Verses¶
From the Elder Raṭṭhapāla
R aṭṭhapāla-thera-gāthā
[TH 251 / MN 82]
passa cittakataṃ bimbaṃ – arukāyaṃ samussitaṃ
āturaṃ bahusaṅkappaṃ – yassa natthi dhuvaṃ ṭhiti
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| passa | verb | imp.2.sg | see! look (at)! |
| cittakataṃ | adj | masc.acc.sg | made by the mind (or) adorned; painted; decorated |
| bimbaṃ | noun | nt.acc.sg | form, image, doll, puppet, i.e. body |
| arukāyaṃ | noun | masc.acc.sg | collection of wounds, mass of sores |
| samussitaṃ | pp | masc.acc.sg | elevated, propped up, lit. supported up together |
| āturaṃ | adj | masc.acc.sg | sick, diseased, ill, unhealthy |
| bahusaṅkappaṃ | adj | masc.acc.sg | full of plans, with many intentions |
| yassa | pron | masc.dat.sg | for that, for whoever |
| n'atthi | verb | pr.3.sg | is not, it is not, there is not, there is no, there is nothing |
| dhuvaṃ | ind | permanently, continuously, constantly, always, at all | |
| ṭhiti | noun | fem.nom.sg | stability, constancy, endurance, long lasting lit. standing |
Look at this mind-created image (adorned, painted puppet), a collection of wounds, propped up, diseased, . There is no stability for that at all.
passa cittakataṃ rūpaṃ – maṇinā kuṇḍalena ca
aṭṭhiṃ tacena onaddhaṃ – saha vatthehi sobhati
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| passa | verb | imp.2.sg | see! look (at)! |
| cittakataṃ | adj | masc.acc.sg | adorned; painted; decorated |
| rūpaṃ | noun | nt.acc.sg | body, physical body, bodily form |
| maṇinā | noun | masc.ins.sg | by gem; jewel |
| kuṇḍalena | noun | nt.ins.sg | by ring, earring |
| ca | ind | and | |
| aṭṭhiṃ | noun | nt.nom.sg | bone |
| tacena | noun | masc.ins.sg | with skin |
| onaddhaṃ | pp | nt.nom.sg | enveloped (with), covered (with), wrapped |
| saha | ind | with, together (with), accompanied (by) | |
| vatthehi | noun | nt.ins.sg | because of cloth, clothes, robe |
| sobhati | verb | pr.3.sg | shines, radiates, looks beautiful |
Look at this body adorned with gems and earrings. bone wrapped in skin looks beautiful (only) because of clothes.
alattakakatā pādā – mukhaṃ cuṇṇakamakkhitaṃ
alaṃ bālassa mohāya – no ca pāragavesino
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| alattaka- | noun | masc | lac, a red animal dye, henna dye |
| katā | pp | masc.nom.pl | done, made |
| pādā | noun | masc.nom.pl | feet |
| mukhaṃ | noun | nt.nom.sg | mouth, face |
| cuṇṇaka- | noun | powder | |
| makkhitaṃ | pp | nt.nom.sg | smeared, stained |
| alaṃ | ind | enough | |
| bālassa | noun | masc.gen.sg | of fool, idiot, immature person |
| mohāya | noun | masc.dat.sg | for illusion, delusion, confusion |
| no | ind | not | |
| ca | ind | but | |
| pāragavesino | noun | masc.gen.sg | of who is looking for salvation, seeking the beyond, lit. seeking the far shore |
Feet adorned with henna dye, face smeared with powder. It is enough for the illusion of a fool, but not fora seeker of the far shore.
aṭṭha-pada-katā kesā – nettā añjana-makkhitā
alaṃ bālassa mohāya – no ca pāragavesino
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| aṭṭha- | adj | eight (8) | |
| pada- | noun | way, place, position | |
| katā | pp | masc.nom.pl | done, made, arranged |
| kesā | noun | masc.nom.pl | hair |
| nettā | noun | nt.nom.pl | eyes |
| añjana- | noun | eyeliner, cosmetic for the eyes, made of antimony | |
| makkhitā | pp | nt.nom.pl | smeared, stained |
Hair arranged in eight ways, eyes smeared with eyeliner. It is enough for the illusion of a fool, but not fora seeker ofthe far shore.
añjanīva navā cittā – pūtikāyo alaṅkato
alaṃ bālassa mohāya – no ca pāragavesino
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| añjanī'va | noun | fem.nom.sg | like a box for ointment, a collyrium pot |
| navā | adj | fem.nom.sg | new, fresh |
| cittā | adj | fem.nom.sg | decorated, beautiful, adorned, painted |
| pūtikāyo | noun | masc.nom.sg | putrid body, disgusting body |
| alaṅkato | adj | masc.nom.sg | dressed up, decorated, adorned, lit. made suitable |
Like an unguent pot freshly painted, (this) disgusting body is adorned. It is enough for the illusion of a fool, but not for a seeker of the far shore.
