Vijitasenattheragāthā

Theragāthā 5.9

Verses of the Senior Monks 5.9

Pañcakanipāta

The Book of the Fives

Paṭhamavagga

Chapter One

Vijitasenattheragāthā

Vijitasena

“Olaggessāmi te citta,

I’ll cage you, mind,

āṇidvāreva hatthinaṁ;

like an elephant in a stockade.

Na taṁ pāpe niyojessaṁ,

Born of the flesh, that net of the senses,

kāmajāla sarīraja.

I won’t urge you to do bad.

Tvaṁ olaggo na gacchasi,

Caged, you won’t go anywhere,

Dvāravivaraṁ gajova alabhanto;

like an elephant who can’t find an open gate.

Na ca cittakali punappunaṁ,

Loser mind, you won’t wander again and again,

Pasakka pāparato carissasi.

bullying, in love with wickedness.

Yathā kuñjaraṁ adantaṁ,

Just as a strong trainer with a hook

Navaggahamaṅkusaggaho;

takes a wild, newly captured elephant

Balavā āvatteti akāmaṁ,

and wins it over against its will,

Evaṁ āvattayissaṁ taṁ.

so I’ll win you over.

Yathā varahayadamakusalo,

Just as a fine charioteer, skilled in the taming

Sārathi pavaro dameti ājaññaṁ;

of fine horses, tames a thoroughbred,

Evaṁ damayissaṁ taṁ,

so I’ll tame you,

Patiṭṭhito pañcasu balesu.

firmly established in the five powers.

Satiyā taṁ nibandhissaṁ,

I’ll bind you with mindfulness;

Payutto te damessāmi;

devout, I shall tame you;

Vīriyadhuraniggahito,

kept in check by harnessed energy,

Na yito dūraṁ gamissase cittā”ti.

mind, you won’t go far from here.

… Vijitaseno thero ….