Theragatha

Verses of the Elder Monks

(selected passages)

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.

The translator appears in the square brackets []. Pali verse numbers appear in the braces {}.

An excellent print translation of the complete Therigatha is Elders' Verses I translated by K.R. Norman (Oxford: Pali Text Society, 1995).

• Chapter I — Single Verses {vv. 1-120}
  • Subhuti (Thag I.1) {v. 1} [Thanissaro]. Go ahead and rain!
  • Mahakotthika (Thag I.2) {v. 2} [Thanissaro]. Evil mind-states vanish with the breeze.
  • Kankharevata (Thag I.3) {v. 3} [Thanissaro]. Discernment, like a fire in the night.
  • Bhalliya (Thag I.7) {v. 7} [Thanissaro]. Steadfast in oneself.
  • Vanavaccha (Thag I.13) {v. 13} [Thanissaro]. Refreshment in the wilderness.
  • Vanavaccha's pupil (Thag I.14) {v. 14} [Thanissaro]. There's no tying down one who knows.
  • Belatthasisa (Thag I.16) {v. 16} [Thanissaro]. A happiness not of the flesh.
  • Singalapita (Thag I.18) {v. 18} [Thanissaro]. Contemplation of the body.
  • Nigrodha (Thag I.21) {v. 21} [Thanissaro]. Fearless.
  • Cittaka (Thag I.22) {v. 22} [Thanissaro]. Peacocks.
  • Gosala (Thag I.23) {v. 23} [Thanissaro]. Seclusion.
  • Nandiya (to Mara) (Thag I.25) {v. 25} [Thanissaro]. Be careful, Mara!
  • Abhaya (Thag I.26) {v. 26} [Thanissaro]. Splitting a horse's hair with an arrow.
  • Harita (Thag I.29) {v. 29} [Thanissaro]. Shatter ignorance to bits!
  • Suppiya (Thag I.32) {v. 32} [Thanissaro]. A fair trade.
  • Tissa (Thag I.39) {v. 39} [Thanissaro]. Practice mindfully, as if your head were on fire.
  • Sirivaddha (Thag I.41) {v. 41} [Thanissaro]. Lightning can't shake one in jhana.
  • Sumangala (Thag I.43) {v. 43} [Thanissaro]. Free at last from three crooked things!
  • Ramaneyyaka (Thag I.49) {v. 49} [Thanissaro]. The delight of a well-focused mind.
  • Vimala (Thag I.50) {v. 50} [Thanissaro]. Where neither rain nor wind can reach.
  • Kutiviharin (1) (Thag I.56) {v. 56} [Thanissaro]. Are you wasting your hut?
  • Kutiviharin (2) (Thag I.57) {v. 57} [Thanissaro]. Why hope for a new hut (i.e., rebirth)?
  • Vappa (Thag I.61) {v. 61} [Thanissaro]. How far can you see?
  • Ekuddaniya (Thag I.68) {v. 68} [Thanissaro]. Free of sorrows.
  • Manava (Thag I.73) {v. 73} [Thanissaro]. Three sights prompted this monk to leave home.
  • Susarada (Thag I.75) {v. 75} [Thanissaro]. Who can make a fool wise?
  • Nita (Thag I.84) {v. 84} [Thanissaro]. When will the fool awaken?
  • Sunaga (Thag I.85) {v. 85} [Thanissaro]. A pleasure not of the flesh.
  • Nagita (Thag I.86) {v. 86} [Thanissaro]. All paths do not lead to the same goal.
  • Eraka (Thag I.93) {v. 93} [Thanissaro]. Sensual pleasures are stressful.
  • Cakkhupala (Thag I.95) {v. 95} [Thanissaro]. Shun the evil companion!
  • Khitaka (Thag I.104) {v. 104} [Thanissaro]. How light my body!
  • Jenta (Thag I.111) {v. 111} [Thanissaro]. Ponder inconstancy, constantly.
  • Vanavaccha (Thag I.113) {v. 113} [Thanissaro]. Refreshment in the wilderness.
  • Kimbila (Thag I.118) {v. 118} [Thanissaro]. Aging drops on us like a curse.
