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 {vv. 1-120}
- Thag 1.1: Subhuti
-
{v. 1}
[Thanissaro].
Go ahead and rain!
- Thag 1.2: Mahakotthika
-
{v. 2}
[Thanissaro].
Evil mind-states vanish with the breeze.
- Thag 1.3: Kankharevata
-
{v. 3}
[Thanissaro].
Discernment, like a fire in the night.
- Thag 1.7: Bhalliya
-
{v. 7}
[Thanissaro].
Steadfast in oneself.
- Thag 1.13: Vanavaccha
-
{v. 13}
[Thanissaro].
Refreshment in the wilderness.
- Thag 1.14: Vanavaccha's pupil
-
{v. 14}
[Thanissaro].
There's no tying down one who knows.
- Thag 1.16: Belatthasisa
-
{v. 16}
[Hecker/Khema | Thanissaro].
A happiness not of the flesh.
- Thag 1.18: Singalapita
-
{v. 18}
[Thanissaro].
Contemplation of the body.
- Thag 1.21: Nigrodha
-
{v. 21}
[Thanissaro].
Fearless.
- Thag 1.22: Cittaka
-
{v. 22}
[Thanissaro].
Peacocks.
- Thag 1.23: Gosala
-
{v. 23}
[Thanissaro].
Seclusion.
- Thag 1.25: Nandiya (to Mara)
-
{v. 25}
[Thanissaro].
Be careful, Mara!
- Thag 1.26: Abhaya
-
{v. 26}
[Thanissaro].
Splitting a horse's hair with an arrow.
- Thag 1.29: Harita
-
{v. 29}
[Thanissaro].
Shatter ignorance to bits!
- Thag 1.32: Suppiya
-
{v. 32}
[Thanissaro].
A fair trade.
- Thag 1.39: Tissa
-
{v. 39}
[Thanissaro].
Practice mindfully, as if your head were on fire.
- Thag 1.41: Sirivaddha
-
{v. 41}
[Thanissaro].
Lightning can't shake one in jhana.
- Thag 1.43: Sumangala
-
{v. 43}
[Thanissaro].
Free at last from three crooked things!
- Thag 1.49: Ramaneyyaka
-
{v. 49}
[Thanissaro].
The delight of a well-focused mind.
- Thag 1.50: Vimala
-
{v. 50}
[Thanissaro].
Where neither rain nor wind can reach.
- Thag 1.56: Kutiviharin (1)
-
{v. 56}
[Thanissaro].
Are you wasting your hut?
- Thag 1.57: Kutiviharin (2)
-
{v. 57}
[Thanissaro].
Why hope for a new hut (i.e., rebirth)?
- Thag 1.61: Vappa
-
{v. 61}
[Thanissaro].
How far can you see?
- Thag 1.68: Ekuddaniya
-
{v. 68}
[Thanissaro].
Free of sorrows.
- Thag 1.73: Manava
-
{v. 73}
[Thanissaro].
Three sights prompted this monk to leave home.
- Thag 1.75: Susarada
-
{v. 75}
[Thanissaro].
Who can make a fool wise?
- Thag 1.84: Nita
-
{v. 84}
[Thanissaro].
When will the fool awaken?
- Thag 1.85: Sunaga
-
{v. 85}
[Thanissaro].
A pleasure not of the flesh.
- Thag 1.86: Nagita
-
{v. 86}
[Thanissaro].
All paths do not lead to the same goal.
- Thag 1.93: Eraka
-
{v. 93}
[Thanissaro].
Sensual pleasures are stressful.
- Thag 1.95: Cakkhupala
-
{v. 95}
[Thanissaro].
Shun the evil companion!
- Thag 1.104: Khitaka
-
{v. 104}
[Thanissaro].
How light my body!
- Thag 1.111: Jenta
-
{v. 111}
[Thanissaro].
Ponder inconstancy, constantly.
