Theragāthā 7.4
Translators: sujato
Verses of the Senior Monks 7.4
Sattakanipāta
The Book of the Sevens
Paṭhamavagga
Chapter One
Sopākattheragāthā
Sopāka (2nd)
“Disvā pāsādachāyāyaṁ,
I saw the supreme person
caṅkamantaṁ naruttamaṁ;
walking mindfully in the shade of the terrace,
Tattha naṁ upasaṅkamma,
so I approached,
vandissaṁ purisuttamaṁ.
and bowed to the supreme among men.
Ekaṁsaṁ cīvaraṁ katvā,
Arranging my robe over one shoulder
saṁharitvāna pāṇayo;
and clasping my hands together,
Anucaṅkamissaṁ virajaṁ,
I walked alongside that stainless one,
sabbasattānamuttamaṁ.
supreme among all beings.
Tato pañhe apucchi maṁ,
The wise one, expert in questions,
pañhānaṁ kovido vidū;
questioned me.
Acchambhī ca abhīto ca,
Brave and fearless,
byākāsiṁ satthuno ahaṁ.
I answered the teacher.
Vissajjitesu pañhesu,
When all his questions were answered,
anumodi tathāgato;
the Realized One congratulated me.
Bhikkhusaṅghaṁ viloketvā,
Looking around the mendicant Saṅgha,
imamatthaṁ abhāsatha.
he said the following:
‘Lābhā aṅgānaṁ magadhānaṁ,
“It is a blessing for the people of Aṅga and Magadha
Yesāyaṁ paribhuñjati;
that this person enjoys their
Cīvaraṁ piṇḍapātañca,
robe and almsfood,
Paccayaṁ sayanāsanaṁ;
requisites and lodgings,
Paccuṭṭhānañca sāmīciṁ,
their respect and service—
Tesaṁ lābhāti cābravi.
it’s a blessing for them,” he declared.
Ajjatagge maṁ sopāka,
“Sopāka, from this day on
dassanāyopasaṅkama;
you are invited to come and see me.
Esā ceva te sopāka,
And Sopāka, let this
bhavatu upasampadā’.
be your ordination.”
Jātiyā sattavassohaṁ,
At seven years old
laddhāna upasampadaṁ;
I received ordination.
Dhāremi antimaṁ dehaṁ,
I bear my final body—
aho dhammasudhammatā”ti.
oh, the excellence of the teaching!
… Sopāko thero ….