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 {Thag 1-120}
- Thag 1.1: Subhuti
-
{Thag 1}
[Thanissaro].
Go ahead and rain!
- Thag 1.2: Mahakotthika
-
{Thag 2}
[Thanissaro].
Evil mind-states vanish with the breeze.
- Thag 1.3: Kankharevata
-
{Thag 3}
[Thanissaro].
Discernment, like a fire in the night.
- Thag 1.7: Bhalliya
-
{Thag 7}
[Thanissaro].
Steadfast in oneself.
- Thag 1.13: Vanavaccha
-
{Thag 13}
[Thanissaro].
Refreshment in the wilderness.
- Thag 1.14: Vanavaccha's pupil
-
{Thag 14}
[Thanissaro].
There's no tying down one who knows.
- Thag 1.16: Belatthasisa
-
{Thag 16}
[Hecker/Khema | Thanissaro].
A happiness not of the flesh.
- Thag 1.18: Singalapita
-
{Thag 18}
[Thanissaro].
Contemplation of the body.
- Thag 1.21: Nigrodha
-
{Thag 21}
[Thanissaro].
Fearless.
- Thag 1.22: Cittaka
-
{Thag 22}
[Thanissaro].
Peacocks.
- Thag 1.23: Gosala
-
{Thag 23}
[Thanissaro].
Seclusion.
- Thag 1.25: Nandiya (to Mara)
-
{Thag 25}
[Thanissaro].
Be careful, Mara!
- Thag 1.26: Abhaya
-
{Thag 26}
[Thanissaro].
Splitting a horse's hair with an arrow.
- Thag 1.29: Harita
-
{Thag 29}
[Thanissaro].
Shatter ignorance to bits!
- Thag 1.32: Suppiya
-
{Thag 32}
[Thanissaro].
A fair trade.
- Thag 1.39: Tissa
-
{Thag 39}
[Thanissaro].
Practice mindfully, as if your head were on fire.
- Thag 1.41: Sirivaddha
-
{Thag 41}
[Thanissaro].
Lightning can't shake one in jhana.
- Thag 1.43: Sumangala
-
{Thag 43}
[Thanissaro].
Free at last from three crooked things!
- Thag 1.49: Ramaneyyaka
-
{Thag 49}
[Thanissaro].
The delight of a well-focused mind.
- Thag 1.50: Vimala
-
{Thag 50}
[Thanissaro].
Where neither rain nor wind can reach.
- Thag 1.56: Kutiviharin (1)
-
{Thag 56}
[Thanissaro].
Are you wasting your hut?
- Thag 1.57: Kutiviharin (2)
-
{Thag 57}
[Thanissaro].
Why hope for a new hut (i.e., rebirth)?
- Thag 1.61: Vappa
-
{Thag 61}
[Thanissaro].
How far can you see?
- Thag 1.68: Ekuddaniya
-
{Thag 68}
[Thanissaro].
Free of sorrows.
- Thag 1.73: Manava
-
{Thag 73}
[Thanissaro].
Three sights prompted this monk to leave home.
- Thag 1.75: Susarada
-
{Thag 75}
[Thanissaro].
Who can make a fool wise?
- Thag 1.84: Nita
-
{Thag 84}
[Thanissaro].
When will the fool awaken?
- Thag 1.85: Sunaga
-
{Thag 85}
[Thanissaro].
A pleasure not of the flesh.
- Thag 1.86: Nagita
-
{Thag 86}
[Thanissaro].
All paths do not lead to the same goal.
- Thag 1.93: Eraka
-
{Thag 93}
[Thanissaro].
Sensual pleasures are stressful.
- Thag 1.95: Cakkhupala
-
{Thag 95}
[Thanissaro].
Shun the evil companion!
- Thag 1.104: Khitaka
-
{Thag 104}
[Thanissaro].
How light my body!
- Thag 1.111: Jenta
-
{Thag 111}
[Thanissaro].
Ponder inconstancy, constantly.
- Thag 1.113: Vanavaccha
-
{Thag 113}
[Thanissaro].
Refreshment in the wilderness.
