Chapter One · Thag 2.1–2.10

Thag 2.1 · Uttara (1st)

Thag 2.1 · Uttarattheragāthā

No life is permanent,and no conditions last forever.The aggregates are rebornand pass away, again and again.

“Natthi koci bhavo nicco,saṅkhārā vāpi sassatā;Uppajjanti ca te khandhā,cavanti aparāparaṁ.

Knowing this danger,I have no need for another life.I’ve escaped all sensual pleasures,and attained the ending of defilements.

Etamādīnavaṁ ñatvā,bhavenamhi anatthiko;Nissaṭo sabbakāmehi,patto me āsavakkhayo”ti.

That is how these verses were recited by the senior venerable Uttara.

Itthaṁ sudaṁ āyasmā uttaro thero gāthāyo abhāsitthāti.

Thag 2.2 · Bhāradvāja the Alms-Gatherer

Thag 2.2 · Piṇḍolabhāradvājattheragāthā

You can’t live by fasting,but food doesn’t lead to peace of heart.Seeing how this bag of bones is sustained by food,I wander, seeking.

“Nayidaṁ anayena jīvitaṁ,Nāhāro hadayassa santiko;Āhāraṭṭhitiko samussayo,Iti disvāna carāmi esanaṁ.

They know it’s just a swamp,this homage and veneration in respectable families.Honor is a subtle dart, hard to extract,and hard for a reprobate to give up.

Paṅkoti hi naṁ pavedayuṁ,Yāyaṁ vandanapūjanā kulesu;Sukhumaṁ sallaṁ durubbahaṁ,Sakkāro kāpurisena dujjaho”ti.

That is how these verses were recited by the senior venerable Bhāradvāja the Alms-Gatherer.

Itthaṁ sudaṁ āyasmā piṇḍolabhāradvājo thero gāthāyo abhāsitthāti.

Thag 2.3 · Valliya (2nd)

Thag 2.3 · Valliyattheragāthā

A monkey went up to the little hutwith five doors.He circles around, knockingon each door, again and again.

“Makkaṭo pañcadvārāyaṁ,kuṭikāyaṁ pasakkiya;Dvārena anupariyeti,ghaṭṭayanto muhuṁ muhuṁ.

Stand still monkey, don’t run!Things are different now;you’ve been caught by wisdom—you won’t go far.

Tiṭṭha makkaṭa mā dhāvi,na hi te taṁ yathā pure;Niggahītosi paññāya,neva dūraṁ gamissatī”ti.

Thag 2.4 · Gaṅgātīriya

Thag 2.4 · Gaṅgātīriyattheragāthā

My hut on the bank of the Gangesis made from three palm leaves.My alms-bowl is a funeral pot,my robe is cast-off rags.

“Tiṇṇaṁ me tālapattānaṁ,gaṅgātīre kuṭī katā;Chavasittova me patto,paṁsukūlañca cīvaraṁ.

In my first two rainy seasonsI spoke only one word.In my third rainy seasonthe mass of darkness was shattered.

Dvinnaṁ antaravassānaṁ,ekā vācā me bhāsitā;Tatiye antaravassamhi,tamokhandho padālito”ti.

Thag 2.5 · Ajina

Thag 2.5 · Ajinattheragāthā

Even a master of the three knowledges,undefiled, conqueror of death,is looked down upon for being unknownby ignorant fools.

“Api ce hoti tevijjo,maccuhāyī anāsavo;Appaññātoti naṁ bālā,avajānanti ajānatā.

But any individual herewho gets food and drinkis honored by them,even if they are of bad character.

Yo ca kho annapānassa,lābhī hotidha puggalo;Pāpadhammopi ce hoti,so nesaṁ hoti sakkato”ti.

Thag 2.6 · Meḷajina

Thag 2.6 · Meḷajinattheragāthā

When I heard the Teacherspeaking Dhamma,I wasn’t aware of any doubtin the all-knowing, unconquered one,

“Yadāhaṁ dhammamassosiṁ,bhāsamānassa satthuno;Na kaṅkhamabhijānāmi,sabbaññūaparājite.

the caravan leader, the great hero,the most excellent of charioteers.I have no doubtin the path or practice.

Satthavāhe mahāvīre,sārathīnaṁ varuttame;Magge paṭipadāyaṁ vā,kaṅkhā mayhaṁ na vijjatī”ti.

Thag 2.7 · Rādha

Thag 2.7 · Rādhattheragāthā

Just as rain seeps intoa poorly roofed house,lust seeps intoan undeveloped mind.

“Yathā agāraṁ ducchannaṁ,vuṭṭhī samativijjhati;Evaṁ abhāvitaṁ cittaṁ,rāgo samativijjhati.

Just as rain doesn’t seep intoa well roofed house,lust doesn’t seep intoa well-developed mind.

Yathā agāraṁ succhannaṁ,Vuṭṭhī na samativijjhati;Evaṁ subhāvitaṁ cittaṁ,Rāgo na samativijjhatī”ti.

Thag 2.8 · Surādha

Thag 2.8 · Surādhattheragāthā

Rebirth is ended for me;the victor’s instruction is fulfilled;what they call a “net” is given up;the leash to existence is eradicated.

“Khīṇā hi mayhaṁ jāti,vusitaṁ jinasāsanaṁ;Pahīno jālasaṅkhāto,bhavanetti samūhatā.

I’ve attained the goalfor the sake of which I went forthfrom the lay life to homelessness—the ending of all fetters.

Yassatthāya pabbajito,agārasmānagāriyaṁ;So me attho anuppatto,sabbasaṁyojanakkhayo”ti.

Thag 2.9 · Gotama (1st)

Thag 2.9 · Gotamattheragāthā

Sages sleep at easewhen they’re not bound to women.For the truth is hard to find among themand one must always be guarded.

“Sukhaṁ supanti munayo,ye itthīsu na bajjhare;Sadā ve rakkhitabbāsu,yāsu saccaṁ sudullabhaṁ.

Sensual pleasure, you’ve been slain!We’re not in your debt any more.Now we go to extinguishment,where there is no sorrow.

Vadhaṁ carimha te kāma,anaṇā dāni te mayaṁ;Gacchāma dāni nibbānaṁ,yattha gantvā na socatī”ti.

Thag 2.10 · Vasabha

Thag 2.10 · Vasabhattheragāthā

First one kills oneself,then one kills others.One kills oneself, really dead,like one who kills birds using a dead bird as a decoy.

“Pubbe hanati attānaṁ,pacchā hanati so pare;Suhataṁ hanti attānaṁ,vītaṁseneva pakkhimā.

A brahmin’s color is not on the outside;a brahmin is colored on the inside.Whoever harbors bad deedsis truly a dark one, Sujampati.

Na brāhmaṇo bahivaṇṇo,anto vaṇṇo hi brāhmaṇo;Yasmiṁ pāpāni kammāni,sa ve kaṇho sujampatī”ti.