Sāriputtattheragāthā

Theragāthā 17.2

Verses of the Senior Monks 17.2

Tiṁsanipāta

The Book of the Thirties

Paṭhamavagga

Chapter One

Sāriputtattheragāthā

Sāriputta

“Yathācārī yathāsato satīmā,

“One who’s mindful
as per their conduct and mindfulness,

Yatasaṅkappajjhāyi appamatto;

diligent
as per their intentions and meditation,

Ajjhattarato samāhitatto,

happy inside, serene, solitary, contented:

Eko santusito tamāhu bhikkhuṁ.

that is what they call a mendicant.

Allaṁ sukkhaṁ vā bhuñjanto,

When eating fresh or dried food,

Na bāḷhaṁ suhito siyā;

one shouldn’t be overly replete.

Ūnūdaro mitāhāro,

A mendicant should wander mindfully,

Sato bhikkhu paribbaje.

with empty stomach, taking limited food.

Cattāro pañca ālope,

Four or five mouthfuls before you’re full,

abhutvā udakaṁ pive;

drink some water;

Alaṁ phāsuvihārāya,

this is enough for a resolute mendicant

pahitattassa bhikkhuno.

to live in comfort.

Kappiyaṁ tañce chādeti,

If they cover themselves with a robe

cīvaraṁ idamatthikaṁ;

that’s allowable and fit for purpose;

Alaṁ phāsuvihārāya,

this is enough for a resolute mendicant

pahitattassa bhikkhuno.

to live in comfort.

Pallaṅkena nisinnassa,

When sitting cross-legged,

jaṇṇuke nābhivassati;

the rain doesn’t fall on the knees;

Alaṁ phāsuvihārāya,

this is enough for a resolute mendicant

pahitattassa bhikkhuno.

to live in comfort.”

Yo sukhaṁ dukkhato adda,

“When you’ve seen happiness as suffering,

dukkhamaddakkhi sallato;

and suffering as a dart,

Ubhayantarena nāhosi,

and that there’s nothing between the two—

kena lokasmi kiṁ siyā.

what keeps you in the world?
What would you become?

Mā me kadāci pāpiccho,

Thinking, ‘May I have nothing to do
with those of bad wishes,

kusīto hīnavīriyo;

lazy, lacking energy,

Appassuto anādaro,

unlearned, lacking regard for others’—

kena lokasmi kiṁ siyā.

what keeps you in the world?
What would you become?”

Bahussuto ca medhāvī,

“An intelligent, learned person,

sīlesu susamāhito;

steady in ethics,

Cetosamathamanuyutto,

devoted to serenity of heart—

api muddhani tiṭṭhatu.

let them stand at the head.”

Yo papañcamanuyutto,

“A beast who likes to proliferate,

papañcābhirato mago;

enjoying proliferation,

Virādhayī so nibbānaṁ,

fails to win extinguishment,

yogakkhemaṁ anuttaraṁ.

the supreme sanctuary from the yoke.

Yo ca papañcaṁ hitvāna,

But one who gives up proliferation,

nippapañcapathe rato;

enjoying the state of non-proliferation,

Ārādhayī so nibbānaṁ,

wins extinguishment,

yogakkhemaṁ anuttaraṁ.

the supreme sanctuary from the yoke.”

Gāme vā yadi vāraññe,

“Whether in the village or the wilderness,

Ninne vā yadi vā thale;

in a valley or the uplands,

Yattha arahanto viharanti,

wherever the perfected ones live

Taṁ bhūmirāmaṇeyyakaṁ.

is a delightful place.”

Ramaṇīyāni araññāni,

“Delightful are the wildernesses

yattha na ramatī jano;

where no people delight.

Vītarāgā ramissanti,

Those free of greed will delight there,

na te kāmagavesino.

not those who seek sensual pleasures.”

Nidhīnaṁva pavattāraṁ,

“Regard one who sees your faults

yaṁ passe vajjadassinaṁ;

as a guide to a hidden treasure.

Niggayhavādiṁ medhāviṁ,

Stay close to one so intelligent and astute

tādisaṁ paṇḍitaṁ bhaje;

who curbs you when you need it.

Tādisaṁ bhajamānassa,

Sticking close to such an impartial person,

seyyo hoti na pāpiyo.

things get better, not worse.”

Ovadeyyānusāseyya,

“Advise and instruct;

asabbhā ca nivāraye;

curb wickedness:

Satañhi so piyo hoti,

for you shall be loved by the good,

asataṁ hoti appiyo.

and disliked by the bad.”

Aññassa bhagavā buddho,

“The Blessed One, the Buddha, the seer

dhammaṁ desesi cakkhumā;

was teaching Dhamma to another.

Dhamme desiyamānamhi,

As he taught the Dhamma,

sotamodhesimatthiko.

I lent an ear to get the meaning.

Taṁ me amoghaṁ savanaṁ,

My listening wasn’t wasted:

vimuttomhi anāsavo.

I’m freed, without defilements.”

Neva pubbenivāsāya,

“Not for knowledge of past lives,

napi dibbassa cakkhuno;

nor even for clairvoyance;

Cetopariyāya iddhiyā,

not for psychic powers,
or encompassing the minds of others,

cutiyā upapattiyā;

nor for knowing people’s
passing away and being reborn;

Sotadhātuvisuddhiyā,

not for purifying the power of clairaudience,

paṇidhī me na vijjati”.

did I have any wish.”