- Thag 1.113: Vanavaccha
-
{v. 113}
[Thanissaro].
Refreshment in the wilderness.
- Thag 1.118: Kimbila
-
{v. 118}
[Thanissaro].
Aging drops on us like a curse.
- Thag 1.120: Isidatta
-
{v. 120}
[Thanissaro].
Cutting through the roots of suffering.
Chapter 2 — Pairs of Verses {vv. 121-218}
- Thag 2.13: Heraññakani
-
{vv. 145-46}
[Olendzki (excerpt) | Thanissaro].
The results of evil deeds will catch up with you.
- Thag 2.16: Mahakala
-
{vv. 151-152}
[Thanissaro].
May I never lie with my head cracked open again!
- Thag 2.24: Valliya
-
{vv. 167-168}
[Thanissaro].
Through persistence I shall reach the goal!
- Thag 2.26: Punnamasa
-
{vv. 171-172}
[Thanissaro].
Shed the five hindrances, and what's left?
- Thag 2.27: Nandaka
-
{vv. 173-174}
[Thanissaro].
Like a fine thoroughbred steed.
- Thag 2.30: Kanhadinna
-
{vv. 179-180}
[Thanissaro].
No more passion for becoming.
- Thag 2.37: Sona Potiriyaputta
-
{vv. 193-194}
[Thanissaro].
Better to die in battle than to survive, defeated.
- Thag 2.46: Culaka
-
{vv. 211-212}
[Olendzki].
The beauty of the wilderness; the beauty of a heart that's free.
Chapter 3 — Groups of Three Verses {vv. 219-266}
- Thag 3.5: Matangaputta
-
{vv. 231-233}
[Thanissaro].
It's too hot, too cold — what's your excuse?
- Thag 3.8: Yasoja
-
{243-245}
[Thanissaro].
Solitude in the forest: two's company, three's a hullabaloo!
- Thag 3.13: Abhibhuta
-
{vv. 255-257}
[Thanissaro].
Rouse yourself! Scatter the army of death!
- Thag 3.14: Gotama
-
{vv. 258-260}
[Thanissaro].
After wandering relentlessly through hell, heaven, the animal world, finally: peace!
- Thag 3.15: Harita (2)
-
{vv. 261-263}
[Thanissaro].
Careful: the wise can tell when your actions don't align with your deeds.
Chapter 4 — Groups of Four Verses {vv. 267-314}
- Thag 4.8: Rahula
-
{vv. 295-298}
[Thanissaro].
The Buddha's son celebrates his own victory in the Dhamma.
- Thag 4.10: Dhammika
-
{vv. 303-306}
[Thanissaro].
Protected by the Dhamma.
Chapter 5 — Groups of Five Verses {vv. 315-374}
- Thag 5.1: Rajadatta
-
{vv. 315-319}
[Thanissaro].
Lusting after a corpse? That's the last straw for this monk.
- Thag 5.8: Vakkali
-
{vv. 350-354}
[Thanissaro].
I'd rather stay in the forest.
- Thag 5.9: Vijitasena
-
{vv. 355-359}
[Norman].
I shall tame you, my mind!
- Thag 5.10: Yasadatta
-
{vv. 360-364}
[Thanissaro].
There's no time for quibbling!
Chapter 6 — Groups of Six Verses {vv. 375-458}
- Thag 6.2: Tekicchakani
-
{vv. 381-386}
[Thanissaro].
How a monk with no food in his bowl can still find comfort and joy.
- Thag 6.6: Sappadasa
-
{vv. 405-410}
[Thanissaro].
On the brink of suicide, Sappadasa breaks through to the Dhamma.
- Thag 6.9: Jenta, the Royal Chaplain's Son
-
{vv. 423-428}
[Thanissaro].
Even arrogant fools can find liberation.
- Thag 6.10: Sumana the Novice
-
{vv. 429-434}
[Thanissaro].
A seven year-old discovers arahantship.
