Scripture · Sanskrit Bible with the King James Version · the Pāli Canon

Search Scripture Search

Verses of the Senior Monks 251 थेरगाथा 251

Chapter: 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111112113114115116117118119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133134135136137138139140141142143144145146147148149150151152153154155156157158159160161162163164165166167168169170171172173174175176177178179180181182183184185186187188189190191192193194195196197198199200201202203204205206207208209210211212213214215216217218219220221222223224225226227228229230231232233234235236237238239240241242243244245246247248249250251252253254255256257258259260261262263264

Raṭṭhapālattheragāthā

Pāli in Devanagari; under each word its Roman pronunciation, syllable by syllable (ṃ = nasal hum). Tap a Pāli word for its meaning (PTS Pāli-English Dictionary); tap again to open it in the Pāli dictionary.

Verse: 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105 · Hide pronunciation

1. 1

   थेरगाथाthe·ra·gā·thā 16।4

   Theragāthā 16.4

   Verses of the Senior Monks 16.4

2. 2

   वीसतिनिपातvī·sa·ti·ni·pā·ta

   Vīsatinipāta

   The Book of the Twenties

3. 3

   पठमवग्गpa·ṭha·ma·vag·ga

   Paṭhamavagga

   Chapter One

4. 4

   रट्ठपालत्थेरगाथाraṭ·ṭha·pā·lat·the·ra·gā·thā

   Raṭṭhapālattheragāthā

   Raṭṭhapāla

5. 5

   “पस्सpas·sa चित्तकतंcit·ta·ka·taṃ बिम्बं,bim·baṃ

   “Passa cittakataṁ bimbaṁ,

   “See this fancy puppet,

6. 6

   अरुकायंa·ru·kā·yaṃ समुस्सितं;sa·mus·si·taṃ

   arukāyaṁ samussitaṁ;

   a body built of sores,

7. 7

   आतुरंā·tu·raṃ बहुसङ्कप्पं,ba·hu·saṅ·kap·paṃ

   Āturaṁ bahusaṅkappaṁ,

   diseased, obsessed over,

8. 8

   यस्सyas·sa नत्थिnat·thi धुवंdhu·vaṃ ठिति।ṭhi·ti

   yassa natthi dhuvaṁ ṭhiti.

   in which nothing lasts at all.

9. 9

   पस्सpas·sa चित्तकतंcit·ta·ka·taṃ रूपं,rū·paṃ

   Passa cittakataṁ rūpaṁ,

   See this fancy figure,

10. 10

    मणिनाma·ṇi·nā कुण्डलेनkuṇ·ḍa·le·na च;ca

    maṇinā kuṇḍalena ca;

    with its gems and earrings;

11. 11

    अट्ठिंaṭ·ṭhiṃ तचेनta·ce·na ओनद्धं,o·nad·dhaṃ

    Aṭṭhiṁ tacena onaddhaṁ,

    it is bones swathed in skin,

12. 12

    सहsa·ha वत्थेहिvat·the·hi सोभति।so·bha·ti

    saha vatthehi sobhati.

    made pretty by its clothes.

13. 13

    अलत्तककताa·lat·ta·ka·ka·tā पादा,pā·dā

    Alattakakatā pādā,

    Rouged feet

14. 14

    मुखंmu·khaṃ चुण्णकमक्खितं;cuṇ·ṇa·ka·mak·khi·taṃ

    mukhaṁ cuṇṇakamakkhitaṁ;

    and powdered face

15. 15

    अलंa·laṃ बालस्सbā·las·sa मोहाय,mo·hā·ya

    Alaṁ bālassa mohāya,

    may be enough to beguile a fool,

16. 16

    नोno चca पारगवेसिनो।pā·ra·ga·ve·si·no

    no ca pāragavesino.

    but not a seeker of the far shore.

