“Now that I’ve gone forth “Nikkhantaṁ vata maṁ santaṁ, from the lay life to homelessness, agārasmānagāriyaṁ; I’m overrun Vitakkā upadhāvanti, by the rude thoughts of the Dark One. pagabbhā kaṇhato ime.

Even if a thousand mighty princes and great archers, Uggaputtā mahissāsā, well trained, with strong bows, sikkhitā daḷhadhammino; were to completely surround me; Samantā parikireyyuṁ, I would never flee. sahassaṁ apalāyinaṁ.

And even if women come, Sacepi ettakā bhiyyo, many more than that, āgamissanti itthiyo; they won’t bother me, Neva maṁ byādhayissanti, for I stand firm in the teaching. dhamme samhi patiṭṭhito.

I heard this with my own ears Sakkhī hi me sutaṁ etaṁ, from the Buddha, kinsman of the Sun, buddhassādiccabandhuno; about the path going to extinguishment; Nibbānagamanaṁ maggaṁ, that’s what delights my mind. tattha me nirato mano.

Wicked One, if you come near me Evañce maṁ viharantaṁ, as I meditate like this, pāpima upagacchasi; I’ll make sure that you, Death, Tathā maccu karissāmi, won’t even see the path I take.” na me maggampi dakkhasi.

“Giving up desire and discontent, Aratiñca ratiñca pahāya, along with all thoughts of domestic life, Sabbaso gehasitañca vitakkaṁ; they wouldn’t get snarled in anything; Vanathaṁ na kareyya kuhiñci, unsnarled, free of snarls: that’s a real mendicant. Nibbanatho avanatho sa bhikkhu.

Whatever here is included in form—Yamidha pathaviñca vehāsaṁ, on earth, in the sky, or in planet’s deep—Rūpagataṁ jagatogadhaṁ kiñci; wears out, it is all impermanent: Parijīyati sabbamaniccaṁ, the self-examined live having comprehended this. Evaṁ samecca caranti mutattā.

People are bound to their attachments, Upadhīsu janā gadhitāse, to impingement of the seen and heard, <j>and to what is thought. Diṭṭhasute paṭighe ca mute ca; Unstirred, dispel desire for these things; Ettha vinodaya chandamanejo, for one called ‘a sage’ does not cling to them. Yo hettha na limpati muni tamāhu.

Trapped in the sixty wrong views, <j>full of their own opinions, Atha saṭṭhisitā savitakkā, ordinary people are fixed in wrong principles. Puthujjanatāya adhammā niviṭṭhā; But that mendicant wouldn’t join a sect, Na ca vaggagatassa kuhiñci, still less would they utter lewd speech. No pana duṭṭhullagāhī sa bhikkhu.

Clever, long serene, Dabbo cirarattasamāhito, free of deceit, alert, without envy, Akuhako nipako apihālu; the sage has reached the state of peace; Santaṁ padaṁ ajjhagamā muni, quenched, he awaits his time.” Paṭicca parinibbuto kaṅkhati kālaṁ.

“Give up conceit, Gotama! Mānaṁ pajahassu gotama, Completely abandon the different kinds of conceit! Mānapathañca jahassu asesaṁ; Besotted with the different kinds of conceit, Mānapathamhi sa mucchito, you’ve had regrets for a long time. Vippaṭisārīhuvā cirarattaṁ.

Smeared by smears and slain by conceit, Makkhena makkhitā pajā, people fall into hell. Mānahatā nirayaṁ papatanti; When people slain by conceit are reborn in hell, Socanti janā cirarattaṁ, they grieve for a long time. Mānahatā nirayaṁ upapannā.

But a mendicant who practices rightly, Na hi socati bhikkhu kadāci, a path-victor, never grieves. Maggajino sammā paṭipanno; They enjoy happiness and a good reputation, Kittiñca sukhañcānubhoti, and they rightly call him a ‘Seer of Truth’. Dhammadasoti tamāhu tathattaṁ.

So being not hard-hearted, but energetic, Tasmā akhilo idha padhānavā, with hindrances given up, pure; Nīvaraṇāni pahāya visuddho; and having completely given up conceit, Mānañca pahāya asesaṁ, the one who makes an end with knowledge is assuaged.” Vijjāyantakaro samitāvī”.

“I’ve got a burning desire for pleasure; “Kāmarāgena ḍayhāmi, my mind is on fire! cittaṁ me pariḍayhati; Please, out of compassion, Gotama, Sādhu nibbāpanaṁ brūhi, tell me how to quench the flames.” anukampāya gotama”.

