Theragatha
Verses of the Elder Monks
Source: This anthology prepared by jtb for Access
to Insight.
Access to Insight edition © 2005
For free distribution. This work may be republished, reformatted,
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however, that any such republication and redistribution be made available
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The Theragatha, the eighth book of the Khuddaka Nikaya, consists of 264 poems —
1,291 stanzas in all — in which the early monks (bhikkhus) recount their
struggles and accomplishments along the road to arahantship. Their stories are
told with often heart-breaking honesty and beauty, revealing the deeply human
side of these extraordinary men, and thus serve as inspiring reminders of our
own potential to follow in their footsteps.
An excellent print translation of the complete Therigatha is Elders' Verses I
translated by K.R. Norman (Oxford: Pali Text Society, 1995).
The translator appears in the square brackets []. Pali verse numbers appear in
the braces {}.
Chapter 1 — Single Verses {vv. 1-120}
Thag 1.1: Subhuti {v. 1} [Thanissaro]. Go ahead and rain!
Thag 1.2: Mahakotthika {v. 2} [Thanissaro]. Evil mind-states vanish with the
breeze.
Thag 1.3: Kankharevata {v. 3} [Thanissaro]. Discernment, like a fire in the
night.
Thag 1.7: Bhalliya {v. 7} [Thanissaro]. Steadfast in oneself.
Thag 1.13: Vanavaccha {v. 13} [Thanissaro]. Refreshment in the wilderness.
Thag 1.14: Vanavaccha's pupil {v. 14} [Thanissaro]. There's no tying down one
who knows.
Thag 1.16: Belatthasisa {v. 16} [Hecker/Khema | Thanissaro]. A happiness not
of the flesh.
Thag 1.18: Singalapita {v. 18} [Thanissaro]. Contemplation of the body.
Thag 1.21: Nigrodha {v. 21} [Thanissaro]. Fearless.
Thag 1.22: Cittaka {v. 22} [Thanissaro]. Peacocks.
Thag 1.23: Gosala {v. 23} [Thanissaro]. Seclusion.
Thag 1.25: Nandiya (to Mara) {v. 25} [Thanissaro]. Be careful, Mara!
Thag 1.26: Abhaya {v. 26} [Thanissaro]. Splitting a horse's hair with an
arrow.
Thag 1.29: Harita {v. 29} [Thanissaro]. Shatter ignorance to bits!
Thag 1.32: Suppiya {v. 32} [Thanissaro]. A fair trade.
Thag 1.39: Tissa {v. 39} [Thanissaro]. Practice mindfully, as if your head
were on fire.
Thag 1.41: Sirivaddha {v. 41} [Thanissaro]. Lightning can't shake one in
jhana.
Thag 1.43: Sumangala {v. 43} [Thanissaro]. Free at last from three crooked
things!
Thag 1.49: Ramaneyyaka {v. 49} [Thanissaro]. The delight of a well-focused
mind.
Thag 1.50: Vimala {v. 50} [Thanissaro]. Where neither rain nor wind can reach.
Thag 1.56: Kutiviharin (1) {v. 56} [Thanissaro]. Are you wasting your hut?
Thag 1.57: Kutiviharin (2) {v. 57} [Thanissaro]. Why hope for a new hut (i.e.,
rebirth)?
Thag 1.61: Vappa {v. 61} [Thanissaro]. How far can you see?
Thag 1.68: Ekuddaniya {v. 68} [Thanissaro]. Free of sorrows.
Thag 1.73: Manava {v. 73} [Thanissaro]. Three sights prompted this monk to
leave home.
Thag 1.75: Susarada {v. 75} [Thanissaro]. Who can make a fool wise?
Thag 1.84: Nita {v. 84} [Thanissaro]. When will the fool awaken?
Thag 1.85: Sunaga {v. 85} [Thanissaro]. A pleasure not of the flesh.
Thag 1.86: Nagita {v. 86} [Thanissaro]. All paths do not lead to the same
goal.
Thag 1.93: Eraka {v. 93} [Thanissaro]. Sensual pleasures are stressful.
Thag 1.95: Cakkhupala {v. 95} [Thanissaro]. Shun the evil companion!
Thag 1.104: Khitaka {v. 104} [Thanissaro]. How light my body!
Thag 1.111: Jenta {v. 111} [Thanissaro]. Ponder inconstancy, constantly.
Thag 1.113: Vanavaccha {v. 113} [Thanissaro]. Refreshment in the wilderness.
