Thag 16.1

Adhimuttattheragāthā

“Yaññatthaṁ vā dhanatthaṁ vā, ye hanāma mayaṁ pure; Avasesaṁ bhayaṁ hoti, vedhanti vilapanti ca.

Adhimutta (2nd)

“Those who we killed in the past, whether for sacrifice or for wealth, without exception were afraid; they trembled and they squealed.

Tassa te natthi bhītattaṁ, bhiyyo vaṇṇo pasīdati; Kasmā na paridevesi, evarūpe mahabbhaye”.

But you’re not scared; you look even calmer than before. Why don’t you cry out in such a terrifying situation?”

“Natthi cetasikaṁ dukkhaṁ, anapekkhassa gāmaṇi; Atikkantā bhayā sabbe, khīṇasaṁyojanassa ve.

“There isn’t any mental suffering for one without concern, village chief. All fears are left behind by one whose fetters have ended.

Khīṇāya bhavanettiyā, diṭṭhe dhamme yathātathe; Na bhayaṁ maraṇe hoti, bhāranikkhepane yathā.

When the leash to existence is ended, and the truth is seen as it is, there is no fear of death; it’s like laying down a burden.

Suciṇṇaṁ brahmacariyaṁ me, maggo cāpi subhāvito; Maraṇe me bhayaṁ natthi, rogānamiva saṅkhaye.

I’ve lived the spiritual life well, and developed the path well, too. I do not fear death; it’s like the passing of a disease.

Suciṇṇaṁ brahmacariyaṁ me, maggo cāpi subhāvito; Nirassādā bhavā diṭṭhā, visaṁ pitvāva chaḍḍitaṁ.

I’ve lived the spiritual life well, and developed the path well, too. I’ve seen that there’s nothing gratifying in existences, like someone who has tasted poison, then thrown it out.

Pāragū anupādāno, katakicco anāsavo; Tuṭṭho āyukkhayā hoti, mutto āghātanā yathā.

One who has gone beyond, without grasping, they’ve completed the task and are free of defilements. They are content at the end of life, like someone released from execution.

Uttamaṁ dhammataṁ patto, sabbaloke anatthiko; Ādittāva gharā mutto, maraṇasmiṁ na socati.

Having realized the supreme Dhamma, without needing anything in the whole world, one doesn’t grieve at death; for it’s like escaping from a burning house.

Yadatthi saṅgataṁ kiñci, bhavo vā yattha labbhati; Sabbaṁ anissaraṁ etaṁ, iti vuttaṁ mahesinā.

Whatever has come to pass, wherever life is obtained, there is no Lord of all that: so said the great seer.

Yo taṁ tathā pajānāti, yathā buddhena desitaṁ; Na gaṇhāti bhavaṁ kiñci, sutattaṁva ayoguḷaṁ.

Whoever understands this as it was taught by the Buddha doesn’t grab on to any new life, like you wouldn’t grab a hot iron ball.

Na me hoti ‘ahosin’ti, ‘bhavissan’ti na hoti me; Saṅkhārā vigamissanti, tattha kā paridevanā.

It doesn’t occur to me, ‘I existed in the past’; nor, ‘I will exist in the future’. Conditions will vanish— why weep over that?

Suddhaṁ dhammasamuppādaṁ, Suddhaṁ saṅkhārasantatiṁ; Passantassa yathābhūtaṁ, Na bhayaṁ hoti gāmaṇi.

Seeing truly the bare arising of phenomena, and the bare process of conditions, there is no fear, village chief.

Tiṇakaṭṭhasamaṁ lokaṁ, yadā paññāya passati; Mamattaṁ so asaṁvindaṁ, ‘natthi me’ti na socati.

The world is like grass and sticks: when this is seen with wisdom, not finding any possessiveness, you won’t grieve, thinking ‘I don’t have it’.

Ukkaṇṭhāmi sarīrena, bhavenamhi anatthiko; Soyaṁ bhijjissati kāyo, añño ca na bhavissati.

I’m fed up with the body; I have no need for another life. This body will be broken up, and there won’t be another.

Yaṁ vo kiccaṁ sarīrena, taṁ karotha yadicchatha; Na me tappaccayā tattha, doso pemañca hehiti”.

Do what you want with my corpse. I won’t be angry or attached on account of that.”

Tassa taṁ vacanaṁ sutvā, abbhutaṁ lomahaṁsanaṁ; Satthāni nikkhipitvāna, māṇavā etadabravuṁ.

When they heard these words, so astonishing and hair-raising, the young men laid down their swords and spoke these words:

“Kiṁ bhadante karitvāna, ko vā ācariyo tava; Kassa sāsanamāgamma, labbhate taṁ asokatā”.

“What have you practiced, Venerable? And who is your tutor? Whose instructions do we follow to gain the sorrowless state?”

“Sabbaññū sabbadassāvī, jino ācariyo mama; Mahākāruṇiko satthā, sabbalokatikicchako.

“The knower of all, the seer of all: the victor is my tutor. He is a Teacher of great compassion, healer of the whole world.

Tenāyaṁ desito dhammo, khayagāmī anuttaro; Tassa sāsanamāgamma, labbhate taṁ asokatā”.

He taught this Dhamma, leading to ending, unsurpassed. Following his instructions, you can gain the sorrowless state.”

Sutvāna corā isino subhāsitaṁ, Nikkhippa satthāni ca āvudhāni ca; Tamhā ca kammā viramiṁsu eke, Eke ca pabbajjamarocayiṁsu.

When the bandits heard the good words of the seer, they laid down their swords and weapons. Some refrained from their former deeds, while others chose the going-forth.

Te pabbajitvā sugatassa sāsane, Bhāvetva bojjhaṅgabalāni paṇḍitā; Udaggacittā sumanā katindriyā, Phusiṁsu nibbānapadaṁ asaṅkhatanti.

Having gone forth in the teaching of the Holy One, those astute ones developed the awakening factors and the powers. Elated, happy, their faculties complete, they realized the state of extinguishment, the unconditioned.