Mahāmoggallānattheragāthā

Theragāthā 20.1

Verses of the Senior Monks 20.1

Saṭṭhinipāta

The Book of the Sixties

Paṭhamavagga

Chapter One

Mahāmoggallānattheragāthā

Mahāmoggallāna

“Āraññikā piṇḍapātikā,

“Living in the wilderness, eating only almsfood,

uñchāpattāgate ratā;

happy with the scraps in our bowls,

Dālemu maccuno senaṁ,

let us tear apart the army of death,

ajjhattaṁ susamāhitā.

while remaining serene within.

Āraññikā piṇḍapātikā,

Living in the wilderness, eating only almsfood,

uñchāpattāgate ratā;

happy with the scraps in our bowls,

Dhunāma maccuno senaṁ,

let us crush the army of death,

naḷāgāraṁva kuñjaro.

as an elephant a hut of reeds.

Rukkhamūlikā sātatikā,

Living at the foot of a tree, persistent,

uñchāpattāgate ratā;

happy with the scraps in our bowls,

Dālemu maccuno senaṁ,

let us tear apart the army of death,

ajjhattaṁ susamāhitā.

while remaining serene within.

Rukkhamūlikā sātatikā,

Living at the foot of a tree, persistent,

uñchāpattāgate ratā;

happy with the scraps in our bowls,

Dhunāma maccuno senaṁ,

let us crush the army of death,

naḷāgāraṁva kuñjaro”.

as an elephant a hut of reeds.”

“Aṭṭhikaṅkalakuṭike,

“You hut, made of a chain of bones,

maṁsanhārupasibbite;

sewn together with flesh and sinew;

Dhiratthu pure duggandhe,

curse you mortal frame, you stink,

paragatte mamāyase.

you cherish the parts of others!

Gūthabhaste taconaddhe,

You sack of dung swathed in skin!

uragaṇḍipisācini;

You demoness with horns on your chest!

Nava sotāni te kāye,

O body, you have nine streams

yāni sandanti sabbadā.

that are flowing all the time.

Tava sarīraṁ navasotaṁ,

With its nine streams,

Duggandhakaraṁ paribandhaṁ;

your body stinks, full of dung.

Bhikkhu parivajjayate taṁ,

A monk seeking purity

Mīḷhaṁ ca yathā sucikāmo.

would avoid it like excrement.

Evañce taṁ jano jaññā,

If they knew you

yathā jānāmi taṁ ahaṁ;

like I do,

Ārakā parivajjeyya,

they’d keep far away,

gūthaṭṭhānaṁva pāvuse”.

like a cesspit in the monsoon.”

“Evametaṁ mahāvīra,

“So it is, great hero!

yathā samaṇa bhāsasi;

As you say, ascetic!

Ettha ceke visīdanti,

But some founder here

paṅkamhiva jaraggavo”.

like an old bull stuck in a bog.”

“Ākāsamhi haliddiyā,

“Whoever might think

yo maññetha rajetave;

of making the sky yellow,

Aññena vāpi raṅgena,

or some other color,

vighātudayameva taṁ.

would only trouble themselves.

Tadākāsasamaṁ cittaṁ,

This mind is like the sky:

ajjhattaṁ susamāhitaṁ;

serene inside itself.

Mā pāpacitte āsādi,

Evil-minded one, don’t attack me,

aggikhandhaṁva pakkhimā”.

you’ll end up like a moth in a mass of fire.”

“Passa cittakataṁ bimbaṁ,

“See this fancy puppet,

arukāyaṁ samussitaṁ;

a body built of sores,

Āturaṁ bahusaṅkappaṁ,

diseased, obsessed over,

yassa natthi dhuvaṁ ṭhiti.

in which nothing lasts at all.

Passa cittakataṁ rūpaṁ,

See this fancy figure,

maṇinā kuṇḍalena ca;

with its gems and earrings;

Aṭṭhiṁ tacena onaddhaṁ,

it is bones swathed in skin,

saha vatthehi sobhati.

made pretty by its clothes.

Alattakakatā pādā,

Rouged feet

mukhaṁ cuṇṇakamakkhitaṁ;

and powdered face

Alaṁ bālassa mohāya,

may be enough to beguile a fool,

no ca pāragavesino.

but not a seeker of the far shore.