“Your mind is on fire “Saññāya vipariyesā, because of a perversion of perception. cittaṁ te pariḍayhati; Turn away from the sign Nimittaṁ parivajjehi, that’s attractive, provoking lust. subhaṁ rāgūpasaṁhitaṁ. (…)

With your mind unified and serene, Asubhāya cittaṁ bhāvehi, meditate on the ugly aspects of the body. ekaggaṁ susamāhitaṁ; With mindfulness immersed in the body, Sati kāyagatā tyatthu, be full of disillusionment. nibbidābahulo bhava.

Meditate on the signless, Animittañca bhāvehi, give up the tendency to conceit; mānānusayamujjaha; and when you comprehend conceit, Tato mānābhisamayā, you will live at peace.” upasanto carissasi”.

“Speak only such words “Tameva vācaṁ bhāseyya, that do not hurt yourself yāyattānaṁ na tāpaye; nor harm others; Pare ca na vihiṁseyya, such speech is truly well spoken. sā ve vācā subhāsitā.

Speak only pleasing words, Piyavācameva bhāseyya, words gladly welcomed. yā vācā paṭinanditā; Pleasing words are those Yaṁ anādāya pāpāni, that bring nothing bad to others. paresaṁ bhāsate piyaṁ.

Truth itself is undying speech: Saccaṁ ve amatā vācā, this is an ancient teaching. esa dhammo sanantano; Good people say that the teaching and meaning Sacce atthe ca dhamme ca, are grounded in truth. āhu santo patiṭṭhitā.

The words spoken by the Buddha Yaṁ buddho bhāsati vācaṁ, for finding the sanctuary, extinguishment, khemaṁ nibbānapattiyā; for making an end of suffering: Dukkhassantakiriyāya, this really is the best kind of speech.” sā ve vācānamuttamā”.

“Deep in wisdom, intelligent, “Gambhīrapañño medhāvī, expert in the path and what is not the path; maggāmaggassa kovido; Sāriputta, so greatly wise, Sāriputto mahāpañño, teaches Dhamma to the mendicants. dhammaṁ deseti bhikkhunaṁ.

He teaches in brief, Saṅkhittenapi deseti, or he speaks at length. vitthārenapi bhāsati; His call, like a myna bird, Sālikāyiva nigghoso, overflows with inspiration. paṭibhānaṁ udiyyati.

While he teaches Tassa taṁ desayantassa, the mendicants listen to his sweet voice, suṇanti madhuraṁ giraṁ; sounding attractive, Sarena rajanīyena, clear and graceful. savanīyena vaggunā; They listen joyfully, Udaggacittā muditā, their hearts elated.” sotaṁ odhenti bhikkhavo”.

“Today, on the fifteenth day sabbath, “Ajja pannarase visuddhiyā, five hundred monks have gathered together <j>to purify their precepts. Bhikkhū pañcasatā samāgatā; These untroubled sages <j>have cut off their fetters and bonds, Saṁyojanabandhanacchidā, they will not be reborn again. Anīghā khīṇapunabbhavā isī.

Just as a wheel-rolling monarch Cakkavattī yathā rājā, surrounded by ministers amaccaparivārito; travels all around this Samantā anupariyeti, land that’s girt by sea. sāgarantaṁ mahiṁ imaṁ.

So disciples with the three knowledges, Evaṁ vijitasaṅgāmaṁ, conquerors of death, satthavāhaṁ anuttaraṁ; revere the winner of the battle, Sāvakā payirupāsanti, the unsurpassed caravan leader. tevijjā maccuhāyino.

All are sons of the Blessed One—Sabbe bhagavato puttā, there is no rubbish here. palāpettha na vijjati; I bow to the Kinsman of the Sun, Taṇhāsallassa hantāraṁ, destroyer of the dart of craving.” vande ādiccabandhunaṁ.

“Over a thousand mendicants Parosahassaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ, revere the Holy One sugataṁ payirupāsati; as he teaches the immaculate Dhamma, Desentaṁ virajaṁ dhammaṁ, extinguishment, fearing nothing from any quarter. nibbānaṁ akutobhayaṁ.

They listen to the immaculate Dhamma Suṇanti dhammaṁ vimalaṁ, taught by the fully awakened Buddha; sammāsambuddhadesitaṁ; the Buddha is so brilliant, Sobhati vata sambuddho, at the fore of the mendicant Saṅgha. bhikkhusaṅghapurakkhato.

