Chapter Four · Thag 2.31–2.40

Thag 2.31 · Migasira

Thag 2.31 · Migasirattheragāthā

When I had gone forthin the teaching of the Buddha,while letting go, I rose up;escaping the sensual realm.

“Yato ahaṁ pabbajito,sammāsambuddhasāsane;Vimuccamāno uggacchiṁ,kāmadhātuṁ upaccagaṁ.

Then, as the supreme one looked on,my mind was freed.My freedom is unshakablewith the ending of all fetters.

Brahmuno pekkhamānassa,tato cittaṁ vimucci me;Akuppā me vimuttīti,sabbasaṁyojanakkhayā”ti.

Thag 2.32 · Sivaka

Thag 2.32 · Sivakattheragāthā

Houses are impermanent—on and on, life after life.I’ve been searching for the house-builder—painful is birth again and again.

“Aniccāni gahakāni,tattha tattha punappunaṁ;Gahakāraṁ gavesanto,dukkhā jāti punappunaṁ.

I’ve seen you, house-builder!You won’t build a house again.Your rafters are all broken,your ridgepole is shattered.My mind is without boundaries:in this very life it will dissipate.

Gahakāraka diṭṭhosi,puna gehaṁ na kāhasi;Sabbā te phāsukā bhaggā,thūṇikā ca vidālitā;Vimariyādikataṁ cittaṁ,idheva vidhamissatī”ti.

Thag 2.33 · Upavāṇa

Thag 2.33 · Upavāṇattheragāthā

The perfected one, the Holy One in the world,the sage is afflicted by winds.If there’s hot water,give it to the sage, brahmin.

“Arahaṁ sugato loke,vātehābādhiko muni;Sace uṇhodakaṁ atthi,munino dehi brāhmaṇa.

I wish to bring it to the onewho is esteemed by the estimable,honored by the honorable,and venerated by the venerable.

Pūjito pūjaneyyānaṁ,sakkareyyāna sakkato;Apacitopaceyyānaṁ,tassa icchāmi hātave”ti.

Thag 2.34 · Isidinna

Thag 2.34 · Isidinnattheragāthā

I’ve seen lay disciples <j>who have memorized discourses,saying, “Sensual pleasures are impermanent”.But they’re obsessed with jeweled earrings,concerned for their partners and children.

“Diṭṭhā mayā dhammadharā upāsakā,Kāmā aniccā iti bhāsamānā;Sārattarattā maṇikuṇḍalesu,Puttesu dāresu ca te apekkhā.

To be honest, they don’t know Dhamma,even though they say <j>“Sensual pleasures are impermanent”.They don’t have the power to cut their lust,so they cling to children, wives, and wealth.

Addhā na jānanti yatodha dhammaṁ,Kāmā aniccā iti cāpi āhu;Rāgañca tesaṁ na balatthi chettuṁ,Tasmā sitā puttadāraṁ dhanañcā”ti.

Thag 2.35 · Sambulakaccāna

Thag 2.35 · Sambulakaccānattheragāthā

The heavens rain, the heavens pour,I’m staying alone in a frightful hole.But while I’m staying alone in that frightful hole,I’ve no fear, no dread, no goosebumps.

“Devo ca vassati, devo ca gaḷagaḷāyati,Ekako cāhaṁ bherave bile viharāmi;Tassa mayhaṁ ekakassa bherave bile viharato,Natthi bhayaṁ vā chambhitattaṁ vā lomahaṁso vā.

This is my normal statewhile staying alone in a frightful hole:I’ve no fear,no dread, no goosebumps.

Dhammatā mamesā yassa me,Ekakassa bherave bile;Viharato natthi bhayaṁ vā,Chambhitattaṁ vā lomahaṁso vā”ti.

Thag 2.36 · Nitaka

Thag 2.36 · Nitakattheragāthā

Whose mind is like a rock,steady, never trembling—free of desire for desirable things,not getting annoyed when things are annoying?From where will suffering strike onewhose mind is developed like this?

“Kassa selūpamaṁ cittaṁ,ṭhitaṁ nānupakampati;Virattaṁ rajanīyesu,kuppanīye na kuppati;Yassevaṁ bhāvitaṁ cittaṁ,kuto taṁ dukkhamessati.

My mind is like a rock,steady, never trembling—free of desire for desirable things,not getting annoyed when things are annoying.From where will suffering strike mewhose mind is developed like this?

Mama selūpamaṁ cittaṁ,ṭhitaṁ nānupakampati;Virattaṁ rajanīyesu,kuppanīye na kuppati;Mamevaṁ bhāvitaṁ cittaṁ,kuto maṁ dukkhamessatī”ti.

Thag 2.37 · Soṇapoṭiriya

Thag 2.37 · Soṇapoṭiriyattheragāthā

Night, with her garland of stars,is not only for sleeping.For those who know,this night is really for waking.

“Na tāva supituṁ hoti,ratti nakkhattamālinī;Paṭijaggitumevesā,ratti hoti vijānatā”.

Were I to fall from the back of an elephant,trampled by the tuskers that follow,better for me to die in battle,than to live on in defeat.

“Hatthikkhandhāvapatitaṁ,kuñjaro ce anukkame;Saṅgāme me mataṁ seyyo,yañce jīve parājito”ti.

Thag 2.38 · Nisabha

Thag 2.38 · Nisabhattheragāthā

One who’s given up the five sensual stimuli,so pleasing and delightful,and who’s left the home life out of faith—let them make an end to suffering!

“Pañca kāmaguṇe hitvā,Piyarūpe manorame;Saddhāya gharā nikkhamma,Dukkhassantakaro bhave.

I don’t long for death;I don’t long for life;I await my time,aware and mindful.

Nābhinandāmi maraṇaṁ,nābhinandāmi jīvitaṁ;Kālañca paṭikaṅkhāmi,sampajāno patissato”ti.

Thag 2.39 · Usabha (2nd)

Thag 2.39 · Usabhattheragāthā

Arranging a robe over my shoulder,the color of young mango sprouts,I entered the village for almssitting on an elephant’s neck!

“Ambapallavasaṅkāsaṁ,aṁse katvāna cīvaraṁ;Nisinno hatthigīvāyaṁ,gāmaṁ piṇḍāya pāvisiṁ.

But when I dismounted from the elephant,I was struck with a sense of urgency.I burned with shame, but then I found peace,and attained the ending of defilements.

Hatthikkhandhato oruyha,saṁvegaṁ alabhiṁ tadā;Sohaṁ ditto tadā santo,patto me āsavakkhayo”ti.

Thag 2.40 · Kappaṭakura

Thag 2.40 · Kappaṭakurattheragāthā

This chap, “Rag-rice”, he sure is a rag!Into the vase of freedom from death, <j>polished and overflowing,sufficient teaching has been poured;the path to build up absorptions has been laid out.

“Ayamiti kappaṭo kappaṭakuro,Acchāya atibharitāya;Amataghaṭikāyaṁ dhammakaṭamatto,Katapadaṁ jhānāni ocetuṁ.

Don’t nod off, Rag—I’ll smack your ear!You know no limit,nodding off in the midst of the Saṅgha!

Mā kho tvaṁ kappaṭa pacālesi,Mā tvaṁ upakaṇṇamhi tāḷessaṁ;Na hi tvaṁ kappaṭa mattamaññāsi,Saṅghamajjhamhi pacalāyamāno”ti.