Aṭṭhapadakatā kesā,

Hair in eight braids

nettā añjanamakkhitā;

and eyeshadow

Alaṁ bālassa mohāya,

may be enough to beguile a fool,

no ca pāragavesino.

but not a seeker of the far shore.

Añjanīva navā cittā,

A rotting body all adorned

pūtikāyo alaṅkato;

like a freshly painted makeup box

Alaṁ bālassa mohāya,

may be enough to beguile a fool,

no ca pāragavesino.

but not a seeker of the far shore.

Odahi migavo pāsaṁ,

The hunter laid his snare,

nāsadā vāguraṁ migo;

but the deer didn’t spring the trap.

Bhutvā nivāpaṁ gacchāma,

I’ve eaten the bait and now I go,

kaddante migabandhake.

leaving the trapper to lament.

Chinno pāso migavassa,

The hunter’s snare is broken,

nāsadā vāguraṁ migo;

but the deer didn’t spring the trap.

Bhutvā nivāpaṁ gacchāma,

I’ve eaten the bait and now I go,

socante migaluddake”.

leaving the deer-hunter to grieve.”

“Tadāsi yaṁ bhiṁsanakaṁ,

“Then there was terror!

tadāsi lomahaṁsanaṁ;

Then they had goosebumps!

Anekākārasampanne,

When Sāriputta,
endowed with many fine qualities,

sāriputtamhi nibbute.

became quenched.

Aniccā vata saṅkhārā,

Oh! Conditions are impermanent,

uppādavayadhammino;

their nature is to rise and fall;

Upajjitvā nirujjhanti,

having arisen, they cease;

tesaṁ vūpasamo sukho.

their settling is such bliss.”

Sukhumaṁ te paṭivijjhanti,

“Those who see the five aggregates

vālaggaṁ usunā yathā;

as other, not as self,

Ye pañcakkhandhe passanti,

penetrate a subtle thing,

parato no ca attato.

like a hair-tip with an arrow.

Ye ca passanti saṅkhāre,

Those who see conditions

parato no ca attato;

as alien, not as self,

Paccabyādhiṁsu nipuṇaṁ,

pierce a fine thing,

vālaggaṁ usunā yathā.

like a hair-tip with an arrow.”

Sattiyā viya omaṭṭho,

“Like they’re struck by a sword,

ḍayhamānova matthake;

like their head was on fire,

Kāmarāgappahānāya,

a mendicant should wander mindful,

sato bhikkhu paribbaje.

to give up sensual desire.

Sattiyā viya omaṭṭho,

Like they’re struck by a sword,

ḍayhamānova matthake;

like their head was on fire,

Bhavarāgappahānāya,

a mendicant should wander mindful,

sato bhikkhu paribbaje.

to give up desire for rebirth.”

Codito bhāvitattena,

“Urged by the developed one,

sarīrantimadhārinā;

who bore his final body,

Migāramātupāsādaṁ,

I shook the stilt longhouse of Migāra’s mother

pādaṅguṭṭhena kampayiṁ.

with my big toe.”

Nayidaṁ sithilamārabbha,

“Not by being slack,

nayidaṁ appena thāmasā;

or with little strength

Nibbānamadhigantabbaṁ,

may this be realized—extinguishment,

sabbaganthapamocanaṁ.

the release from all ties.”

Ayañca daharo bhikkhu,

“This young monk,

ayamuttamaporiso;

this best of men,

Dhāreti antimaṁ dehaṁ,

bears his final body,

jetvā māraṁ savāhiniṁ.

having vanquished Māra and his legions.”

Vivaramanupabhanti vijjutā,

“Lightning flashes down

Vebhārassa ca paṇḍavassa ca;

on the cleft of Vebhāra and Paṇḍava.

Nagavivaragato jhāyati,

But in the mountain cleft he is absorbed in jhāna—

Putto appaṭimassa tādino.

the son of the Buddha, inimitable and unaffected.”

Upasanto uparato,

“Calm and still,

pantasenāsano muni;

the sage in his remote lodging,

Dāyādo buddhaseṭṭhassa,

the heir to the best of Buddhas,

brahmunā abhivandito”.

is honored even by the Divinity.

