• Verses of the Senior Monks 16.2 Theragāthā 16.2
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  • Chapter One Paṭhamavagga

Pārāsariya (2nd) Pārāpariyattheragāthā

This thought came to the ascetic, “Samaṇassa ahu cintā, the monk Pārāsariya, pārāpariyassa bhikkhuno; as he was seated alone Ekakassa nisinnassa, meditating in seclusion: pavivittassa jhāyino.

“Following what procedure, Kimānupubbaṁ puriso, what observance, what conduct, kiṁ vataṁ kiṁ samācāraṁ; may a person do what they need for themselves, Attano kiccakārīssa, without harming anyone else? na ca kañci viheṭhaye.

The faculties of human beings Indriyāni manussānaṁ, can lead to both welfare and harm. hitāya ahitāya ca; Unguarded they lead to harm; Arakkhitāni ahitāya, guarded they lead to welfare. rakkhitāni hitāya ca.

By protecting the faculties, Indriyāneva sārakkhaṁ, taking care of the faculties, indriyāni ca gopayaṁ; I can do what I need for myself Attano kiccakārīssa, without harming anyone else. na ca kañci viheṭhaye.

If your eye wanders Cakkhundriyañce rūpesu, among sights without check, gacchantaṁ anivārayaṁ; not seeing the danger, Anādīnavadassāvī, you’re not freed from suffering. so dukkhā na hi muccati.

If your ear wanders Sotindriyañce saddesu, among sounds without check, gacchantaṁ anivārayaṁ; not seeing the danger, Anādīnavadassāvī, you’re not freed from suffering. so dukkhā na hi muccati.

If, not seeing the escape, Anissaraṇadassāvī, you indulge in a smell, gandhe ce paṭisevati; you’re not freed from suffering, Na so muccati dukkhamhā, being besotted by smells. gandhesu adhimucchito.

Recollecting the sour, Ambilaṁ madhuraggañca, the sweet and the bitter, tittakaggamanussaraṁ; captivated by craving for taste, Rasataṇhāya gadhito, you don’t understand the heart. hadayaṁ nāvabujjhati.

Recollecting lovely Subhānyappaṭikūlāni, and pleasurable touches, phoṭṭhabbāni anussaraṁ; full of desire, you experience Ratto rāgādhikaraṇaṁ, many kinds of suffering because of lust. vividhaṁ vindate dukhaṁ.

Unable to protect Manaṁ cetehi dhammehi, the mind from such thoughts, yo na sakkoti rakkhituṁ; suffering follows them Tato naṁ dukkhamanveti, because of all five. sabbehetehi pañcahi.

This body is full of pus and blood, Pubbalohitasampuṇṇaṁ, it’s home to many carcasses; bahussa kuṇapassa ca; but cunning people decorate it Naravīrakataṁ vagguṁ, like a lovely painted casket. samuggamiva cittitaṁ.

You don’t understand that Kaṭukaṁ madhurassādaṁ, the sweetness of honey turns bitter, piyanibandhanaṁ dukhaṁ; and the bonds to those we love cause pain, Khuraṁva madhunā littaṁ, like a razor’s edge smeared with honey. ullihaṁ nāvabujjhati.

Full of lust for the sight of a woman, Itthirūpe itthisare, for the voice and the smells of a woman, phoṭṭhabbepi ca itthiyā; for a woman’s touch, Itthigandhesu sāratto, you experience many kinds of suffering. vividhaṁ vindate dukhaṁ.

All of a woman’s streams Itthisotāni sabbāni, flow from five to five. sandanti pañca pañcasu; Whoever, being energetic, Tesamāvaraṇaṁ kātuṁ, is able to curb these, yo sakkoti vīriyavā.

purposeful and firm in principle, So atthavā so dhammaṭṭho, is clever and clear-seeing. so dakkho so vicakkhaṇo; Though he might enjoy himself, Kareyya ramamānopi, his duty is connected with the teaching and its goal. kiccaṁ dhammatthasaṁhitaṁ.

One who’s diligent and discerning, Atho sīdati saññuttaṁ, thinking, “This ought not be done”, vajje kiccaṁ niratthakaṁ; would avoid a useless task ‘Na taṁ kiccan’ti maññitvā, that’s doomed to failure. appamatto vicakkhaṇo.

Whatever is meaningful, Yañca atthena saññuttaṁ, and whatever happiness is principled, yā ca dhammagatā rati; let one undertake and follow that: Taṁ samādāya vattetha, this is the best happiness. sā hi ve uttamā rati.

They want to get hold of what belongs to others Uccāvacehupāyehi, by any means, fair or foul. Paresamabhijigīsati; They kill, injure, and torment, Hantvā vadhitvā atha socayitvā, violently plundering what belongs to others. Ālopati sāhasā yo paresaṁ.

Just as a strong person when building Tacchanto āṇiyā āṇiṁ, knocks out a peg with a peg, nihanti balavā yathā; so the skillful person Indriyānindriyeheva, knocks out the faculties with the faculties. nihanti kusalo tathā.

Developing faith, energy, immersion, Saddhaṁ vīriyaṁ samādhiñca, mindfulness, and wisdom; satipaññañca bhāvayaṁ; destroying the five with the five, Pañca pañcahi hantvāna, the brahmin walks on untroubled. anīgho yāti brāhmaṇo.

Purposeful and firm in principle, So atthavā so dhammaṭṭho, having fulfilled in every respect katvā vākyānusāsaniṁ; the instructions spoken by the Buddha, Sabbena sabbaṁ buddhassa, that person prospers in happiness.” so naro sukhamedhatī”ti.

… Pārāpariyo thero ….