Nāgasamālattheragāthā

Theragāthā 4.1

Verses of the Senior Monks 4.1

Catukkanipāta

The Book of the Fours

Paṭhamavagga

Chapter One

Nāgasamālattheragāthā

Nāgasamāla

“Alaṅkatā suvasanā,

Adorned with jewelry and all dressed up,

mālinī candanussadā;

with garlands, and sandalwood makeup piled on,

Majjhe mahāpathe nārī,

along the main street is a lady—

tūriye naccati naṭṭakī.

a dancer dancing as the music plays.

Piṇḍikāya paviṭṭhohaṁ,

I entered for alms,

gacchanto naṁ udikkhisaṁ;

and while walking along I glanced at her,

Alaṅkataṁ suvasanaṁ,

adorned with jewelry and all dressed up,

maccupāsaṁva oḍḍitaṁ.

set up like a snare of death.

Tato me manasīkāro,

Then the realization

yoniso udapajjatha;

came upon me—

Ādīnavo pāturahu,

the danger became clear,

nibbidā samatiṭṭhatha.

and I grew firmly disillusioned.

Tato cittaṁ vimucci me,

Then my mind was freed—

passa dhammasudhammataṁ;

behold the clear rightness of the teaching!

Tisso vijjā anuppattā,

I’ve attained the three knowledges

kataṁ buddhassa sāsanan”ti.

and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.

… Nāgasamālo thero ….