Thag 1.118: Kimbila {v. 118} [Thanissaro]. Aging drops on us like a curse.
Thag 1.120: Isidatta {v. 120} [Thanissaro]. Cutting through the roots of
suffering.
Chapter 2 — Pairs of Verses {vv. 121-218}
Thag 2.13: Heraññakani {vv. 145-46} [Olendzki (excerpt) | Thanissaro]. The
results of evil deeds will catch up with you.
Thag 2.16: Mahakala {vv. 151-152} [Thanissaro]. May I never lie with my head
cracked open again!
Thag 2.24: Valliya {vv. 167-168} [Thanissaro]. Through persistence I shall
reach the goal!
Thag 2.26: Punnamasa {vv. 171-172} [Thanissaro]. Shed the five hindrances, and
what's left?
Thag 2.27: Nandaka {vv. 173-174} [Thanissaro]. Like a fine thoroughbred steed.
Thag 2.30: Kanhadinna {vv. 179-180} [Thanissaro]. No more passion for
becoming.
Thag 2.37: Sona Potiriyaputta {vv. 193-194} [Thanissaro]. Better to die in
battle than to survive, defeated.
Thag 2.46: Culaka {vv. 211-212} [Olendzki]. The beauty of the wilderness; the
beauty of a heart that's free.
Chapter 3 — Groups of Three Verses {vv. 219-266}
Thag 3.5: Matangaputta {vv. 231-233} [Thanissaro]. It's too hot, too cold —
what's your excuse?
Thag 3.8: Yasoja {243-245} [Thanissaro]. Solitude in the forest: two's
company, three's a hullabaloo!
Thag 3.13: Abhibhuta {vv. 255-257} [Thanissaro]. Rouse yourself! Scatter the
army of death!
Thag 3.14: Gotama {vv. 258-260} [Thanissaro]. After wandering relentlessly
through hell, heaven, the animal world, finally: peace!
Thag 3.15: Harita (2) {vv. 261-263} [Thanissaro]. Careful: the wise can tell
when your actions don't align with your deeds.
Chapter 4 — Groups of Four Verses {vv. 267-314}
Thag 4.8: Rahula {vv. 295-298} [Thanissaro]. The Buddha's son celebrates his
own victory in the Dhamma.
Thag 4.10: Dhammika {vv. 303-306} [Thanissaro]. Protected by the Dhamma.
Chapter 5 — Groups of Five Verses {vv. 315-374}
Thag 5.1: Rajadatta {vv. 315-319} [Thanissaro]. Lusting after a corpse? That's
the last straw for this monk.
Thag 5.8: Vakkali {vv. 350-354} [Thanissaro]. I'd rather stay in the forest.
Thag 5.9: Vijitasena {vv. 355-359} [Norman]. I shall tame you, my mind!
Thag 5.10: Yasadatta {vv. 360-364} [Thanissaro]. There's no time for
quibbling!
Chapter 6 — Groups of Six Verses {vv. 375-458}
Thag 6.2: Tekicchakani {vv. 381-386} [Thanissaro]. How a monk with no food in
his bowl can still find comfort and joy.
Thag 6.6: Sappadasa {vv. 405-410} [Thanissaro]. On the brink of suicide,
Sappadasa breaks through to the Dhamma.
Thag 6.9: Jenta, the Royal Chaplain's Son {vv. 423-428} [Thanissaro]. Even
arrogant fools can find liberation.
Thag 6.10: Sumana the Novice {vv. 429-434} [Thanissaro]. A seven year-old
discovers arahantship.
Thag 6.12: Brahmadatta {vv. 441-446} [Thanissaro]. How to deal with anger.
Thag 6.13: Sirimanda {vv. 447-452} [Olendzki (excerpt) | Thanissaro]. Your
last day approaches. Now is no time to be heedless!
Chapter 7 — Groups of Seven Verses {vv. 459-493}
Thag 7.1: Sundara Samudda and the Courtesan {vv. 459-465} [Thanissaro]. While
grappling with lust, this monk finally comes to his senses.
Chapter 8 — Groups of Eight Verses {vv. 494-517}
Thag 8.1: Maha-Kaccana {vv. 494-501} [Bodhi]. Sound advice for householder and
monk, alike.
Chapter 9 — The Group of Nine Verses {vv. 518-526}
Thag 9: Bhuta (excerpt) {vv. 522-526} [Olendzki]. A mind well-trained is a
mind content under all circumstances.