17. 17

    अट्ठपदकताaṭ·ṭha·pa·da·ka·tā केसा,ke·sā

    Aṭṭhapadakatā kesā,

    Hair in eight braids

18. 18

    नेत्ताnet·tā अञ्जनमक्खिता;añ·ja·na·mak·khi·tā

    nettā añjanamakkhitā;

    and eyeshadow

19. 19

    अलंa·laṃ बालस्सbā·las·sa मोहाय,mo·hā·ya

    Alaṁ bālassa mohāya,

    may be enough to beguile a fool,

20. 20

    नोno चca पारगवेसिनो।pā·ra·ga·ve·si·no

    no ca pāragavesino.

    but not a seeker of the far shore.

21. 21

    अञ्जनीवañ·ja·nī·va नवाna·vā चित्ता,cit·tā

    Añjanīva navā cittā,

    A rotting body all adorned

22. 22

    पूतिकायोpū·ti·kā·yo अलङ्कतो;a·laṅ·ka·to

    pūtikāyo alaṅkato;

    like a freshly painted makeup box

23. 23

    अलंa·laṃ बालस्सbā·las·sa मोहाय,mo·hā·ya

    Alaṁ bālassa mohāya,

    may be enough to beguile a fool,

24. 24

    नोno चca पारगवेसिनो।pā·ra·ga·ve·si·no

    no ca pāragavesino.

    but not a seeker of the far shore.

25. 25

    ओदहिo·da·hi मिगवोmi·ga·vo पासं,pā·saṃ

    Odahi migavo pāsaṁ,

    The hunter laid his snare,

26. 26

    नासदाnā·sa·dā वागुरंvā·gu·raṃ मिगो;mi·go

    nāsadā vāguraṁ migo;

    but the deer didn’t spring the trap.

27. 27

    भुत्वाbhut·vā निवापंni·vā·paṃ गच्छाम,gac·chā·ma

    Bhutvā nivāpaṁ gacchāma,

    I’ve eaten the bait and now I go,

28. 28

    कन्दन्तेkan·dan·te मिगबन्धके।mi·ga·ban·dha·ke

    kandante migabandhake.

    leaving the trapper to lament.

29. 29

    छिन्नोchin·no पासोpā·so मिगवस्स,mi·ga·vas·sa

    Chinno pāso migavassa,

    The hunter’s snare is broken,

30. 30

    नासदाnā·sa·dā वागुरंvā·gu·raṃ मिगो;mi·go

    nāsadā vāguraṁ migo;

    but the deer didn’t spring the trap.

31. 31

    भुत्वाbhut·vā निवापंni·vā·paṃ गच्छाम,gac·chā·ma

    Bhutvā nivāpaṁ gacchāma,

    I’ve eaten the bait and now I go,

32. 32

    सोचन्तेso·can·te मिगलुद्दके।mi·ga·lud·da·ke

    socante migaluddake.

    leaving the deer-hunter to grieve.”

33. 33

    पस्सामिpas·sā·mi लोकेlo·ke सधनेsa·dha·ne मनुस्से,ma·nus·se

    Passāmi loke sadhane manusse,

    “I see rich people in the world who,

34. 34

    लद्धानlad·dhā·na वित्तंvit·taṃ नna ददन्तिda·dan·ti मोहा;mo·hā

    Laddhāna vittaṁ na dadanti mohā;

    because of delusion, <j>give not the wealth they’ve earned.

35. 35

    लुद्धाlud·dhā धनंdha·naṃ सन्निचयंsan·ni·ca·yaṃ करोन्ति,ka·ron·ti

    Luddhā dhanaṁ sannicayaṁ karonti,

    Greedily, they hoard their riches,

36. 36

    भिय्योवbhiy·yo·va कामेkā·me अभिपत्थयन्ति।a·bhi·pat·tha·yan·ti

    Bhiyyova kāme abhipatthayanti.

    yearning for ever more sensual pleasures.

37. 37

    राजाrā·jā पसय्हप्पथविंpa·say·hap·pa·tha·viṃ विजेत्वा,vi·jet·vā

    Rājā pasayhappathaviṁ vijetvā,

    A king who conquered the earth by force,

38. 38

    ससागरन्तंsa·sā·ga·ran·taṃ महिमावसन्तो;ma·hi·mā·va·san·to

    Sasāgarantaṁ mahimāvasanto;

    ruling the land from sea to sea,

39. 39

    ओरंo·raṃ समुद्दस्सsa·mud·das·sa अतित्तरूपो,a·tit·ta·rū·po

    Oraṁ samuddassa atittarūpo,

    unsatisfied with the near shore of the ocean,

40. 40

    पारंpā·raṃ समुद्दस्सपिsa·mud·das·sa·pi पत्थयेथ।pat·tha·ye·tha

    Pāraṁ samuddassapi patthayetha.

    would still yearn for the further shore.