  • Isidatta (Thag I.120) {v. 120} [Thanissaro]. Cutting through the roots of suffering.
• Chapter II — Pairs of Verses {vv. 121-218}
  • Heraññakani (Thag II.13) {vv. 145-46} [Thanissaro]. The results of evil deeds will catch up with you.
  • Mahakala (Thag II.16) {vv. 151-152} [Thanissaro]. May I never lie with my head cracked open again!
  • Valliya (Thag II.24) {vv. 167-168} [Thanissaro]. Through persistence I shall reach the goal!
  • Punnamasa (Thag II.26) {vv. 171-172} [Thanissaro]. Shed the five hindrances, and what's left?
  • Nandaka (Thag II.27) {vv. 173-174} [Thanissaro]. Like a fine thoroughbred steed.
  • Kanhadinna (Thag II.30) {vv. 179-180} [Thanissaro]. No more passion for becoming.
  • Sona Potiriyaputta (Thag II.37) {vv. 193-194} [Thanissaro]. Better to die in battle than to survive, defeated.
  • Culaka (Thag II.46) {vv. 211-212} [Olendzki]. The beauty of the wilderness; the beauty of a heart that's free.
• Chapter III — Groups of Three Verses {vv. 219-266}
  • Matangaputta (Thag III.5) {vv. 231-233} [Thanissaro]. It's too hot, too cold — what's your excuse?
  • Yasoja (Thag III.8) {243-245} [Thanissaro]. Solitude in the forest: two's company, three's a hullabaloo!
  • Abhibhuta (Thag III.13) {vv. 255-257} [Thanissaro]. Rouse yourself! Scatter the army of death!
  • Gotama (Thag III.14) {vv. 258-260} [Thanissaro]. After wandering relentlessly through hell, heaven, the animal world, finally: peace!
  • Harita (2) (Thag III.15) {vv. 261-263} [Thanissaro]. Careful: the wise can tell when your actions don't align with your deeds.
• Chapter IV — Groups of Four Verses {vv. 267-314}
  • Rahula (Thag IV.8) {vv. 295-298} [Thanissaro]. The Buddha's son celebrates his own victory in the Dhamma.
  • Dhammika (Thag IV.10) {vv. 303-306} [Thanissaro]. Protected by the Dhamma.
• Chapter V — Groups of Five Verses {vv. 315-374}
  • Rajadatta (Thag V.1) {vv. 315-319} [Thanissaro]. Lusting after a corpse? That's the last straw for this monk.
  • Vakkali (Thag V.8) {vv. 350-354} [Thanissaro]. I'd rather stay in the forest.
  • Vijitasena (Thag V.9) {vv. 355-359} [Norman]. I shall tame you, my mind!
  • Yasadatta (Thag V.10) {vv. 360-364} [Thanissaro]. There's no time for quibbling!
• Chapter VI — Groups of Six Verses {vv. 375-458}
  • Tekicchakani (Thag VI.2) {vv. 381-386} [Thanissaro]. How a monk with no food in his bowl can still find comfort and joy.
  • Sappadasa (Thag VI.6) {vv. 405-410} [Thanissaro]. On the brink of suicide, Sappadasa breaks through to the Dhamma.
  • Jenta, the Royal Chaplain's Son (Thag VI.9) {vv. 423-428} [Thanissaro]. Even arrogant fools can find liberation.
  • Sumana the Novice (Thag VI.10) {vv. 429-434} [Thanissaro]. A seven year-old discovers arahantship.
  • Brahmadatta (Thag VI.12) {vv. 441-446} [Thanissaro]. How to deal with anger.
  • Sirimanda (Thag VI.13) {vv. 447-452} [Olendzki (excerpt) | Thanissaro]. Your last day approaches. Now is no time to be heedless!
• Chapter VII — Groups of Seven Verses {vv. 459-493}
  • Sundara Samudda and the Courtesan (Thag VII.1) {vv. 459-465} [Thanissaro]. While grappling with lust, this monk finally comes to his senses.
