Mahāpanthakattheragāthā

Theragāthā 8.3

Verses of the Senior Monks 8.3

Aṭṭhakanipāta

The Book of the Eights

Paṭhamavagga

Chapter One

Mahāpanthakattheragāthā

Mahāpanthaka

“Yadā paṭhamamaddakkhiṁ,

When I first saw the Teacher

satthāramakutobhayaṁ;

who fears nothing from any quarter,

Tato me ahu saṁvego,

I was struck with a sense of urgency,

passitvā purisuttamaṁ.

seeing the supreme among men.

Siriṁ hatthehi pādehi,

Anyone who, having found such a Teacher,

yo paṇāmeyya āgataṁ;

would lose them again,

Etādisaṁ so satthāraṁ,

is like one who, when approached by Lady Luck,

ārādhetvā virādhaye.

would ward her off with their hands and feet.

Tadāhaṁ puttadārañca,

Then I left behind my children and wives,

dhanadhaññañca chaḍḍayiṁ;

my riches and my grain;

Kesamassūni chedetvā,

I had my hair and beard cut off,

pabbajiṁ anagāriyaṁ.

and went forth to homelessness.

Sikkhāsājīvasampanno,

Endowed with the monastic training and livelihood,

indriyesu susaṁvuto;

my sense faculties well-restrained,

Namassamāno sambuddhaṁ,

paying homage to the Buddha,

vihāsiṁ aparājito.

I meditated undefeated.

Tato me paṇidhī āsi,

Then a wish occurred to me,

cetaso abhipatthito;

my heart’s truest wish:

Na nisīde muhuttampi,

I wouldn’t sit down, not even for a short while,

taṇhāsalle anūhate.

until the dart of craving was plucked.

Tassa mevaṁ viharato,

As I meditate like this,

passa vīriyaparakkamaṁ;

see my energy and vigor!

Tisso vijjā anuppattā,

I’ve attained the three knowledges,

kataṁ buddhassa sāsanaṁ.

and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.

Pubbenivāsaṁ jānāmi,

I know my past lives,

dibbacakkhu visodhitaṁ;

my clairvoyance is clarified;

Arahā dakkhiṇeyyomhi,

I’m perfected, worthy of offerings,

vippamutto nirūpadhi.

liberated, free of attachments.

Tato ratyā vivasāne,

Then, at the end of the night,

sūriyuggamanaṁ pati;

as the rising of the sun drew near,

Sabbaṁ taṇhaṁ visosetvā,

all craving was dried up,

pallaṅkena upāvisin”ti.

so I sat down cross-legged.

… Mahāpanthako thero …

Aṭṭhakanipāto niṭṭhito.

Tatruddānaṁ

Mahākaccāyano thero,

sirimitto mahāpanthako;

Ete aṭṭhanipātamhi,

gāthāyo catuvīsatīti.