Bhūtattheragāthā

Theragāthā 9.1

Verses of the Senior Monks 9.1

Navakanipāta

The Book of the Nines

Paṭhamavagga

Chapter One

Bhūtattheragāthā

Bhūta

“Yadā dukkhaṁ jarāmaraṇanti paṇḍito,

When an astute person knows,
“Old age and death are suffering;

Aviddasū yattha sitā puthujjanā;

yet an ignorant ordinary person is bound to them”,

Dukkhaṁ pariññāya satova jhāyati,

completely understanding suffering, being mindful,
practicing absorption:

Tato ratiṁ paramataraṁ na vindati.

there is no greater pleasure than this.

Yadā dukkhassāvahaniṁ visattikaṁ,

When clinging, the carrier
of suffering,

Papañcasaṅghātadukhādhivāhiniṁ;

and craving, the carrier
of this painful mass of proliferation,

Taṇhaṁ pahantvāna satova jhāyati,

are destroyed, and one is mindful,
practicing absorption:

Tato ratiṁ paramataraṁ na vindati.

there is no greater pleasure than this.

Yadā sivaṁ dvecaturaṅgagāminaṁ,

When the eightfold way, so full of grace,

Magguttamaṁ sabbakilesasodhanaṁ;

the supreme path, cleanser of all corruptions,

Paññāya passitva satova jhāyati,

is seen with wisdom; and one is mindful,
practicing absorption:

Tato ratiṁ paramataraṁ na vindati.

there is no greater pleasure than this.

Yadā asokaṁ virajaṁ asaṅkhataṁ,

When one develops that peaceful state,

Santaṁ padaṁ sabbakilesasodhanaṁ;

sorrowless, stainless, unconditioned,

Bhāveti saṁyojanabandhanacchidaṁ,

cleanser of all corruptions,
cutter of fetters and bonds:

Tato ratiṁ paramataraṁ na vindati.

there is no greater pleasure than this.

Yadā nabhe gajjati meghadundubhi,

When the thundercloud rumbles in the sky,

Dhārākulā vihagapathe samantato;

while the rain pours on the path of birds all around,

Bhikkhū ca pabbhāragatova jhāyati,

and a monk has gone to a mountain cave,
practicing absorption:

Tato ratiṁ paramataraṁ na vindati.

there is no greater pleasure than this.

Yadā nadīnaṁ kusumākulānaṁ,

When sitting on a riverbank covered in flowers,

Vicitta-vāneyya-vaṭaṁsakānaṁ;

garlanded with brightly colored forest plants,

Tīre nisinno sumanova jhāyati,

one is truly happy,
practicing absorption:

Tato ratiṁ paramataraṁ na vindati.

there is no greater pleasure than this.

Yadā nisīthe rahitamhi kānane,

When it is midnight in a lonely forest,

Deve gaḷantamhi nadanti dāṭhino;

and the lions roar as the heavens pour,

Bhikkhū ca pabbhāragatova jhāyati,

and a monk has gone to a mountain cave,
practicing absorption:

Tato ratiṁ paramataraṁ na vindati.

there is no greater pleasure than this.

Yadā vitakke uparundhiyattano,

When one’s own thoughts have been cut off,

Nagantare nagavivaraṁ samassito;

between the mountains, sheltered inside a cleft,

Vītaddaro vītakhilova jhāyati,

without stress or heartlessness,
practicing absorption:

Tato ratiṁ paramataraṁ na vindati.

there is no greater pleasure than this.

Yadā sukhī malakhilasokanāsano,

When one is happy, destroyer of stains, heartlessness, and sorrow,

Niraggaḷo nibbanatho visallo;

free of obstructions, snarls, and thorns,

Sabbāsave byantikatova jhāyati,

and with all defilements annihilated,
practicing absorption:

Tato ratiṁ paramataraṁ na vindatī”ti.

there is no greater pleasure than this.

… Bhūto thero …

Navakanipāto niṭṭhito.

Tatruddānaṁ

Bhūto tathaddaso thero,

eko khaggavisāṇavā;

Navakamhi nipātamhi,

gāthāyopi imā navāti.