Chapter Three · Thag 2.21–2.30

Thag 2.21 · Uttara (2nd)

Thag 2.21 · Uttarattheragāthā

I’ve fully understood the aggregates;I’ve eradicated craving;I’ve developed the factors of awakening,I’ve attained the ending of defilements.

“Khandhā mayā pariññātā,taṇhā me susamūhatā;Bhāvitā mama bojjhaṅgā,patto me āsavakkhayo.

Having fully understood the aggregates,having plucked out the weaver of the web,having developed the factors of awakening,being undefiled, I will be fully extinguished.

Sohaṁ khandhe pariññāya,abbahitvāna jāliniṁ;Bhāvayitvāna bojjhaṅge,nibbāyissaṁ anāsavo”ti.

Thag 2.22 · Bhaddaji

Thag 2.22 · Bhaddajittheragāthā

There was a king named Panādawho had a sacrificial post all golden.Its height was sixteen times its width,and the top was a thousandfold.

“Panādo nāma so rājā,yassa yūpo suvaṇṇayo;Tiriyaṁ soḷasubbedho,ubbhamāhu sahassadhā.

It had a thousand panels and a hundred ball-caps,all adorned with banners, and made of sun gold.There danced the centaurs,numbering seven times six thousand.

Sahassakaṇḍo satageṇḍu,dhajālu haritāmayo;Anaccuṁ tattha gandhabbā,chasahassāni sattadhā”ti.

Thag 2.23 · Sobhita

Thag 2.23 · Sobhitattheragāthā

As a monk, mindful and wise,empowered and full of energy,I recollected five hundred eonsin a single night.

“Satimā paññavā bhikkhu,āraddhabalavīriyo;Pañca kappasatānāhaṁ,ekarattiṁ anussariṁ.

Developing the four mindfulness meditations,the seven factors of awakening, <j>and the eightfold path,I recollected five hundred eonsin a single night.

Cattāro satipaṭṭhāne,satta aṭṭha ca bhāvayaṁ;Pañca kappasatānāhaṁ,ekarattiṁ anussarin”ti.

Thag 2.24 · Valliya (3rd)

Thag 2.24 · Valliyattheragāthā

The duty of one whose energy is strong;the duty of one who longs to wake up:that I’ll do, I won’t fail—see my energy and vigor!

“Yaṁ kiccaṁ daḷhavīriyena,yaṁ kiccaṁ boddhumicchatā;Karissaṁ nāvarajjhissaṁ,passa vīriyaṁ parakkamaṁ.

Teach me the path,the direct route whose objective is freedom from death.I’ll know it with wisdom,as the Ganges knows the ocean.

Tvañca me maggamakkhāhi,añjasaṁ amatogadhaṁ;Ahaṁ monena monissaṁ,gaṅgāsotova sāgaran”ti.

Thag 2.25 · Vītasoka

Thag 2.25 · Vītasokattheragāthā

The barber approachedto shave my head.I picked up a mirrorand examined my body.

“Kese me olikhissanti,kappako upasaṅkami;Tato ādāsamādāya,sarīraṁ paccavekkhisaṁ.

My body appeared hollow;I once was blind, but the darkness disappeared.My fancy hairdo has been cut off:now there’ll be no more future lives.

Tuccho kāyo adissittha,andhakāro tamo byagā;Sabbe coḷā samucchinnā,natthi dāni punabbhavo”ti.

Thag 2.26 · Puṇṇamāsa (2nd)

Thag 2.26 · Puṇṇamāsattheragāthā

I gave up the five hindrancesfor the sake of sanctuary from the yoke.I took Dhamma as a mirrorfor knowing and seeing myself.

“Pañca nīvaraṇe hitvā,yogakkhemassa pattiyā;Dhammādāsaṁ gahetvāna,ñāṇadassanamattano.

I examined this body,all of it, inside and out.Internally and externallymy body appeared hollow.

Paccavekkhiṁ imaṁ kāyaṁ,sabbaṁ santarabāhiraṁ;Ajjhattañca bahiddhā ca,tuccho kāyo adissathā”ti.

Thag 2.27 · Nandaka (1st)

Thag 2.27 · Nandakattheragāthā

Though a fine thoroughbred may stumble,it soon stands firm again.It gains even more urgency,and draws its load undeterred.

“Yathāpi bhaddo ājañño,khalitvā patitiṭṭhati;Bhiyyo laddhāna saṁvegaṁ,adīno vahate dhuraṁ.

Even so is one accomplished in vision,a disciple of the Buddha.Remember me as a thoroughbred,the Buddha’s bosom son.

Evaṁ dassanasampannaṁ,sammāsambuddhasāvakaṁ;Ājānīyaṁ maṁ dhāretha,puttaṁ buddhassa orasan”ti.

Thag 2.28 · Bharata

Thag 2.28 · Bharatattheragāthā

Come, Nandaka, let’s goto visit our preceptor.We’ll roar our lion’s roarbefore the best of Buddhas.

“Ehi nandaka gacchāma,upajjhāyassa santikaṁ;Sīhanādaṁ nadissāma,buddhaseṭṭhassa sammukhā.

The sage gave us the going forthout of compassion, so we could realizethe ending of all fetters—now we have reached that goal.

Yāya no anukampāya,amhe pabbājayī muni;So no attho anuppatto,sabbasaṁyojanakkhayo”ti.

Thag 2.29 · Bhāradvāja

Thag 2.29 · Bhāradvājattheragāthā

This is how the wise roar:like lions in mountain caves,heroes, triumphant in battle,having vanquished Māra with his legions.

“Nadanti evaṁ sappaññā,sīhāva girigabbhare;Vīrā vijitasaṅgāmā,jetvā māraṁ savāhiniṁ.

I’ve served the Teacher;I’ve honored the Dhamma and the Saṅgha;I’m happy and joyful,because I’ve seen my son free of defilements.

Satthā ca pariciṇṇo me,dhammo saṅgho ca pūjito;Ahañca vitto sumano,puttaṁ disvā anāsavan”ti.

Thag 2.30 · Kaṇhadinna

Thag 2.30 · Kaṇhadinnattheragāthā

I regularly sat close by true personsand learnt the teaching.What I learned, I practiced,the direct route whose objective is freedom from death.

“Upāsitā sappurisā,sutā dhammā abhiṇhaso;Sutvāna paṭipajjissaṁ,añjasaṁ amatogadhaṁ.

I’ve slain the desire for continued existence,it won’t be found in me again.It was not, and it won’t be in me,and it isn’t found in me now.

Bhavarāgahatassa me sato,Bhavarāgo puna me na vijjati;Na cāhu na ca me bhavissati,Na ca me etarahi vijjatī”ti.