Sutta Piṭaka
Phussattheragāthā
Phussattheragāthā
Pāsādike bahū disvā, bhāvitatte susaṁvute; Isi paṇḍarasagotto, apucchi phussasavhayaṁ.
Phussa
Seeing many who inspire confidence, evolved and well-restrained, the seer of the Paṇḍara clan, asked the one known as Phussa:
“Kiṁchandā kimadhippāyā, kimākappā bhavissare; Anāgatamhi kālamhi, taṁ me akkhāhi pucchito”.
“In future times, what desire and motivation and behavior will people have? Please answer my question.”
“Suṇohi vacanaṁ mayhaṁ, isipaṇḍarasavhaya; Sakkaccaṁ upadhārehi, ācikkhissāmyanāgataṁ.
“Listen to my words, O seer known as a Paṇḍara, and remember them carefully, I will describe the future.
Kodhanā upanāhī ca, makkhī thambhī saṭhā bahū; Ussukī nānāvādā ca, bhavissanti anāgate.
In the future many will be angry and hostile, offensive, stubborn, and devious, jealous, holding divergent views.
Aññātamānino dhamme, gambhīre tīragocarā; Lahukā agarū dhamme, aññamaññamagāravā.
Imagining they understand the depths of the teaching, they resort to the near shore. Superficial and disrespectful toward the teaching, they lack respect for one another.
Bahū ādīnavā loke, uppajjissantyanāgate; Sudesitaṁ imaṁ dhammaṁ, kilesessanti dummatī.
In the future many dangers will arise in the world. Idiots will defile the Dhamma that was taught so well.
Guṇahīnāpi saṅghamhi, voharantā visāradā; Balavanto bhavissanti, mukharā assutāvino.
Though bereft of good qualities, unlearned prattlers, too sure of themselves, will become powerful in running Saṅgha proceedings.
Guṇavantopi saṅghamhi, voharantā yathātthato; Dubbalā te bhavissanti, hirīmanā anatthikā.
Though possessing good qualities, the conscientious and unbiased, acting in the proper spirit, will become weak in running Saṅgha proceedings.
Rajataṁ jātarūpañca, khettaṁ vatthumajeḷakaṁ; Dāsidāsañca dummedhā, sādiyissantyanāgate.
In the future, simpletons will accept currency and gold, fields and land, goats and sheep, and bonded servants, male and female.
Ujjhānasaññino bālā, sīlesu asamāhitā; Unnaḷā vicarissanti, kalahābhiratā magā.
Fools finding fault in others, but unsteady in their own ethics, will wander about, insolent, like cantankerous beasts.
Uddhatā ca bhavissanti, nīlacīvarapārutā; Kuhā thaddhā lapā siṅgī, carissantyariyā viya.
They’ll be haughty, wrapped in robes of blue; deceivers and flatterers, pompous and fake, they’ll wander as if they were noble ones.
Telasaṇṭhehi kesehi, capalā añjanakkhikā; Rathiyāya gamissanti, dantavaṇṇikapārutā.
With hair sleeked back with oil, fickle, their eyes painted with eyeshadow, they’ll travel on the high-road, wrapped in robes of ivory color.
Ajegucchaṁ vimuttehi, surattaṁ arahaddhajaṁ; Jigucchissanti kāsāvaṁ, odātesu samucchitā.
The deep-dyed ocher robe, worn without disgust by the free, they will come to loathe, besotted by white clothes.
Lābhakāmā bhavissanti, kusītā hīnavīriyā; Kicchantā vanapatthāni, gāmantesu vasissare.
They’ll want lots of possessions, and be lazy, lacking energy. Weary of the forest, they’ll stay within villages.
Ye ye lābhaṁ labhissanti, micchājīvaratā sadā; Te teva anusikkhantā, bhajissanti asaṁyatā.
Being unrestrained, they’ll keep company with those who acquire profit, and who always enjoy wrong livelihood, following their example.
Ye ye alābhino lābhaṁ, na te pujjā bhavissare; Supesalepi te dhīre, sevissanti na te tadā.
They won’t respect those who don’t get lots of stuff, and they won’t associate with the attentive, even though they’re very amiable.