41. 41

    राजाrā·jā चca अञ्ञेañ·ñe चca बहूba·hū मनुस्सा,ma·nus·sā

    Rājā ca aññe ca bahū manussā,

    Not just the king, but others too,

42. 42

    अवीततण्हाa·vī·ta·taṇ·hā मरणंma·ra·ṇaṃ उपेन्ति;u·pen·ti

    Avītataṇhā maraṇaṁ upenti;

    reach death not rid of craving.

43. 43

    ऊनावū·nā·va हुत्वानhut·vā·na जहन्तिja·han·ti देहं,de·haṃ

    Ūnāva hutvāna jahanti dehaṁ,

    They leave the body still wanting,

44. 44

    कामेहिkā·me·hi लोकम्हिlo·kam·hi नna हत्थिhat·thi तित्ति।tit·ti

    Kāmehi lokamhi na hatthi titti.

    for in this world sensual pleasures never satisfy.

45. 45

    कन्दन्तिkan·dan·ti नंnaṃ ञातीñā·tī पकिरियpa·ki·ri·ya केसे,ke·se

    Kandanti naṁ ñātī pakiriya kese,

    Relatives lament, their hair disheveled,

46. 46

    अहोa·ho वताva·tā नोno अमरातिa·ma·rā·ti चाहु;cā·hu

    Aho vatā no amarāti cāhu;

    saying ‘Ah! Alas! They’re not immortal!’

47. 47

    वत्थेनvat·the·na नंnaṃ पारुतंpā·ru·taṃ नीहरित्वा,nī·ha·rit·vā

    Vatthena naṁ pārutaṁ nīharitvā,

    They take out the body wrapped in a shroud,

48. 48

    चितंci·taṃ समोधायsa·mo·dhā·ya ततोta·to डहन्ति।ḍa·han·ti

    Citaṁ samodhāya tato ḍahanti.

    heap up a pyre, and burn it there.

49. 49

    सोso डय्हतिḍay·ha·ti सूलेहिsū·le·hi तुज्जमानो,tuj·ja·mā·no

    So ḍayhati sūlehi tujjamāno,

    It’s poked with stakes while being burnt,

50. 50

    एकेनe·ke·na वत्थेनvat·the·na पहायpa·hā·ya भोगे;bho·ge

    Ekena vatthena pahāya bhoge;

    in just a single cloth, all wealth gone.

51. 51

    नna मीयमानस्सmī·ya·mā·nas·sa भवन्तिbha·van·ti ताणा,tā·ṇā

    Na mīyamānassa bhavanti tāṇā,

    Relatives, friends, and companions

52. 52

    ञातीñā·tī चca मित्ताmit·tā अथa·tha वाvā सहाया।sa·hā·yā

    Ñātī ca mittā atha vā sahāyā.

    can’t help you when you’re dying.

53. 53

    दायादकाdā·yā·da·kā तस्सtas·sa धनंdha·naṃ हरन्ति,ha·ran·ti

    Dāyādakā tassa dhanaṁ haranti,

    Heirs take your riches,

54. 54

    सत्तोsat·to पनpa·na गच्छतिgac·cha·ti येनye·na कम्मं;kam·maṃ

    Satto pana gacchati yena kammaṁ;

    while beings fare on according to their deeds.

55. 55

    नna मीयमानंmī·ya·mā·naṃ धनमन्वेतिdha·na·man·ve·ti किञ्चि,kiñ·ci

    Na mīyamānaṁ dhanamanveti kiñci,

    Riches don’t follow you when you die;

56. 56

    पुत्ताput·tā चca दाराdā·rā चca धनञ्चdha·nañ·ca रट्ठं।raṭ·ṭhaṃ

    Puttā ca dārā ca dhanañca raṭṭhaṁ.

    nor do children, wife, wealth, nor kingdom.

