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Khuddaka Nikāya - The Minor Texts

Theragatha - The Verses of the Senior Monks

Chapter 13: The Group of Thirteen Verses

  • Translated from the Pali by Bhante Sujato and Jessica Walton
Soṇakoḷivisa

632He who was special in the kingdom,
the footman to the king of Aṅga,
today is special in the Dhamma—
Soṇa has gone beyond suffering.

633Five to cut, five to drop,
and five more to develop.
When a mendicant slips five chains
they’re said to have crossed the flood.

634If a monk is insolent and negligent,
concerned only with externals,
their ethics, immersion, and wisdom
do not become fulfilled.

635They disregard what should be done,
and do what should not be done.
For the insolent and the negligent,
their defilements only grow.

636Those that have properly undertaken
constant mindfulness of the body,
don’t cultivate what should not be done,
but always do what should be done.
Mindful and aware,
their defilements come to an end.

637The straight path has been explained—
go on it and don’t turn back.
Urge yourself on
and take yourself to extinguishment.

638When my energy was over-exerted,
the supreme Teacher in the world
created the simile of the arched harp for me.
The Clear-eyed One taught the Dhamma,
and when I heard what he said,
I happily did his bidding.

639Practicing serenity of mind
for the attainment of the highest goal.
I’ve attained the three knowledges
and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.

640When you’re dedicated to renunciation
and seclusion of the heart;
when you’re dedicated to kindness
and the end of grasping;

641when you’re dedicated to the ending of craving
and clarity of heart;
and you’ve seen the arising of the senses,
your mind is rightly freed.

642For that one, rightly freed,
a mendicant with peaceful mind,
there’s nothing to be improved,
and nothing more to do.

643As the wind cannot stir
a solid mass of rock,
so too sights, tastes, sounds,
smells, and touches—the lot—

644and ideas, whether liked or disliked,
don’t disturb the unaffected one.
Their mind is steady and unfettered
as they observe disappearance.

Soṇakoḷivisatheragāthā

632 p_19Th1_954"Yāhu raṭṭhe samukkaṭṭho,
rañño aṅgassa paddhagū;
Svajja dhammesu ukkaṭṭho,
soṇo dukkhassa pāragū.

633p_19Th1_955Pañca chinde pañca jahe,
pañca cuttari bhāvaye;
Pañcasaṅgātigo bhikkhu,
oghatiṇṇoti vuccati.

634p_19Th1_956Unnaḷassa pamattassa,
bāhirāsassa bhikkhuno;
Sīlaṁ samādhi paññā ca,
pāripūriṁ na gacchati.

635p_19Th1_957Yañhi kiccaṁ apaviddhaṁ,
akiccaṁ pana karīyati;
Unnaḷānaṁ pamattānaṁ,
tesaṁ vaḍḍhanti āsavā.

636p_19Th1_958Yesañca susamāraddhā,
niccaṁ kāyagatā sati;
Akiccaṁ te na sevanti,
kicce sātaccakārino;
Satānaṁ sampajānānaṁ,
atthaṁ gacchanti āsavā.

637p_19Th1_959Ujumaggamhi akkhāte,
gacchatha mā nivattatha;
Attanā codayattānaṁ,
nibbānamabhihāraye.

638p_19Th1_960Accāraddhamhi vīriyamhi,
satthā loke anuttaro;
Vīṇopamaṁ karitvā me,
dhammaṁ desesi cakkhumā;
Tassāhaṁ vacanaṁ sutvā,
vihāsiṁ sāsane rato.

639p_19Th1_961Samathaṁ paṭipādesiṁ,
uttamatthassa pattiyā;
Tisso vijjā anuppattā,
kataṁ buddhassa sāsanaṁ.

640p_19Th1_962Nekkhamme adhimuttassa,
pavivekañca cetaso;
upādānakkhayassa ca.

641p_19Th1_963Taṇhakkhayādhimuttassa,
asammohañca cetaso;
Abyāpajjādhimuttassa,
Disvā āyatanuppādaṁ,
sammā cittaṁ vimuccati.

642 p_19Th1_964Tassa sammā vimuttassa,
santacittassa bhikkhuno;
Katassa paṭicayo natthi,
karaṇīyaṁ na vijjati.

643p_19Th1_965Selo yathā ekagghano,
vātena na samīrati;
Evaṁ rūpā rasā saddā,
gandhā phassā ca kevalā.

644p_19Th1_966Iṭṭhā dhammā aniṭṭhā ca,
nappavedhenti tādino;
Ṭhitaṁ cittaṁ visaññuttaṁ,
vayañcassānupassatī"ti.