Milakkhurajanaṁ rattaṁ, garahantā sakaṁ dhajaṁ; Titthiyānaṁ dhajaṁ keci, dhārissantyavadātakaṁ.
Disparaging their own banner, dyed a vermilion color, some will wear the white banner of those of other religions.
Agāravo ca kāsāve, tadā tesaṁ bhavissati; Paṭisaṅkhā ca kāsāve, bhikkhūnaṁ na bhavissati.
Then they’ll have no respect for the ocher robe. The mendicants will not reflect on the nature of the ocher robe.
Abhibhūtassa dukkhena, sallaviddhassa ruppato; Paṭisaṅkhā mahāghorā, nāgassāsi acintiyā.
This awful lack of reflection was unthinkable to the elephant, who was overcome by suffering, inflicted by an arrow strike.
Chaddanto hi tadā disvā, surattaṁ arahaddhajaṁ; Tāvadeva bhaṇī gāthā, gajo atthopasaṁhitā.
Then the six-tusked elephant, seeing the deep-dyed banner of the perfected ones, straight away spoke these verses connected with the goal.
‘Anikkasāvo kāsāvaṁ, yo vatthaṁ paridhassati; Apeto damasaccena, na so kāsāvamarahati.
‘One who, not free of stains themselves, would wear the robe stained in ocher, bereft of self-control and truth: they are not worthy of the ocher robe.
Yo ca vantakasāvassa, sīlesu susamāhito; Upeto damasaccena, sa ve kāsāvamarahati.
One who’s purged all their stains, steady in ethics, possessing truth and self-control: they are truly worthy of the ocher robe.’
Vipannasīlo dummedho, pākaṭo kāmakāriyo; Vibbhantacitto nissukko, na so kāsāvamarahati.
Devoid of virtue, a simpleton, wild, doing what they like, their minds astray, indolent: they are not worthy of the ocher robe.
Yo ca sīlena sampanno, vītarāgo samāhito; Odātamanasaṅkappo, sa ve kāsāvamarahati.
One accomplished in ethics, free of greed, serene, their heart’s intention pure: they are truly worthy of the ocher robe.
Uddhato unnaḷo bālo, sīlaṁ yassa na vijjati; Odātakaṁ arahati, kāsāvaṁ kiṁ karissati.
The haughty, insolent fool, who has no ethics at all, is worthy of a white robe— what use is an ocher robe for them?
Bhikkhū ca bhikkhuniyo ca, duṭṭhacittā anādarā; Tādīnaṁ mettacittānaṁ, niggaṇhissantyanāgate.
In the future, monks and nuns with corrupt hearts, lacking regard for others, will disparage those with hearts of loving-kindness.
Sikkhāpentāpi therehi, bālā cīvaradhāraṇaṁ; Na suṇissanti dummedhā, pākaṭā kāmakāriyā.
Though trained in wearing the robe by senior monks, simpletons will not listen, wild, doing what they like.
Te tathā sikkhitā bālā, aññamaññaṁ agāravā; Nādiyissantupajjhāye, khaḷuṅko viya sārathiṁ.
With that kind of attitude to training, those fools won’t respect each other, or take any notice of their mentors, like a wild colt with its charioteer.
Evaṁ anāgataddhānaṁ, paṭipatti bhavissati; Bhikkhūnaṁ bhikkhunīnañca, patte kālamhi pacchime.’
Even so, in the future, this will be the practice of monks and nuns when the latter days have come.
Purā āgacchate etaṁ, anāgataṁ mahabbhayaṁ; Subbacā hotha sakhilā, aññamaññaṁ sagāravā.
Before this frightening future arrives, be easy to admonish, courteous in speech, and respect one another.
Mettacittā kāruṇikā, Hotha sīlesu saṁvutā; Āraddhavīriyā pahitattā, Niccaṁ daḷhaparakkamā.
Have hearts of love and compassion, and please do keep your precepts. Be energetic, resolute, and always staunchly vigorous.
Pamādaṁ bhayato disvā, Appamādañca khemato; Bhāvethaṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ, Phusantā amataṁ padan”ti.
Seeing negligence as fearful, and diligence as a sanctuary, develop the eightfold path, realizing the state free of death.”