57. 57

    नna दीघमायुंdī·gha·mā·yuṃ लभतेla·bha·te धनेन,dha·ne·na

    Na dīghamāyuṁ labhate dhanena,

    Longevity isn’t gained by riches,

58. 58

    नna चापिcā·pi वित्तेनvit·te·na जरंja·raṃ विहन्ति;vi·han·ti

    Na cāpi vittena jaraṁ vihanti;

    nor does wealth banish old age;

59. 59

    अप्पंap·paṃ हिदंhi·daṃ जीवितमाहुjī·vi·ta·mā·hu धीरा,dhī·rā

    Appaṁ hidaṁ jīvitamāhu dhīrā,

    for the attentive say this life is short,

60. 60

    असस्सतंa·sas·sa·taṃ विप्परिणामधम्मं।vip·pa·ri·ṇā·ma·dham·maṃ

    Asassataṁ vippariṇāmadhammaṁ.

    it’s perishable and not eternal.

61. 61

    अड्ढाaḍ·ḍhā दलिद्दाda·lid·dā चca फुसन्तिphu·san·ti फस्सं,phas·saṃ

    Aḍḍhā daliddā ca phusanti phassaṁ,

    The rich and the poor feel its touch;

62. 62

    बालोbā·lo चca धीरोdhī·ro चca तथेवta·the·va फुट्ठो;phuṭ·ṭho

    Bālo ca dhīro ca tatheva phuṭṭho;

    the fool and the attentive one feel it too.

63. 63

    बालोbā·lo हिhi बाल्याbāl·yā वधितोवva·dhi·to·va सेति,se·ti

    Bālo hi bālyā vadhitova seti,

    But the fool lies stricken by their own folly,

64. 64

    धीरोdhī·ro चca नोno वेधतिve·dha·ti फस्सफुट्ठो।phas·sa·phuṭ·ṭho

    Dhīro ca no vedhati phassaphuṭṭho.

    while the attentive don’t tremble at the touch.

65. 65

    तस्माtas·mā हिhi पञ्ञावpañ·ñā·va धनेनdha·ne·na सेय्या,sey·yā

    Tasmā hi paññāva dhanena seyyā,

    Therefore wisdom’s much better than wealth,

66. 66

    यायyā·ya वोसानमिधाधिगच्छति;vo·sā·na·mi·dhā·dhi·gac·cha·ti

    Yāya vosānamidhādhigacchati;

    since by wisdom <j>you reach consummation in this life.

67. 67

    अब्योसितत्ताab·yo·si·tat·tā हिhi भवाभवेसु,bha·vā·bha·ve·su

    Abyositattā hi bhavābhavesu,

    But if because of delusion <j>you don’t reach consummation,

68. 68

    पापानिpā·pā·ni कम्मानिkam·mā·ni करोतिka·ro·ti मोहा।mo·hā

    Pāpāni kammāni karoti mohā.

    you’ll do evil deeds in life after life.

69. 69

    उपेतिu·pe·ti गब्भञ्चgab·bhañ·ca परञ्चpa·rañ·ca लोकं,lo·kaṃ

    Upeti gabbhañca parañca lokaṁ,

    One who enters a womb and the world beyond,

70. 70

    संसारमापज्जsaṃ·sā·ra·mā·paj·ja परम्पराय;pa·ram·pa·rā·ya

    Saṁsāramāpajja paramparāya;

    will transmigrate from one life to the next.

71. 71

    तस्सप्पपञ्ञोtas·sap·pa·pañ·ño अभिसद्दहन्तो,a·bhi·sad·da·han·to

    Tassappapañño abhisaddahanto,

    While someone of little wisdom, <j>placing faith in them,

72. 72

    उपेतिu·pe·ti गब्भञ्चgab·bhañ·ca परञ्चpa·rañ·ca लोकं।lo·kaṃ

    Upeti gabbhañca parañca lokaṁ.

    also enters a womb and the world beyond.