“Rukkhamūlaṁva nissāya,

“His only shelter is the foot of a tree;

muṇḍo saṅghāṭipāruto;

shaven, wrapped in his outer robe,

Paññāya uttamo thero,

the senior monk foremost in wisdom,

upatissova jhāyati.

Upatissa himself practices absorption.

Avitakkaṁ samāpanno,

When in a meditation free of placing the mind,

sammāsambuddhasāvako;

a disciple of the Buddha

Ariyena tuṇhībhāvena,

is at that moment blessed

upeto hoti tāvade.

with noble silence.

Yathāpi pabbato selo,

As a rocky mountain

acalo suppatiṭṭhito;

is unwavering and well grounded,

Evaṁ mohakkhayā bhikkhu,

so when delusion ends,

pabbatova na vedhati”.

a monk, like a mountain, doesn’t tremble.”

“Anaṅgaṇassa posassa,

“To the man who has not a blemish,

niccaṁ sucigavesino;

who is always seeking purity,

Vālaggamattaṁ pāpassa,

even a hair-tip of evil

abbhamattaṁva khāyati.

seems as big as a stormcloud.”

Nābhinandāmi maraṇaṁ,

“I don’t long for death;

nābhinandāmi jīvitaṁ;

I don’t long for life;

Nikkhipissaṁ imaṁ kāyaṁ,

I will lay down this body,

sampajāno patissato.

aware and mindful.

Nābhinandāmi maraṇaṁ,

I don’t long for death;

nābhinandāmi jīvitaṁ;

I don’t long for life;

Kālañca paṭikaṅkhāmi,

I await my time,

nibbisaṁ bhatako yathā”.

like a worker waiting for their wages.”

“Ubhayena midaṁ maraṇameva,

“Both what came before and what follows after

Nāmaraṇaṁ pacchā vā pure vā;

are nothing but death, not freedom from death.

Paṭipajjatha mā vinassatha,

Practice, don’t perish—

Khaṇo vo mā upaccagā.

don’t let the moment pass you by.

Nagaraṁ yathā paccantaṁ,

Just like a frontier city,

guttaṁ santarabāhiraṁ;

is guarded inside and out,

Evaṁ gopetha attānaṁ,

so you should ward yourselves—

khaṇo vo mā upaccagā;

don’t let the moment pass you by.

Khaṇātītā hi socanti,

For if you miss your moment

nirayamhi samappitā”.

you’ll grieve when sent to hell.”

“Upasanto uparato,

“Calm and still,

mantabhāṇī anuddhato;

thoughtful in counsel, not restless—

Dhunāti pāpake dhamme,

he shakes off bad qualities

dumapattaṁva māluto.

as the gale shakes leaves off a tree.

Upasanto uparato,

Calm and still,

mantabhāṇī anuddhato;

thoughtful in counsel, not restless—

Appāsi pāpake dhamme,

he plucks off bad qualities

dumapattaṁva māluto.

as the gale shakes leaves off a tree.

Upasanto anāyāso,

Calm and free of despair,

vippasanno anāvilo;

clear and unclouded,

Kalyāṇasīlo medhāvī,

of good morals, intelligent:

dukkhassantakaro siyā”.

one would make an end of suffering.”

“Na vissase ekatiyesu evaṁ,

“Some householders, and even some renunciants,

Agārisu pabbajitesu cāpi;

are not to be trusted.

Sādhūpi hutvā na asādhu honti,

Some who were good later become bad;

Asādhu hutvā puna sādhu honti.

while some who were bad become good.”

Kāmacchando ca byāpādo,

“Sensual desire, ill will,

thinamiddhañca bhikkhuno;

dullness and drowsiness,

Uddhaccaṁ vicikicchā ca,

restlessness, and doubt:

pañcete cittakelisā.

these are the five mental stains for a monk.”

Yassa sakkariyamānassa,

“Whether they’re honored

asakkārena cūbhayaṁ;

or not honored, or both,

Samādhi na vikampati,

their immersion doesn’t waver

appamādavihārino.

as they abide in the immeasurables.

Taṁ jhāyinaṁ sātatikaṁ,

They persistently practice absorption

sukhumadiṭṭhivipassakaṁ;

with subtle view and discernment.

Upādānakkhayārāmaṁ,

Rejoicing in the ending of grasping,

āhu sappuriso iti.

they’re said to be a true person.”

Mahāsamuddo pathavī,

“The oceans and the earth,

pabbato anilopi ca;

the mountains and the wind—

Upamāya na yujjanti,

no simile can do justice

satthu varavimuttiyā.

to the Teacher’s magnificent liberation.”

Cakkānuvattako thero,

“The senior monk who keeps the wheel rolling,

mahāñāṇī samāhito;

he is very wise and serene.

Pathavāpaggisamāno,

Like earth, like water, like fire,

na rajjati na dussati.

he is neither attracted nor repelled.

Paññāpāramitaṁ patto,

He has attained the perfection of wisdom,

mahābuddhi mahāmati;

so intelligent and thoughtful.

Ajaḷo jaḷasamāno,

He is bright, but seems to be dull;

sadā carati nibbuto.

he always wanders, quenched.”

Pariciṇṇo mayā satthā,

“I’ve served the Teacher

… pe

and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.

…

The heavy burden is laid down,

bhavanetti samūhatā.

the leash to existence is eradicated.

Sampādethappamādena,

Persist with diligence:

esā me anusāsanī;

this is my instruction.

Handāhaṁ parinibbissaṁ,

Come, I’ll be fully quenched—

vippamuttomhi sabbadhī”ti.

I am everywhere free.”

… Sāriputto thero …