Theragāthā 4.1
Translators: sujato
Verses of the Senior Monks 4.1
Catukkanipāta
The Book of the Fours
Paṭhamavagga
Chapter One
Nāgasamālattheragāthā
Nāgasamāla
“Alaṅkatā suvasanā,
Adorned with jewelry and all dressed up,
mālinī candanussadā;
with garlands, and sandalwood makeup piled on,
Majjhe mahāpathe nārī,
along the main street is a lady—
tūriye naccati naṭṭakī.
a dancer dancing as the music plays.
Piṇḍikāya paviṭṭhohaṁ,
I entered for alms,
gacchanto naṁ udikkhisaṁ;
and while walking along I glanced at her,
Alaṅkataṁ suvasanaṁ,
adorned with jewelry and all dressed up,
maccupāsaṁva oḍḍitaṁ.
like a snare of death laid down.
Tato me manasīkāro,
Then the realization
yoniso udapajjatha;
came upon me—
Ādīnavo pāturahu,
the danger became clear,
nibbidā samatiṭṭhatha.
and I grew firmly disillusioned.
Tato cittaṁ vimucci me,
Then my mind was freed—
passa dhammasudhammataṁ;
see the excellence of the teaching!
Tisso vijjā anuppattā,
I’ve attained the three knowledges
kataṁ buddhassa sāsanan”ti.
and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.
… Nāgasamālo thero ….