- Thag 1.118: Kimbila
-
{Thag 118}
[Thanissaro].
Aging drops on us like a curse.
- Thag 1.120: Isidatta
-
{Thag 120}
[Thanissaro].
Cutting through the roots of suffering.
Chapter 2 — Pairs of Verses {Thag 121-218}
- Thag 2.13: Heraññakani — /(excerpt)
{Thag 145}
[Thanissaro | Olendzki (excerpt)].
The results of evil deeds will catch up with you.
- Thag 2.16: Mahakala —
{Thag 151-152}
[Thanissaro].
May I never lie with my head cracked open again!
- Thag 2.24: Valliya —
{Thag 167-168}
[Thanissaro].
Through persistence I shall reach the goal!
- Thag 2.26: Punnamasa —
{Thag 171-172}
[Thanissaro].
Shed the five hindrances, and what's left?
- Thag 2.27: Nandaka —
{Thag 173-174}
[Thanissaro].
Like a fine thoroughbred steed.
- Thag 2.30: Kanhadinna —
{Thag 179-180}
[Thanissaro].
No more passion for becoming.
- Thag 2.37: Sona Potiriyaputta —
{Thag 193-194}
[Thanissaro].
Better to die in battle than to survive, defeated.
- Thag 2: Culaka — The Call of the Peacocks
{Thag 211-212}
[Olendzki].
The beauty of the wilderness; the beauty of a heart that's free.
Chapter 3 — Groups of Three Verses {Thag 219-266}
- Thag 3.5: Matangaputta —
{Thag 231-233}
[Thanissaro].
It's too hot, it's too cold — what's your excuse?
- Thag 3.8: Yasoja —
{Thag 243-245}
[Thanissaro].
Solitude in the forest: two's company, three's a hullabaloo!
- Thag 3.13: Abhibhuta —
{Thag 255-257}
[Thanissaro].
Rouse yourself! Scatter the army of death!
- Thag 3.14: Gotama —
{Thag 258-260}
[Thanissaro].
After wandering relentlessly through hell, heaven, and the animal world, finally: peace!
- Thag 3.15: Harita (2) —
{Thag 261-263}
[Thanissaro].
Careful: the wise can tell when your actions don't align with your deeds.
Chapter 4 — Groups of Four Verses {Thag 267-314}
- Thag 4.8: Rahula —
{Thag 295-298}
[Thanissaro].
The Buddha's son celebrates his own victory in the Dhamma.
- Thag 4.10: Dhammika —
{Thag 303-306}
[Thanissaro].
Protected by the Dhamma.
Chapter 5 — Groups of Five Verses {Thag 315-374}
- Thag 5.1: Rajadatta —
{Thag 315-319}
[Thanissaro].
Lusting after a corpse? That's the last straw for this monk.
- Thag 5.8: Vakkali —
{Thag 350-354}
[Thanissaro].
I'd rather stay in the forest.
- Thag 5.9: Vijitasena —
{Thag 355-359}
[Norman].
I shall tame you, my mind!
- Thag 5.10: Yasadatta —
{Thag 360-364}
[Thanissaro].
There's no time for quibbling!
Chapter 6 — Groups of Six Verses {Thag 375-458}
- Thag 6.2: Tekicchakani —
{Thag 381-386}
[Thanissaro].
How a monk with no food in his bowl can still find comfort and joy.
- Thag 6.6: Sappadasa —
{Thag 405-410}
[Thanissaro].
On the brink of suicide, Sappadasa breaks through to the Dhamma.
- Thag 6.9: Jenta, the Royal Chaplain's Son —
{Thag 423-428}
[Thanissaro].
Even arrogant fools can find liberation.
- Thag 6.10: Sumana the Novice —
{Thag 429-434}
[Thanissaro].
A seven year-old discovers arahantship.
- Thag 6.12: Brahmadatta —
{Thag 441-446}
[Thanissaro].
How to deal with anger.
- Thag 6.13: Sirimanda Thera/Sirimanda — Beaten Like a Thief/
{Thag 447-452}
[Olendzki | Thanissaro].
Your last day approaches. Now is no time to be heedless!