- Thag 6.12: Brahmadatta
-
{vv. 441-446}
[Thanissaro].
How to deal with anger.
- Thag 6.13: Sirimanda
-
{vv. 447-452}
[Olendzki (excerpt) | Thanissaro].
Your last day approaches. Now is no time to be heedless!
Chapter 7 — Groups of Seven Verses {vv. 459-493}
- Thag 7.1: Sundara Samudda and the Courtesan
-
{vv. 459-465}
[Thanissaro].
While grappling with lust, this monk finally comes to his senses.
Chapter 8 — Groups of Eight Verses {vv. 494-517}
- Thag 8.1: Maha-Kaccana
-
{vv. 494-501}
[Bodhi].
Sound advice for householder and monk, alike.
Chapter 9 — The Group of Nine Verses {vv. 518-526}
- Thag 9: Bhuta (excerpt)
-
{vv. 522-526}
[Olendzki].
A mind well-trained is a mind content under all circumstances.
Chapter 10 — Groups of Ten Verses {vv. 527-596}
- Thag 10.1: Kaludayin
-
{vv. 527-536}
[Olendzki (excerpt)] .
A messenger from the Buddha's father urges the Buddha to return home.
- Thag 10.2: Ekavihariya
-
{vv. 537-546}
[Olendzki (excerpt) | Thanissaro].
King Asoka's younger brother recalls his journey to arahantship in the wilderness.
- Thag 10.5: Kappa
-
{vv. 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: Sankicca
-
{vv. 597-607}
[Thanissaro].
A young arahant reflects on his life in the wilderness.
Chapter 12 — Groups of Twelve Verses {vv. 608-631}
- Thag 12.2: Sunita the Outcaste
-
{vv. 620-631}
[Thanissaro].
An outcaste tells his inspiring tale of victory.
Chapter 14 — Groups of Fourteen Verses {vv. 645-672}
- Thag 14.1: Revata's Farewell
-
{vv. 645-658}
[Thanissaro].
By steadfastly maintaining his right resolve, this monk finally gains perfect release.
- Thag 14.2: Godatta
-
{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 15 — Groups of Sixteen Verses {vv. 673-704}
- Thag 15.1: Aññakondañña
-
{vv. 673-688}
[Olendzki (excerpt)].
Wisdom settles the mind, as rain the dust.
- Thag 15.2: Udayin
-
{vv. 689-704}
[Olendzki (excerpt)].
Ven. Udayin uses the timeless image of the lotus blossom to illustrate non-clinging.
Chapter 16 — Groups of (about) Twenty Verses {vv. 705-948}
- Thag 16.1: Adhimutta and the Bandits
-
{vv. 705-724}
[Thanissaro].
A monk disarms some threatening bandits with Dhamma.
- Thag 16.4: Ratthapala
-
{vv. 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
-
{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 2.10.
- Thag 16.8: Angulimala
-
{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 17 — Groups of Thirty Verses {vv. 949-1050}
- Thag 17.2: Sariputta (excerpt)
-
{vv. 991...1014}
[Olendzki].
The arahant Sariputta keeps the wheel of Dhamma rolling as he meditates alone in the wilderness.
- Thag 17.3: Ananda
-
{vv. 1018-50}
[Hecker/Khema (excerpts) | Olendzki (excerpt)].
Tender words from Ananda, looking back on when he grieved over the Buddha's death.
Chapter 18 — The Group of Forty Verses {vv. 1051-1090}
- Thag 18: Maha Kassapa
-
{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 19 — The Group of Fifty Verses {vv. 1091-1145}
- Thag 19: Talaputa
-
{vv. 1091-1145}
[Bhikkhu Khantipalo | Olendzki (excerpt)].
A monk admonishes himself.
Chapter 21 — The Great Group of Verses {vv. 1209-1279}
- Thag 21: Vangisa
-
{vv. 1209-1279}
[Hecker/Khema (excerpt) |Ireland].
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.