Blessed One, your name is ‘Giant’, ‘Nāganāmo’si bhagavā, seventh of the seers. isīnaṁ isisattamo; You are like a great cloud Mahāmeghova hutvāna, that rains on your disciples. sāvake abhivassasi.

I’ve left my day’s meditation, Divā vihārā nikkhamma, out of desire to see the teacher. satthudassanakamyatā; Great hero, your disciple Vaṅgīsa Sāvako te mahāvīra, bows at your feet.” pāde vandati vaṅgiso”.

“Having overcome Māra’s wrong path, “Ummaggapathaṁ mārassa, you wander with hard-heartedness dissolved. Abhibhuyya carati pabhijja khīlāni; See him, the liberator from bonds, Taṁ passatha bandhapamuñcakaraṁ, dissecting the unattached section by section. Asitaṁva bhāgaso pavibhajja.

You have explained in many ways Oghassa hi nitaraṇatthaṁ, the path to cross the flood. Anekavihitaṁ maggaṁ akkhāsi; The Seers of Truth stand unfaltering Tasmiñca amate akkhāte, in the freedom from death you’ve explained. Dhammadasā ṭhitā asaṁhīrā.

As the bringer of light who has pierced the truth, Pajjotakaro ativijjha, you’ve seen what lies beyond all planes. Sabbaṭhitīnaṁ atikkamamaddasa; When you saw and realized this for yourself, Ñatvā ca sacchikatvā ca, you taught it first to the group of five. Aggaṁ so desayi dasaddhānaṁ.

When the Dhamma has been so well taught, Evaṁ sudesite dhamme, how could those who know it be negligent? Ko pamādo vijānataṁ dhammaṁ; That’s why, being diligent, we should always train Tasmā hi tassa bhagavato sāsane, respectfully in the Buddha’s teaching.” Appamatto sadā namassamanusikkhe”.

“The senior monk awakened after the Buddha, “Buddhānubuddho yo thero, Koṇḍañña, is keenly energetic. koṇḍañño tibbanikkamo; He regularly gains Lābhī sukhavihārānaṁ, the blissful meditations of seclusion. vivekānaṁ abhiṇhaso.

Whatever can be attained by a disciple Yaṁ sāvakena pattabbaṁ, who does the Teacher’s bidding, satthu sāsanakārinā; he has attained it all, Sabbassa taṁ anuppattaṁ, through diligently training himself. appamattassa sikkhato.

With great power and the three knowledges, Mahānubhāvo tevijjo, expert in encompassing the minds of others, cetopariyakovido; Koṇḍañña, the heir to the Buddha, Koṇḍañño buddhadāyādo, bows at the Teacher’s feet.” pāde vandati satthuno”.

“As the sage, who has gone beyond suffering, “Nagassa passe āsīnaṁ, sits upon the mountain slope, muniṁ dukkhassa pāraguṁ; he is revered by disciples with the three knowledges, Sāvakā payirupāsanti, conquerors of death. tevijjā maccuhāyino.

Moggallāna, of great psychic power, Cetasā anupariyeti, encompasses with his mind, moggallāno mahiddhiko; scrutinizing their minds, Cittaṁ nesaṁ samanvesaṁ, liberated, free of attachments. vippamuttaṁ nirūpadhiṁ.

That is how those endowed <j>with many fine qualities Evaṁ sabbaṅgasampannaṁ, revere Gotama, muniṁ dukkhassa pāraguṁ; the sage gone beyond suffering, Anekākārasampannaṁ, perfect in every respect.” payirupāsanti gotamaṁ”.

“Like the moon on a cloudless night, “Cando yathā vigatavalāhake nabhe, like the shining immaculate sun, Virocati vītamalova bhāṇumā; so too Aṅgīrasa, O great sage, Evampi aṅgīrasa tvaṁ mahāmuni, your glory outshines the entire world.” Atirocasi yasasā sabbalokaṁ”.

“We used to wander, drunk on poetry, “Kāveyyamattā vicarimha pubbe, from village to village, town to town. Gāmā gāmaṁ purā puraṁ; Then we saw the Buddha, Athaddasāma sambuddhaṁ, who has gone beyond all things. Sabbadhammāna pāraguṁ.

He, the sage gone beyond suffering, So me dhammamadesesi, taught me the Dhamma. muni dukkhassa pāragū; When we heard the Dhamma, <j>we became confident—Dhammaṁ sutvā pasīdimha, faith arose in us. saddhā no udapajjatha.

