Gayākassapattheragāthā

Theragāthā 5.7

Verses of the Senior Monks 5.7

Pañcakanipāta

The Book of the Fives

Paṭhamavagga

Chapter One

Gayākassapattheragāthā

Gayākassapa

“Pāto majjhanhikaṁ sāyaṁ,

Three times a day—

tikkhattuṁ divasassahaṁ;

morning, midday, and evening—

Otariṁ udakaṁ sohaṁ,

I plunged into the water at Gayā

gayāya gayaphagguyā.

for the Gayā spring festival.

‘Yaṁ mayā pakataṁ pāpaṁ,

“Any bad things I’ve done

pubbe aññāsu jātisu;

in previous lives,

Taṁ dānīdha pavāhemi’,

I’ll now rinse away right here”—

evaṁdiṭṭhi pure ahuṁ.

such was the view I used to hold.

Sutvā subhāsitaṁ vācaṁ,

Having heard the fine words,

dhammatthasahitaṁ padaṁ;

a passage meaningful and principled,

Tathaṁ yāthāvakaṁ atthaṁ,

I rationally reflected

yoniso paccavekkhisaṁ.

on the true, essential goal.

Ninhātasabbapāpomhi,

I’ve washed away all bad things;

nimmalo payato suci;

I’m stainless, clean, pristine;

Suddho suddhassa dāyādo,

the pure heir of the pure one,

putto buddhassa oraso.

a bosom son of the Buddha.

Ogayhaṭṭhaṅgikaṁ sotaṁ,

When I plunged into the eightfold stream,

sabbapāpaṁ pavāhayiṁ;

all bad things were rinsed away.

Tisso vijjā ajjhagamiṁ,

I’ve attained the three knowledges

kataṁ buddhassa sāsanan”ti.

and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.

… Gayākassapo thero ….