“Upasantaṁ uparataṁ,

Calm and still,

pantasenāsanaṁ muniṁ;

the sage in his remote lodging,

Dāyādaṁ buddhaseṭṭhassa,

is heir to the best of Buddhas:

vanda brāhmaṇa kassapaṁ.

Brahmin, you should honor Kassapa!

Yo ca jātisataṁ gacche,

Even if someone were to be born again and again

sabbā brāhmaṇajātiyo;

a hundred times in the human realm,

Sottiyo vedasampanno,

and always as a brahmin,

manussesu punappunaṁ.

a student accomplished in the Vedas;

Ajjhāyakopi ce assa,

and if he were to become a reciter,

tiṇṇaṁ vedāna pāragū;

a master of the three Vedas:

Etassa vandanāyetaṁ,

honoring such a person

kalaṁ nāgghati soḷasiṁ.

isn’t worth a sixteenth of that.

Yo so aṭṭha vimokkhāni,

One who attains the eight liberations

purebhattaṁ aphassayi;

forwards and backwards

Anulomaṁ paṭilomaṁ,

before breakfast,

tato piṇḍāya gacchati.

and then goes on almsround—

Tādisaṁ bhikkhuṁ māsādi,

don’t attack such a mendicant!

māttānaṁ khaṇi brāhmaṇa;

Don’t ruin yourself, brahmin!

Abhippasādehi manaṁ,

Let your heart have trust

arahantamhi tādine;

in the perfected one, the unaffected;

Khippaṁ pañjaliko vanda,

quickly venerate him with cupped palms:

mā te vijaṭi matthakaṁ”.

don’t let your head explode!”

“Neso passati saddhammaṁ,

“If you prioritize transmigration,

saṁsārena purakkhato;

you don’t see the true teaching.

Adhogamaṁ jimhapathaṁ,

You’re following a twisted path,

kummaggamanudhāvati.

a bad path that will lead you down.

Kimīva mīḷhasallitto,

Like a worm smeared with dung,

saṅkhāre adhimucchito;

he is besotted with conditions.

Pagāḷho lābhasakkāre,

Consumed by gain and honor,

tuccho gacchati poṭṭhilo”.

Poṭṭhila goes on, hollow.”

“Imañca passa āyantaṁ,

“See Sāriputta coming!

sāriputtaṁ sudassanaṁ;

It is good to see him;

Vimuttaṁ ubhatobhāge,

he is freed in both ways,

ajjhattaṁ susamāhitaṁ.

serene inside himself;

Visallaṁ khīṇasaṁyogaṁ,

free of thorns, with yoking ended,

tevijjaṁ maccuhāyinaṁ;

master of the three knowledges,
conqueror of death;

Dakkhiṇeyyaṁ manussānaṁ,

worthy of offerings,

puññakkhettaṁ anuttaraṁ”.

a supreme field of merit for the people.”

“Ete sambahulā devā,

“These many gods,

iddhimanto yasassino;

powerful and glorious,

Dasa devasahassāni,

all 10,000 of them,

sabbe brahmapurohitā;

are priests of Divinity.

Moggallānaṁ namassantā,

They stand with cupped palms

tiṭṭhanti pañjalīkatā.

honoring Moggallāna:

‘Namo te purisājañña,

‘Homage to you, O thoroughbred!

namo te purisuttama;

Homage to you, supreme among men!

Yassa te āsavā khīṇā,

Since your defilements are ended,

dakkhiṇeyyosi mārisa’.

you, good fellow, are worthy of teacher’s offerings.’

Pūjito naradevena,

Venerated by the lordly god,

uppanno maraṇābhibhū;

he has arisen, the master of death.

Puṇḍarīkaṁva toyena,

He is unsmeared by conditions,

saṅkhārenupalippati.

as a lotus-flower by water.”

Yassa muhuttena sahassadhā loko,

“The mendicant by whom the galaxy

Saṁvidito sabrahmakappo vasi;

with the age of the Divinity are known in an hour—

Iddhiguṇe cutupapāte kāle,

that master of psychic ability sees the gods

Passati devatā sa bhikkhu”.

at the time they pass away and are reborn.”

“Sāriputtova paññāya,

“Sāriputta is full of wisdom,

sīlena upasamena ca;

ethics, and peace.

Yopi pāraṅgato bhikkhu,

Even a mendicant who has crossed over

etāvaparamo siyā.

might at best equal him.