73. 73

    चोरोco·ro यथाya·thā सन्धिमुखेsan·dhi·mu·khe गहीतो,ga·hī·to

    Coro yathā sandhimukhe gahīto,

    As a bandit caught in a window

74. 74

    सकम्मुनाsa·kam·mu·nā हञ्ञतिhañ·ña·ti पापधम्मो;pā·pa·dham·mo

    Sakammunā haññati pāpadhammo;

    is punished for his own bad deeds;

75. 75

    एवंe·vaṃ पजाpa·jā पेच्चpec·ca परम्हिpa·ram·hi लोके,lo·ke

    Evaṁ pajā pecca paramhi loke,

    so after departing, in the world beyond,

76. 76

    सकम्मुनाsa·kam·mu·nā हञ्ञतिhañ·ña·ti पापधम्मो।pā·pa·dham·mo

    Sakammunā haññati pāpadhammo.

    people are punished for their own bad deeds.

77. 77

    कामाkā·mā हिhi चित्राcit·rā मधुराma·dhu·rā मनोरमा,ma·no·ra·mā

    Kāmā hi citrā madhurā manoramā,

    Sensual pleasures are diverse, sweet, delightful;

78. 78

    विरूपरूपेनvi·rū·pa·rū·pe·na मथेन्तिma·then·ti चित्तं;cit·taṃ

    Virūparūpena mathenti cittaṁ;

    appearing in disguise they disturb the mind.

79. 79

    आदीनवंā·dī·na·vaṃ कामगुणेसुkā·ma·gu·ṇe·su दिस्वा,dis·vā

    Ādīnavaṁ kāmaguṇesu disvā,

    Seeing danger in sensual stimulations,

80. 80

    तस्माtas·mā अहंa·haṃ पब्बजितोम्हिpab·ba·ji·tom·hi राज।rā·ja

    Tasmā ahaṁ pabbajitomhi rāja.

    I went forth, O King.

81. 81

    दुमप्फलानीवdu·map·pha·lā·nī·va पतन्तिpa·tan·ti माणवा,mā·ṇa·vā

    Dumapphalānīva patanti māṇavā,

    As fruit falls from a tree, so the sons of Manu fall,

82. 82

    दहराda·ha·rā चca वुड्ढाvuḍ·ḍhā चca सरीरभेदा;sa·rī·ra·bhe·dā

    Daharā ca vuḍḍhā ca sarīrabhedā;

    young and old, when the body breaks up.

83. 83

    एतम्पिe·tam·pi दिस्वाdis·vā पब्बजितोम्हिpab·ba·ji·tom·hi राज,rā·ja

    Etampi disvā pabbajitomhi rāja,

    Seeing this, too, I went forth, O King;

84. 84

    अपण्णकंa·paṇ·ṇa·kaṃ सामञ्ञमेवsā·mañ·ña·me·va सेय्यो।sey·yo

    Apaṇṇakaṁ sāmaññameva seyyo.

    it’s a sure bet that the ascetic life is better.”

85. 85

    सद्धायाहंsad·dhā·yā·haṃ पब्बजितो,pab·ba·ji·to

    Saddhāyāhaṁ pabbajito,

    “I went forth out of faith

86. 86

    उपेतोu·pe·to जिनसासने;ji·na·sā·sa·ne

    upeto jinasāsane;

    joining the victor’s dispensation.

87. 87

    अवञ्झाa·vañ·jhā मय्हंmay·haṃ पब्बज्जा,pab·baj·jā

    Avañjhā mayhaṁ pabbajjā,

    My going forth wasn’t wasted;

88. 88

    अनणोa·na·ṇo भुञ्जामिbhuñ·jā·mi भोजनं।bho·ja·naṃ

    anaṇo bhuñjāmi bhojanaṁ.

    I enjoy my food free of debt.

89. 89

    कामेkā·me आदित्ततोā·dit·ta·to दिस्वा,dis·vā

    Kāme ādittato disvā,

    I saw sensual pleasures as burning,

90. 90

    जातरूपानिjā·ta·rū·pā·ni सत्थतो;sat·tha·to

    Jātarūpāni satthato;

    gold as a cutting blade,

91. 91

    गब्भवोक्कन्तितोgab·bha·vok·kan·ti·to दुक्खं,duk·khaṃ

    Gabbhavokkantito dukkhaṁ,

    conception in a womb as suffering,

92. 92

    निरयेसुni·ra·ye·su महब्भयं।ma·hab·bha·yaṃ

    Nirayesu mahabbhayaṁ.

    and the hells as very fearful.

