You have transcended attachments,

āsavā te padālitā;

your defilements are shattered;

Sīhova anupādāno,

like a lion free of grasping,

pahīnabhayabheravo.

with fear and dread given up.

Bhikkhavo tisatā ime,

These three hundred mendicants

tiṭṭhanti pañjalīkatā;

stand with cupped palms raised.

Pāde vīra pasārehi,

Stretch out your feet, great hero:

nāgā vandantu satthuno”ti.

let these giants bow to the Teacher.”

… Selo thero ….