Koṭisatasahassassa,

But in a moment I can create the likenesses

Attabhāvaṁ khaṇena nimmine;

of ten million times 100,000 people!

Ahaṁ vikubbanāsu kusalo,

I’m skilled in transformations;

Vasībhūtomhi iddhiyā.

I’m a master of psychic powers.

Samādhivijjāvasipāramīgato,

A member of the Moggallāna clan,
attained to perfection and mastery

Moggallānagotto asitassa sāsane;

in immersion and knowledge,
wise in the teachings of the unattached,

Dhīro samucchindi samāhitindriyo,

with serene faculties, has burst his bonds

Nāgo yathā pūtilataṁva bandhanaṁ.

like an elephant bursts a vine.

Pariciṇṇo mayā satthā,

I’ve served the Teacher

kataṁ buddhassa sāsanaṁ;

and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.

Ohito garuko bhāro,

The heavy burden is laid down,

bhavanetti samūhatā.

the leash to existence is eradicated.

Yassa catthāya pabbajito,

I’ve attained the goal

agārasmānagāriyaṁ;

for the sake of which I went forth

So me attho anuppatto,

from the lay life to homelessness—

sabbasaṁyojanakkhayo.

the ending of all fetters.”

Kīdiso nirayo āsi,

“What kind of hell was that,

yattha dussī apaccatha;

where Dūsī was roasted

Vidhuraṁ sāvakamāsajja,

after attacking the disciple Vidhura

kakusandhañca brāhmaṇaṁ.

along with the brahmin Kakusandha?

Sataṁ āsi ayosaṅkū,

There were 100 iron spikes,

sabbe paccattavedanā;

each one uniquely painful.

Īdiso nirayo āsi,

That’s the kind of hell

yattha dussī apaccatha;

where Dūsī was roasted

Vidhuraṁ sāvakamāsajja,

after attacking the disciple Vidhura

kakusandhañca brāhmaṇaṁ.

along with the brahmin Kakusandha.

Yo etamabhijānāti,

Dark One, if you attack

bhikkhu buddhassa sāvako;

a mendicant who directly knows this,

Tādisaṁ bhikkhumāsajja,

a disciple of the Buddha,

kaṇha dukkhaṁ nigacchasi.

you’ll fall into suffering.

Majjhesarasmiṁ tiṭṭhanti,

There are mansions that last an eon

vimānā kappaṭhāyino;

standing in the middle of a lake.

Veḷuriyavaṇṇā rucirā,

Sapphire-colored, brilliant,

accimanto pabhassarā;

they sparkle and shine.

Accharā tattha naccanti,

Dancing there are nymphs

puthu nānattavaṇṇiyo.

shining in all different colors.

Yo etamabhijānāti,

Dark One, if you attack

… pe

a mendicant who directly knows this,

…

a disciple of the Buddha,

kaṇha dukkhaṁ nigacchasi.

you’ll fall into suffering.

Yo ve buddhena codito,

I’m the one who, urged by the Buddha,

bhikkhusaṅghassa pekkhato;

shook the stilt longhouse of Migāra’s mother

Migāramātupāsādaṁ,

with his big toe

pādaṅguṭṭhena kampayi.

as the Saṅgha of mendicants watched.

Yo etamabhijānāti,

Dark One, if you attack

… pe

a mendicant who directly knows this,

…

a disciple of the Buddha,

kaṇha dukkhaṁ nigacchasi.

you’ll fall into suffering.

Yo vejayantapāsādaṁ,

I’m the one who shook the Palace of Victory

pādaṅguṭṭhena kampayi;

with his big toe

Iddhibalenupatthaddho,

owing to psychic power,

saṁvejesi ca devatā.

inspiring deities to awe.

Yo etamabhijānāti,

Dark One, if you attack

… pe

a mendicant who directly knows this,

…

a disciple of the Buddha,

kaṇha dukkhaṁ nigacchasi.

you’ll fall into suffering.

Yo vejayantapāsāde,

I’m the one who asked Sakka

sakkaṁ so paripucchati;

in the Palace of Victory:

Api āvuso jānāsi,

‘Respectable sir, I hope you recall

taṇhakkhayavimuttiyo;

the one who is freed through the ending of craving?’

