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Translators: sujato

Verses of the Senior Monks 9.1

Navakanipāta
The Book of the Nines

Paṭhamavagga
Chapter One

Bhūtattheragāthā

Bhūta

“Yadā dukkhaṁ jarāmaraṇanti paṇḍito,
When an astute person knows, <j>“Old age and death are suffering;

Aviddasū yattha sitā puthujjanā;
yet an ignorant ordinary person is bound to them”,

Dukkhaṁ pariññāya satova jhāyati,
completely understanding suffering, being mindful, <j>practicing absorption:

Tato ratiṁ paramataraṁ na vindati.
there is no greater pleasure than this.

Yadā dukkhassāvahaniṁ visattikaṁ,
When clinging, the carrier <j>of suffering,

Papañcasaṅghātadukhādhivāhiniṁ;
and craving, the carrier <j>of this painful mass of proliferation,

Taṇhaṁ pahantvāna satova jhāyati,
are destroyed, and one is mindful, <j>practicing absorption:

Tato ratiṁ paramataraṁ na vindati.
there is no greater pleasure than this.

Yadā sivaṁ dvecaturaṅgagāminaṁ,
When the eightfold way, so full of grace,

Magguttamaṁ sabbakilesasodhanaṁ;
the supreme path, cleanser of all corruptions,

Paññāya passitva satova jhāyati,
is seen with wisdom; and one is mindful, <j>practicing absorption:

Tato ratiṁ paramataraṁ na vindati.
there is no greater pleasure than this.

Yadā asokaṁ virajaṁ asaṅkhataṁ,
When one develops that peaceful state,

Santaṁ padaṁ sabbakilesasodhanaṁ;
sorrowless, stainless, unconditioned,

Bhāveti saṁyojanabandhanacchidaṁ,
cleanser of all corruptions, <j>cutter of fetters and bonds:

Tato ratiṁ paramataraṁ na vindati.
there is no greater pleasure than this.

Yadā nabhe gajjati meghadundubhi,
When the thunder-cloud rumbles in the sky,

Dhārākulā vihagapathe samantato;
while the rain pours on the path of birds all around,

Bhikkhū ca pabbhāragatova jhāyati,
and a monk has gone to a mountain cave, <j>practicing absorption:

Tato ratiṁ paramataraṁ na vindati.
there is no greater pleasure than this.

Yadā nadīnaṁ kusumākulānaṁ,
When sitting on a riverbank covered in flowers,

Vicitta-vāneyya-vaṭaṁsakānaṁ;
garlanded with brightly colored forest plants,

Tīre nisinno sumanova jhāyati,
one is truly happy, <j>practicing absorption:

Tato ratiṁ paramataraṁ na vindati.
there is no greater pleasure than this.

Yadā nisīthe rahitamhi kānane,
When it is midnight in a lonely forest,

Deve gaḷantamhi nadanti dāṭhino;
and the lions roar as the sky pours down,

Bhikkhū ca pabbhāragatova jhāyati,
and a monk has gone to a mountain cave, <j>practicing absorption:

Tato ratiṁ paramataraṁ na vindati.
there is no greater pleasure than this.

Yadā vitakke uparundhiyattano,
When one’s own thoughts have been cut off,

Nagantare nagavivaraṁ samassito;
between two mountains, sheltered inside a cleft,

Vītaddaro vītakhilova jhāyati,
without stress or heartlessness, <j>practicing absorption:

Tato ratiṁ paramataraṁ na vindati.
there is no greater pleasure than this.

Yadā sukhī malakhilasokanāsano,
When one is happy, destroyer of stains, heartlessness, and sorrow,

Niraggaḷo nibbanatho visallo;
free of obstructions, entanglements, and thorns,

Sabbāsave byantikatova jhāyati,
and with all defilements annihilated, <j>practicing absorption:

Tato ratiṁ paramataraṁ na vindatī”ti.
there is no greater pleasure than this.

… Bhūto thero …

Navakanipāto niṭṭhito.

Tatruddānaṁ

Bhūto tathaddaso thero,

eko khaggavisāṇavā;

Navakamhi nipātamhi,

gāthāyopi imā navāti.