Theragāthā 8.3
Translators: sujato
Verses of the Senior Monks 8.3
Aṭṭhakanipāta
The Book of the Eights
Paṭhamavagga
Chapter One
Mahāpanthakattheragāthā
Mahāpanthaka
“Yadā paṭhamamaddakkhiṁ,
When I first saw the Teacher
satthāramakutobhayaṁ;
who fears nothing from any quarter,
Tato me ahu saṁvego,
I was struck with a sense of urgency,
passitvā purisuttamaṁ.
seeing the supreme among men.
Siriṁ hatthehi pādehi,
Anyone who, having found such a Teacher,
yo paṇāmeyya āgataṁ;
would lose them again,
Etādisaṁ so satthāraṁ,
is like one who, when approached by Lady Luck,
ārādhetvā virādhaye.
would ward her off with their hands and feet.
Tadāhaṁ puttadārañca,
Then I left behind my children and wives,
dhanadhaññañca chaḍḍayiṁ;
my riches and my grain;
Kesamassūni chedetvā,
I had my hair and beard cut off,
pabbajiṁ anagāriyaṁ.
and went forth to homelessness.
Sikkhāsājīvasampanno,
Endowed with the monastic training and livelihood,
indriyesu susaṁvuto;
my sense faculties well-restrained,
Namassamāno sambuddhaṁ,
paying homage to the Buddha,
vihāsiṁ aparājito.
I meditated undefeated.
Tato me paṇidhī āsi,
Then a wish occurred to me,
cetaso abhipatthito;
my heart’s truest wish:
Na nisīde muhuttampi,
I wouldn’t sit down, not even for a short while,
taṇhāsalle anūhate.
until the dart of craving was plucked.
Tassa mevaṁ viharato,
As I meditate like this,
passa vīriyaparakkamaṁ;
see my energy and vigor!
Tisso vijjā anuppattā,
I’ve attained the three knowledges,
kataṁ buddhassa sāsanaṁ.
and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.
Pubbenivāsaṁ jānāmi,
I know my past lives,
dibbacakkhu visodhitaṁ;
my clairvoyance is clarified;
Arahā dakkhiṇeyyomhi,
I’m perfected, worthy of offerings,
vippamutto nirūpadhi.
liberated, free of attachments.
Tato ratyā vivasāne,
Then, at the end of the night,
sūriyuggamanaṁ pati;
as the rising of the sun drew near,
Sabbaṁ taṇhaṁ visosetvā,
all craving was dried up,
pallaṅkena upāvisin”ti.
so I sat down cross-legged.
… Mahāpanthako thero …
Aṭṭhakanipāto niṭṭhito.
Tatruddānaṁ
Mahākaccāyano thero,
sirimitto mahāpanthako;
Ete aṭṭhanipātamhi,
gāthāyo catuvīsatīti.