Hearing him speak of Tassāhaṁ vacanaṁ sutvā, the aggregates, the sense-fields, khandhe āyatanāni ca; and the elements, I understood; Dhātuyo ca viditvāna, and then I went forth to homelessness. pabbajiṁ anagāriyaṁ.

It is for the benefit of many Bahūnaṁ vata atthāya, that the Realized Ones arise—uppajjanti tathāgatā; the men and women Itthīnaṁ purisānañca, who follow his instructions. ye te sāsanakārakā.

It is truly for their benefit Tesaṁ kho vata atthāya, that the sage realized awakening—bodhimajjhagamā muni; for the monks and for the nuns Bhikkhūnaṁ bhikkhunīnañca, who see that they’ve reached certainty. ye nirāmagataddasā.

The Clear-eyed One, the Buddha, Sudesitā cakkhumatā, the Kinsman of the Sun, buddhenādiccabandhunā; has well taught the four noble truths Cattāri ariyasaccāni, out of sympathy for living creatures. anukampāya pāṇinaṁ.

Suffering, suffering’s origin, Dukkhaṁ dukkhasamuppādaṁ, suffering’s transcendence, Dukkhassa ca atikkamaṁ; and the noble eightfold path Ariyaṁ caṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ, that leads to the stilling of suffering. Dukkhūpasamagāminaṁ.

As these things were taught, Evamete tathā vuttā, so I have seen them. diṭṭhā me te yathā tathā; I’ve realized my heart’s goal, Sadattho me anuppatto, and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions. kataṁ buddhassa sāsanaṁ.

It was so welcome for me Svāgataṁ vata me āsi, to be in the presence of the Buddha. mama buddhassa santike; Of the well-explained teachings, Suvibhattesu dhammesu, I arrived at the best. yaṁ seṭṭhaṁ tadupāgamiṁ.

I’ve realized the perfection of direct knowledge; Abhiññāpāramippatto, my clairaudience is purified; sotadhātu visodhitā; I am master of three knowledges, <j>attained in psychic power, Tevijjo iddhipattomhi, I’m expert at reading the minds of others.” cetopariyakovido”.

“I ask the teacher unrivaled in wisdom, “Pucchāmi satthāramanomapaññaṁ, who has cut off all doubts in this very life: Diṭṭheva dhamme yo vicikicchānaṁ chettā; a monk has died at Āḷavī’s premier shrine, Aggāḷave kālamakāsi bhikkhu, who was well-known, famous, and quenched. Ñāto yasassī abhinibbutatto.

Nigrodhakappa was his name; Nigrodhakappo iti tassa nāmaṁ, it was given to that brahmin by you, Blessed One. Tayā kataṁ bhagavā brāhmaṇassa; He wandered in your honor, yearning for freedom, So taṁ namassaṁ acari mutyapekho, energetic, a resolute Seer of Truth. Āraddhavīriyo daḷhadhammadassī.

O Sakyan, All-seer, Taṁ sāvakaṁ sakka mayampi sabbe, we all wish to know about that disciple. Aññātumicchāma samantacakkhu; Our ears are eager to hear, Samavaṭṭhitā no savanāya sotā, for you are the most excellent teacher. Tuvaṁ no satthā tvamanuttarosi.

Cut off our doubt, declare this to us; Chinda no vicikicchaṁ brūhi metaṁ, your wisdom is vast, tell us of his quenching! Parinibbutaṁ vedaya bhūripañña; All-seer, speak among us, Majjheva no bhāsa samantacakkhu, like the thousand-eyed Sakka <j>in the midst of the gods! Sakkova devāna sahassanetto.

Whatever ties there are, or paths to delusion, Ye keci ganthā idha mohamaggā, or things on the side of unknowing, <j>or that are bases of doubt Aññāṇapakkhā vicikicchaṭhānā; vanish on reaching a Realized One, Tathāgataṁ patvā na te bhavanti, for his eye is the best of all people’s. Cakkhuñhi etaṁ paramaṁ narānaṁ.

If no man were ever to disperse corruptions, No ce hi jātu puriso kilese, like the wind dispersing the stormclouds, Vāto yathā abbhaghanaṁ vihāne; darkness would veil the whole world; Tamovassa nivuto sabbaloko, not even brilliant men would shine. Jotimantopi na pabhāseyyuṁ.

The attentive are bringers of light; Dhīrā ca pajjotakarā bhavanti, my hero, that is what I think of you. Taṁ taṁ ahaṁ vīra tatheva maññe; We’ve come for your discernment and knowledge: Vipassinaṁ jānamupāgamimha, here in this assembly, declare to us about Kappāyana. Parisāsu no āvikarohi kappaṁ.