• Chapter VIII — Groups of Eight Verses {vv. 494-517}
  • Maha-Kaccana (Thag VIII.1) {vv. 494-501} [Bodhi]. Sound advice for householder and monk, alike.
• Chapter IX — The Group of Nine Verses {vv. 518-526}
  • Bhuta (Thag IX) (excerpt) {vv. 522-526} [Olendzki]. A mind well-trained is a mind content under all circumstances.
• Chapter X — Groups of Ten Verses {vv. 527-596}
  • Kaludayin (Thag X.1) (excerpt) {vv. 527-529} [Olendzki]. A messenger from the Buddha's father urges the Buddha to return home.
  • Ekavihariya (Thag X.2) {vv. 537-546} [Olendzki (excerpt) | Thanissaro]. King Asoka's younger brother recalls his journey to arahantship in the wilderness.
  • Kappa (Thag X.5) {vv. 567-576} [Thanissaro]. Are you enchanted by your physical appearance? This reflection may be just the cure.
• Chapter XI — The Group of Eleven Verses {597-607}
  • Sankicca {vv. 597-607} [Thanissaro]. A young arahant reflects on his life in the wilderness.
• Chapter XII — Groups of Twelve Verses {vv. 608-631}
  • Sunita the Outcaste (Thag XII.2) {vv. 620-631} [Thanissaro]. An outcaste tells his inspiring tale of victory.
• Chapter XIII — The Group of Thirteen Verses {vv. 632-644}
• Chapter XIV — Groups of Fourteen Verses {vv. 645-672}
  • Revata's Farewell (Thag XIV.1) {vv. 645-658} [Thanissaro]. By steadfastly maintaining his right resolve, this monk finally gains perfect release.
  • Godatta (Thag XIV.2) {vv. 659-672} [Thanissaro]. Criticism from the wise is better than praise from fools; the pain of meditation is better than pleasure from the senses.
• Chapter XV — Groups of Sixteen Verses {vv. 673-704}
  • Aññakondañña (Thag XV.1) (excerpt) {v. 675} [Olendzki]. Wisdom settles the mind, as rain the dust.
  • Udayin (Thag XV.2) (excerpt) {vv. 700-701} [Olendzki]. Ven. Udayin uses the timeless image of the lotus blossom to illustrate non-clinging.
• Chapter XVI — Groups of (About) Twenty Verses {vv. 705-948}
  • Adhimutta and the Bandits (Thag XVI.1) {vv. 705-724} [Thanissaro]. A monk disarms some threatening bandits with Dhamma.
  • Bhaddiya Kaligodhayaputta (Thag XVI.7) {vv. 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 II.10.)
  • Angulimala (Thag XVI.8) {vv. 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 XVII — Groups of Thirty Verses {vv. 949-1050}
  • Sariputta (Thag XVII.2) (excerpt) {vv. 991...1014} [Olendzki]. The arahant Sariputta keeps the wheel of Dhamma rolling as he meditates alone in the wilderness.
  • Ananda (Thag XVII.3) (excerpt) {vv. 1034-36} [Olendzki]. Tender words from Ananda who, not yet an arahant, still grieves over the Buddha's death.
• Chapter XVIII — The Group of Forty Verses
  • Maha Kassapa (Thag XVIII) {vv. 1051-1090} [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 XIX — The Group of Fifty Verses {vv. 1091-1145}
  • Talaputa (Thag XIX) {vv. 1091-1145} [Bhikkhu Khantipalo | Olendzki (excerpt)]. A monk admonishes himself.
• Chapter XX — The Group of Sixty Verses {vv. 1146-1208}
• Chapter XXI — The Great Group of Verses {vv. 1209-1279}