93. 93

    एतमादीनवंe·ta·mā·dī·na·vaṃ ञत्वा,ñat·vā

    Etamādīnavaṁ ñatvā,

    Knowing this danger,

94. 94

    संवेगंsaṃ·ve·gaṃ अलभिंa·la·bhiṃ तदा;ta·dā

    saṁvegaṁ alabhiṁ tadā;

    I was struck with a sense of urgency.

95. 95

    सोहंso·haṃ विद्धोvid·dho तदाta·dā सन्तो,san·to

    Sohaṁ viddho tadā santo,

    I was stabbed, but then I found peace,

96. 96

    सम्पत्तोsam·pat·to आसवक्खयं।ā·sa·vak·kha·yaṃ

    sampatto āsavakkhayaṁ.

    attaining the end of defilements.

97. 97

    परिचिण्णोpa·ri·ciṇ·ṇo मयाma·yā सत्था,sat·thā

    Pariciṇṇo mayā satthā,

    I’ve served the Teacher

98. 98

    कतंka·taṃ बुद्धस्सbud·dhas·sa सासनं;sā·sa·naṃ

    kataṁ buddhassa sāsanaṁ;

    and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.

99. 99

    ओहितोo·hi·to गरुकोga·ru·ko भारो,bhā·ro

    Ohito garuko bhāro,

    The heavy burden is laid down,

100. 100

     भवनेत्तिbha·va·net·ti समूहता।sa·mū·ha·tā

     bhavanetti samūhatā.

     the leash to existence is eradicated.

101. 101

     यस्सत्थायyas·sat·thā·ya पब्बजितो,pab·ba·ji·to

     Yassatthāya pabbajito,

     I’ve attained the goal

102. 102

     अगारस्मानगारियं;a·gā·ras·mā·na·gā·ri·yaṃ

     agārasmānagāriyaṁ;

     for the sake of which I went forth

103. 103

     सोso मेme अत्थोat·tho अनुप्पत्तो,a·nup·pat·to

     So me attho anuppatto,

     from the lay life to homelessness—

104. 104

     सब्बसंयोजनक्खयो”ति।sab·ba·saṃ·yo·ja·nak·kha·yo

     sabbasaṁyojanakkhayo”ti.

     the ending of all fetters.”

105. 105

     … रट्ठपालोraṭ·ṭha·pā·lo थेरोthe·ro …।

     … Raṭṭhapālo thero ….

     (Pāli only)

Sources. Sanskrit: Satyavedaḥ, the New Testament in Sanskrit (Calcutta Baptist Missionaries, 1851; J. Wenger’s revision of W. Carey’s version). Digital text © 2018 SanskritBible.in, via eBible.org, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; changed here: arranged by verse and every word linked to the dictionary (links made automatically). Old Testament Sanskrit: the Old Testament in Sanskrit, Calcutta Baptist Mission Press, 1848–1852 (public domain), read by OCR from the Internet Archive scans of the Boston University School of Theology copy; unproofread, with machine clean-up only. Pāli Canon: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka Buddhavasse 2500 (based on the Vipassana Research Institute’s Chaṭṭha Saṅgāyana edition), from SuttaCentral bilara-data, CC0; Devanagari and pronunciation made automatically from the Roman text. Pāli English: Bhikkhu Sujato (suttas) and Bhikkhu Brahmali (Vinaya), SuttaCentral, CC0. Pāli word meanings: the Pali Text Society’s Pali-English Dictionary (Rhys Davids & Stede), corrected reprint © The Pali Text Society, CC BY-NC 3.0, digital text from BuddhaDust; word matching automatic. English: King James Version (1769), public domain; words the translators added are in italics. Word meanings and pronunciations: Monier-Williams, Sanskrit–English Dictionary (1872), via this site’s Sanskrit dictionary (CC BY-SA 4.0); English↔Sanskrit word matches made automatically and may need checking.