Chapter 7 — Groups of Seven Verses {Thag 459-493}
- Thag 7.1: Sundara Samudda and the Courtesan —
{Thag 459-465}
[Thanissaro].
While grappling with lust, this monk finally comes to his senses.
Chapter 8 — Groups of Eight Verses {Thag 494-517}
- Thag 8.1: Maha-Kaccana —
{Thag 494-501}
[Bodhi].
Sound advice for meditating householders and monks.
Chapter 9 — The Group of Nine Verses {Thag 518-526}
- Thag 9: Bhuta Thera — No Greater Contentment
{Thag 522-526}
[Olendzki (excerpt)].
A mind well-trained is a mind content under all circumstances.
Chapter 10 — Groups of Ten Verses {Thag 527-596}
- Thag 10.1: Kaludayin Thera — Crossing the Rohini
{Thag 527-529}
[Olendzki].
A messenger from the Buddha's father urges the Buddha to return home.
- Thag 10.2: Ekavihariya Thera/Ekavihariya — The Lonely Forest Dweller/Dwelling Alone
{Thag 537-546}
[Olendzki | Thanissaro].
King Asoka's younger brother recalls his journey to arahantship in the wilderness.
- Thag 10.5: Kappa —
{Thag 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 11.1: Sankicca —
{Thag 597-607}
[Thanissaro].
A young arahant reflects on his life in the wilderness.
Chapter 12 — Groups of Twelve Verses {Thag 608-631}
- Thag 12.2: Sunita the Outcaste —
{Thag 620-631}
[Thanissaro].
An outcaste tells his inspiring tale of victory.
Chapter 14 — Groups of Fourteen Verses {Thag 645-672}
- Thag 14.1: Revata's Farewell —
{Thag 645-658}
[Thanissaro].
By steadfastly maintaining his right resolve, this monk finally gains perfect release.
- Thag 14.2: Godatta —
{Thag 659-672}
[Thanissaro].
Criticism from the wise is better than praise from fools; the pain of meditation is better than any pleasure from the senses.
Chapter 15 — Groups of Sixteen Verses {Thag 673-704}
- Thag 15.1: Aññakondañña Thera — Aññakondañña
{Thag 675}
[Olendzki].
Wisdom settles the mind, as rain the dust.
- Thag 15.2: Udayin Thera — The Blooming Lotus
{Thag 700-701}
[Olendzki (excerpt)].
Ven. Udayin uses the timeless image of the lotus blossom to illustrate non-clinging.
Chapter 16 — Groups of (about) Twenty Verses {Thag 705-948}
- Thag 16.1: Adhimutta — Adhimutta and the Bandits
{Thag 705-725}
[Thanissaro].
A monk uses Dhamma to disarm a band of thugs.
- Thag 16.4: Ratthapala —
{Thag 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 —
{Thag 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 Thera/Angulimala — The Moon Released/
{Thag 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 {Thag 949-1050}
- Thag 17.2: Sariputta Thera — Keeping the Wheel Rolling
{Thag 991...1014}
[Olendzki].
The arahant Sariputta keeps the wheel of Dhamma rolling as he meditates alone in the wilderness.
- Thag 17.3: Ananda/Ananda Thera — /Ananda Alone
{Thag 1034-36}
[Hecker/Khema (excerpt) | Olendzki (excerpt)].
Tender words from Ananda, as he looks back on his past grief over the Buddha's death.
Chapter 18 — The Group of Forty Verses {Thag 1051-1090}
- Thag 18: Maha Kassapa/Maha Kassapa Thera — /At Home in the Mountains
{Thag 1062-6, 1068-71}
[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 {Thag 1091-1145}
- Thag 19: Talaputa Thera — Talaputa/Rain of the Deva
{Thag 1137}
[Khantipalo | Olendzki (excerpt)].
A monk admonishes himself.
Chapter 21 — The Great Group of Verses {Thag 1209-1279}
- Thag 21: Vangisa —
{Thag 1224-25}
[Ireland | Hecker/Khema (excerpt)].
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.
©2005 Access to Insight.
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Last revised for Access to Insight on 30 November 2013.
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