Theragatha

The translations below are by Thanissaro Bhikkhu unless otherwise indicated. The braces {} that follow each sutta title contain the verse numbers of the corresponding Pali text of the Theragatha.

• Chapter I -- The Single Verses
  • 1. Subhuti {v. 1}. Go ahead and rain!
  • 2. Mahakotthika {v. 2}. Evil mind-states vanish with the breeze.
  • 3. Kankharevata {v. 3}. Discernment, like a fire in the night.
  • 7. Bhalliya {v. 7}. Steadfast in oneself.
  • 13. Vanavaccha {v. 13}. Refreshment in the wilderness.
  • 14. Vanavaccha's pupil {v. 14}. There's no tying down one who knows.
  • 16. Belatthasisa {v. 16}. A happiness not of the flesh.
  • 18. Singalapita {v. 18}. Contemplation of the body.
  • 21. Nigrodha {v. 21}. Fearless.
  • 22. Cittaka {v. 22}. Peacocks.
  • 23. Gosala {v. 23}. Seclusion.
  • 25. Nandiya (to Mara) {v. 25}. Be careful, Mara!
  • 26. Abhaya {v. 26}. Splitting a horse's hair with an arrow.
  • 29. Harita {v. 29}. Shatter ignorance to bits!
  • 32. Suppiya {v. 32}. A fair trade.
  • 39. Tissa {v. 39}. Practice mindfully, as if your head were on fire.
  • 41. Sirivaddha {v. 41}. Lightning can't shake one in jhana.
  • 43. Sumangala {v. 43}. Free at last from three crooked things!
  • 49. Ramaneyyaka {v. 49}. The delight of a well-focused mind.
  • 50. Vimala {v. 50}. Where neither rain nor wind can reach.
  • 56. Kutiviharin (1) {v. 56}. Don't waste your hut!
  • 57. Kutiviharin (2) {v. 57}. Why hope for a new hut (i.e., rebirth)?
  • 61. Vappa {v. 61}. How far can you see?
  • 68. Ekuddaniya {v. 68}. Free of sorrows.
  • 73. Manava {v. 73}. Three sights prompted this monk to leave home.
  • 75. Susarada {v. 75}. Who can make a fool wise?
  • 84. Nita {v. 84}. When will the fool awaken?
  • 85. Sunaga {v. 85}. A pleasure not of the flesh.
  • 86. Nagita {v. 86}. All paths do not lead to the same goal.
  • 93. Eraka {v. 93}. Sensual pleasures are stressful.
  • 95. Cakkhupala {v. 95}. Shun the evil companion!
  • 104. Khitaka {v. 104}. How light my body!
  • 111. Jenta {v. 111}. Ponder inconstancy, constantly.
  • 113. Vanavaccha {v. 113}. Refreshment in the wilderness.
  • 118. Kimbila {v. 118}. Aging drops on us like a curse.
  • 120. Isidatta {v. 120}. Cutting through the roots of suffering.

• Chapter II -- Pairs of Verses
  • 13. Heraññakani {vv. 145-146}. The results of evil deeds will catch up with you.
  • 16. Mahakala {vv. 151-152}. May I never lie with my head cracked open again!
  • 24. Valliya {vv. 167-168}. Through persistence I shall reach the goal!
  • 26. Punnamasa {vv. 171-172}. Shed the five hindrances, and what's left?
  • 27. Nandaka {vv. 173-174}. Like a fine thoroughbred steed.
  • 30. Kanhadinna {vv. 179-180}. No more passion for becoming.
  • 37. Sona Potiriyaputta {vv. 193-194}. Better to die in battle than to survive, defeated.

• Chapter III -- The Threes
  • 5. Matangaputta {vv. 231-233}. It's too hot, too cold -- what's your excuse?
  • 8. Yasoja {243-245}. Solitude in the forest: two's company, three's a hullabaloo!
  • 13. Abhibhuta {vv. 255-257}. Rouse yourself! Scatter the army of death!
  • 14. Gotama {vv. 258-260}. After wandering relentlessly through hell, heaven, the animal world, finally: peace!
  • 15. Harita (2) {vv. 261-263}. Careful: the wise can tell when your actions don't align with your deeds.

• Chapter IV -- The Fours
  • 8. Rahula {vv. 295-298}. The Buddha's son celebrates his own victory in the Dhamma.
  • 10. Dhammika {vv. 303-306}. Protected by the Dhamma.

• Chapter V -- The Fives
  • 1. Rajadatta {vv. 315-319}. Lusting after a corpse? That's the last straw for this monk.
  • 8. Vakkali {vv. 350-354}. I'd rather stay in the forest.
  • 9. Vijitasena {vv. 355-359} [K.R. Norman, trans.]. I shall tame you, my mind!
  • 10. Yasadatta {vv. 360-364}. There's no time for quibbling!

• Chapter VI -- The Sixes
  • 2. Tekicchakani {vv. 381-386}. How a monk with no food in his bowl can still find comfort and joy.
  • 6. Sappadasa {vv. 405-410}. In despair, with knife poised to cut his veins, Sappadasa at last sees the Dhamma!
  • 9. Jenta, the Royal Chaplain's Son {vv. 423-428}. Even arrogant fools can find liberation.
  • 10. Sumana the Novice {vv. 429-434}. A seven year-old discovers arahantship.
  • 12. Brahmadatta {vv. 441-446}. How to deal with anger.
  • 13. Sirimanda {vv. 447-452}. Your last day approaches. Now is no time to be heedless!

• Chapter VII -- The Sevens
  • 1. Sundara Samudda and the Courtesan {vv. 459-465}. While grappling with lust, this monk finally comes to his senses.

• Chapter VIII -- The Eights
  • 1. Maha-Kaccana {vv. 494-501} [Bhikkhu Bodhi, trans.]. Sound advice for householder and monk, alike.

• Chapter X -- The Tens
  • 2. Ekavihariya -- "Dwelling Alone" {vv. 537-546}. King Asoka's younger brother tells his story.
  • 5. Kappa {vv. 567-576}. Are you enchanted by your physical appearance? This reflection may be just the cure.

• Chapter XI -- The Elevens
  • 1. Sankicca {vv. 597-607}. A young arahant monk reflects on his life in the wilderness.

• Chapter XII -- The Twelves
  • 2. Sunita the Outcaste {vv. 620-631}. An outcaste tells his inspiring tale of victory.

• Chapter XIV -- The Fourteens
  • 1. Revata's Farewell {vv. 645-658}. By steadfastly maintaining his right resolve, this monk finally gains perfect release.
  • 2. Godatta {vv. 659-672}. Criticism from the wise is better than praise from fools; the pain of meditation is better than pleasure from the senses.

• Chapter XVI -- The Twenties
  • 1. Adhimutta and the Bandits {vv. 705-725}. A monk uses Dhamma to disarm some bandits.

• Chapter XVIII -- The Forties
  • Maha-Kassapa {vv. 1051-1090}. In this poem -- one of the first examples of "wilderness poetry" -- an arahant monk celebrates the joys of practicing jhana in the solitude of the forest.

• Chapter XIX -- The Fifties
  • Talaputa {vv. 1091-1145} [Bhikkhu Khantipalo, trans.]. An inspiring account of one monk's frank conversations with himself before becoming a monk and after.