Tassa sakko viyākāsi,

And I’m the one to whom Sakka

pañhaṁ puṭṭho yathātathaṁ”.

admitted the truth when asked.

“Yo etamabhijānāti,

Dark One, if you attack

… pe

a mendicant who directly knows this,

…

a disciple of the Buddha,

kaṇha dukkhaṁ nigacchasi.

you’ll fall into suffering.

Yo brahmānaṁ paripucchati,

I’m the one who asked the Divinity

Sudhammāyaṁ ṭhito sabhaṁ;

in the Hall of Clear Right before the assembly:

Ajjāpi tyāvuso sā diṭṭhi,

‘Respectable sir, do you still have the same view

Yā te diṭṭhi pure ahu;

that you had in the past?

Passasi vītivattantaṁ,

Or do you see the radiance

Brahmaloke pabhassaraṁ.

surpassing the realm of divinity?’

Tassa brahmā viyākāsi,

And I’m the one to whom the Divinity

pañhaṁ puṭṭho yathātathaṁ;

admitted the truth when asked.

Na me mārisa sā diṭṭhi,

‘Good fellow, I don’t have that view

yā me diṭṭhi pure ahu.

that I had in the past.

Passāmi vītivattantaṁ,

I see the radiance

brahmaloke pabhassaraṁ;

surpassing the realm of divinity.

Sohaṁ ajja kathaṁ vajjaṁ,

So how could I say today

ahaṁ niccomhi sassato”.

that I am permanent and eternal?’

“Yo etamabhijānāti,

Dark One, if you attack

… pe

a mendicant who directly knows this,

…

a disciple of the Buddha,

kaṇha dukkhaṁ nigacchasi.

you’ll fall into suffering.

Yo mahāneruno kūṭaṁ,

I’m the one who touched the peak of Mount Neru

vimokkhena aphassayi;

using the power of meditative liberation.

Vanaṁ pubbavidehānaṁ,

I’ve visited the forests of the people

ye ca bhūmisayā narā.

who dwell in the land east of Videha.

Yo etamabhijānāti,

Dark One, if you attack

bhikkhu buddhassa sāvako;

a mendicant who directly knows this,

Tādisaṁ bhikkhumāsajja,

a disciple of the Buddha,

kaṇha dukkhaṁ nigacchasi.

you’ll fall into suffering.

Na ve aggi cetayati,

Though a fire doesn’t think,

ahaṁ bālaṁ ḍahāmīti;

‘I’ll burn the fool!’

Bālova jalitaṁ aggiṁ,

Still the fool who attacks

āsajja naṁ paḍayhati.

the fire gets burnt.

Evamevaṁ tuvaṁ māra,

In the same way, Māra,

āsajja naṁ tathāgataṁ;

in attacking the Realized One,

Sayaṁ ḍahissasi attānaṁ,

you’ll only burn yourself,

bālo aggiṁva samphusaṁ.

like a fool touching the flames.

Apuññaṁ pasavī māro,

Māra’s done a bad thing

āsajja naṁ tathāgataṁ;

in attacking the Realized One.

Kiṁ nu maññasi pāpima,

Wicked One, do you imagine that

na me pāpaṁ vipaccati.

your wickedness won’t bear fruit?

Karato te cīyate pāpaṁ,

Your deeds heap up wickedness

cirarattāya antaka;

that will last a long time, terminator!

Māra nibbinda buddhamhā,

Give up on the Buddha, Māra!

āsaṁ mākāsi bhikkhusu”.

And hold no hope for the mendicants!”

“Iti māraṁ atajjesi,

That is how, in the Bhesekaḷā grove,

bhikkhu bhesakaḷāvane;

the mendicant warned Māra.

Tato so dummano yakkho,

That spirit, downcast,

tatthevantaradhāyathā”ti.

disappeared right there.

Itthaṁ sudaṁ āyasmā mahāmoggallāno thero gāthāyo abhāsitthāti.

That is how these verses were recited by the senior venerable Mahāmoggallāna.

Saṭṭhinipāto niṭṭhito.

The Book of the Sixties is finished.

Tatruddānaṁ

Saṭṭhikamhi nipātamhi,

moggallāno mahiddhiko;

Ekova theragāthāyo,

aṭṭhasaṭṭhi bhavanti tāti.