Chapter 10 — Groups of Ten Verses {vv. 527-596}
Thag 10.1: Kaludayin {vv. 527-536} [Olendzki (excerpt)] . A messenger from the
Buddha's father urges the Buddha to return home.
Thag 10.2: Ekavihariya {vv. 537-546} [Olendzki (excerpt) | Thanissaro]. King
Asoka's younger brother recalls his journey to arahantship in the wilderness.
Thag 10.5: Kappa {vv. 567-576} [Thanissaro]. Are you enchanted by your
physical appearance? This reflection may be just the cure.
Chapter 11 — The Group of Eleven Verses {597-607}
Thag 11: Sankicca {vv. 597-607} [Thanissaro]. A young arahant reflects on his
life in the wilderness.
Chapter 12 — Groups of Twelve Verses {vv. 608-631}
Thag 12.2: Sunita the Outcaste {vv. 620-631} [Thanissaro]. An outcaste tells
his inspiring tale of victory.
Chapter 13 — The Group of Thirteen Verses {vv. 632-644}
Chapter 14 — Groups of Fourteen Verses {vv. 645-672}
Thag 14.1: Revata's Farewell {vv. 645-658} [Thanissaro]. By steadfastly
maintaining his right resolve, this monk finally gains perfect release.
Thag 14.2: Godatta {vv. 659-672} [Thanissaro]. Criticism from the wise is
better than praise from fools; the pain of meditation is better than pleasure
from the senses.
Chapter 15 — Groups of Sixteen Verses {vv. 673-704}
Thag 15.1: Aññakondañña {vv. 673-688} [Olendzki (excerpt)]. Wisdom settles the
mind, as rain the dust.
Thag 15.2: Udayin {vv. 689-704} [Olendzki (excerpt)]. Ven. Udayin uses the
timeless image of the lotus blossom to illustrate non-clinging.
Chapter 16 — Groups of (about) Twenty Verses {vv. 705-948}
Thag 16.1: Adhimutta and the Bandits {vv. 705-724} [Thanissaro]. A monk
disarms some threatening bandits with Dhamma.
Thag 16.4: Ratthapala {vv. 769-793} [Thanissaro]. Ven. Ratthapala explains why
he's not in the least bit tempted to return to the lay life.
Thag 16.7: Bhaddiya Kaligodhayaputta {vv. 842-865} [Thanissaro]. These verses
contain the Canon's only reference to the full set of thirteen ascetic
practices. (For Bhaddiya's story, see Ud 2.10.
Thag 16.8: Angulimala {vv. 866-891} [Olendzki (excerpt) | Thanissaro]. This
collection of verses associated with Angulimala, the reformed bandit who
became an arahant, contains all of the verses contained in MN 86 (the sutta
that tells Angulimala's story) plus five concluding verses.
Chapter 17 — Groups of Thirty Verses {vv. 949-1050}
Thag 17.2: Sariputta (excerpt) {vv. 991...1014} [Olendzki]. The arahant
Sariputta keeps the wheel of Dhamma rolling as he meditates alone in the
wilderness.
Thag 17.3: Ananda {vv. 1018-50} [Hecker/Khema (excerpts) | Olendzki
(excerpt)]. Tender words from Ananda, looking back on when he grieved over the
Buddha's death.
Chapter 18 — The Group of Forty Verses {vv. 1051-1090}
Thag 18: Maha Kassapa {vv. 1051-1090} [Thanissaro | Olendzki (excerpt)]. An
arahant monk celebrates the joys of practicing jhana in the solitude of the
forest. One of the first examples of "wilderness poetry."
Chapter 19 — The Group of Fifty Verses {vv. 1091-1145}
Thag 19: Talaputa {vv. 1091-1145} [Bhikkhu Khantipalo | Olendzki (excerpt)]. A
monk admonishes himself.
Chapter 20 — The Group of Sixty Verses {vv. 1146-1208}
Chapter 21 — The Great Group of Verses {vv. 1209-1279}
Thag 21: Vangisa {vv. 1209-1279} [Hecker/Khema (excerpt) |Ireland]. Fifteen
poems by Ven. Vangisa, the bhikkhu whom the Buddha designated as his foremost
disciple in the composition of spontaneous verse.
See also:
Therigatha: Verses of the Elder Nuns
Inspiration from Enlightened Nuns by Susan Elbaum Jootla.
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