Swiftly send forth your sweet, sweet voice, Khippaṁ giraṁ eraya vaggu vagguṁ, like a goose stretching its neck, gently honking, Haṁsova paggayha saṇikaṁ nikūja; lucid-flowing, with lovely tone: Bindussarena suvikappitena, alert, we all listen to you. Sabbeva te ujjugatā suṇoma.

You have entirely abandoned birth and death; Pahīnajātimaraṇaṁ asesaṁ, restrained and pure, speak the Dhamma! Niggayha dhonaṁ vadessāmi dhammaṁ; For ordinary people <j>have no wish-granter, Na kāmakāro hi puthujjanānaṁ, but Realized Ones <j>have a comprehensibility-granter. Saṅkheyyakāro ca tathāgatānaṁ.

Your answer is definitive, and we will adopt it, Sampannaveyyākaraṇaṁ tavedaṁ, for you have perfect understanding. Samujjupaññassa samuggahītaṁ; We raise our joined palms one last time, Ayamañjali pacchimo suppaṇāmito, one of unrivaled wisdom, <j>don’t deliberately confuse us. Mā mohayī jānamanomapañña.

Knowing the teaching of the noble ones <j>from top to bottom, Paroparaṁ ariyadhammaṁ viditvā, one of unrivaled energy, <j>don’t deliberately confuse us. Mā mohayī jānamanomavīriya; Like a man in the baking summer sun <j>would long for water, Vāriṁ yathā ghammani ghammatatto, I long for your voice, so let the sound rain forth. Vācābhikaṅkhāmi sutaṁ pavassa.

Surely Kappāyana did not <j>lead the spiritual life in vain? Yadatthikaṁ brahmacariyaṁ acarī, Did he realize quenching, Kappāyano kaccissataṁ amoghaṁ; or did he still have a residue? Nibbāyi so ādu saupādiseso, Let us hear what kind of liberation he had!” Yathā vimutto ahu taṁ suṇoma”.

“He cut off craving for name and form right here,” “Acchecchi taṇhaṁ idha nāmarūpe, said the Buddha, (iti bhagavā) “the river of darkness that had long lain within him. Kaṇhassa sotaṁ dīgharattānusayitaṁ; He has entirely crossed over birth and death.” Atāri jātiṁ maraṇaṁ asesaṁ, So declared the Blessed One, the leader of the five. Iccabravi bhagavā pañcaseṭṭho”.

“Now that I have heard your words, “Esa sutvā pasīdāmi, seventh of seers, I am confident. vaco te isisattama; My question, it seems, was not in vain, Amoghaṁ kira me puṭṭhaṁ, the brahmin did not deceive me. na maṁ vañcesi brāhmaṇo.

As he spoke, so he acted; Yathā vādī tathā kārī, he was a disciple of the Buddha. ahu buddhassa sāvako; He cut the net of death the deceiver, Acchecchi maccuno jālaṁ, so extended and strong. tataṁ māyāvino daḷhaṁ.

Blessed One, Kappāyana saw Addasa bhagavā ādiṁ, the starting point of grasping. upādānassa kappiyo; He has indeed gone far beyond Accagā vata kappāno, Death’s dominion so hard to pass. maccudheyyaṁ suduttaraṁ.

God of gods, best of men, I bow to you, Taṁ devadevaṁ vandāmi, and to your son, puttaṁ te dvipaduttama; who followed your example, a great hero; Anujātaṁ mahāvīraṁ, a giant, true-born son of a giant.” nāgaṁ nāgassa orasan”ti.

That is how these verses were recited by the senior venerable Vaṅgīsa. Itthaṁ sudaṁ āyasmā vaṅgīso thero gāthāyo abhāsitthāti.

The Great Book is Finished Mahānipāto niṭṭhito.

Tatruddānaṁ

Sattatimhi nipātamhi, vaṅgīso paṭibhāṇavā; Ekova thero natthañño, gāthāyo ekasattatīti.

Niṭṭhitā theragāthāyo.

Tatruddānaṁ

Sahassaṁ honti tā gāthā, tīṇi saṭṭhisatāni ca; Therā ca dve satā saṭṭhi, cattāro ca pakāsitā.

Sīhanādaṁ naditvāna, buddhaputtā anāsavā; Khemantaṁ pāpuṇitvāna, aggikhandhāva nibbutāti.

The Verses of the Senior Monks are finished. Theragāthāpāḷi niṭṭhitā.