passāmi loke sadhane manusse
laddhāna vittaṃ na dadanti mohā
luddhā dhanaṃ sannicayaṃ karonti
bhiyyova kāme abhipatthayanti
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| passāmi | verb | pr.1.sg | I see, find, understand |
| loke | noun | masc.loc.sg | in the world |
| sadhane | adj | masc.acc.pl | rich, wealthy, lit. with wealth |
| manusse | noun | masc.acc.pl | people |
| laddhāna | verb | abs | having got, having obtained |
| vittaṃ | noun | masc.acc.sg | wealth, property, power |
| na dadanti | verb | pr.3.pl | they not give, offer, donate |
| mohā | noun | nt.abl.sg | from/out of illusion, delusion, confusion |
| luddhā | adj | masc.nom.pl | who is greedy, who wants |
| dhanaṃ | noun | nt.acc.sg | wealth, riches, treasure |
| sannicayaṃ | noun | masc.acc.sg | hoard, pile, cache, stash, accumulation |
| karonti | verb | pr.3.pl | they make, do, arrange |
| bhiyyo-eva | ind | even more (than), and just more (than) | |
| kāme | noun | masc.acc.pl | pleasures, sensual pleasures |
| abhipatthayanti | verb | pr.3.pl | they long (for), hope (for), crave (for), aspire |
I see rich people in the world, who have obtained wealth and do not give, because of delusion. Greedy they accumulate wealth, crave for ever more sense pleasures.
rājā ca aññe ca bahū manussā
avītataṇhā maraṇaṃ upenti
ūnāva hutvāna jahanti dehaṃ
kāmehi lokamhi na hatthi titti
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| rājā | noun | masc.nom.sg | king |
| ca | ind | and | |
| aññe | pron | masc.nom.pl | others, other people, the rest |
| ca | ind | and | |
| bahū | adj | masc.nom.pl | many |
| manussā | noun | masc.nom.pl | human beings, men, people |
| avītataṇhā | adj | masc.nom.pl | not free from desire , not free from passion, not without craving |
| maraṇaṃ | noun | nt.acc.sg | death |
| upenti | verb | pr.3.pl | they go to, approach, enter |
| ūnā-eva | adj | masc.nom.pl | still wanting, lacking |
| hutvāna | verb | abs | having become, having been |
| jahanti | verb | pr.3.pl | they give up, leave, abandon, renounce |
| dehaṃ | noun | masc.acc.sg | body |
| kāmehi | noun | masc.ins.pl | through pleasures, with sense pleasures |
| lokamhi | noun | masc.loc.sg | in the world |
| na | ind | not | |
| h'atthi | verb | pr.3.sg | indeed there is |
| titti | noun | fem.nom.sg | satisfaction (in), contentment (from) |
The king and many other people, not without craving, approach death. Still lacking, they leave (their) body. There is indeed no satisfaction in the world through sense pleasures.
na dīghamāyuṃ labhate dhanena
na cāpi vittena jaraṃ vihanti
appaṃ hidaṃ jīvitamāhu dhīrā
asassataṃ vippariṇāma-dhammaṃ
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| na | ind | not | |
| dīgham- | adj | nt.acc.sg | long (in space or time), tall |
| āyuṃ | noun | nt.acc.sg | life |
| labhate | verb | pr.refl.3.sg | one gets, one obtains |
| dhanena | noun | nt.ins.sg | by wealth, riches, treasure |
| na | ind | not | |
| cāpi | ind | or even, and even, as well as | |
| vittena | noun | masc.ins.sg | by wealth, property, power |
| jaraṃ | noun | masc.acc.sg | old age, growing old, decay |
| vihanti | verb | pr.3.sg | strikes, wards off, banish |
| appaṃ | adj | nt.acc.sg | short, small, insignificant |
| h'idaṃ | pron | nt.acc.sg | this indeed |
| jīvitam- | noun | nt.acc.sg | life, life span |
| āhu | verb | perf.3.pl | they said |
| dhīrā | noun | masc.nom.pl | wise man, sage |
| asassataṃ | adj | nt.acc.sg | not eternal, endless, perpetual |
| vippariṇāma-dhammaṃ | adj | nt.acc.sg | changing nature, changing character, subject to change |
One can not gain long life by riches, can not even ward off decay by wealth. Indeed this life span is short, the wise say, it is not eternal and subject to change.
tasmā hi paññāva dhanena seyyā
yāya vosānamidhādhigacchati
abyositattā hi bhavābhavesu
pāpāni kammāni karoti mohā
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| tasmā | ind | adv | from that, therefore, that is why, lit. from that |
| hi | ind | indeed, certainly, truly, definitely | |
| paññā- | noun | fem.nom.sg | wisdom, knowledge, intelligence, intellect understanding, insight |
| eva | ind | only, just, so, even | |
| dhanena | noun | masc.ins.sg | with/than wealth, riches, treasure |
| seyyā | adj | fem.nom.sg | better, better than, preferable |
| yāya | pron | fem.ins.sg | by whichever, with which (woman) |
| vosānaṃ- | noun | (relative) achievement, perfection, accomplishment | |
| idha- | ind | here, now, in this world | |
| adhigacchati | verb | pr.3.sg | gets, finds, obtains, attains |
| abyositattā | noun | nt.abl.sg | from (state) not perfected, not accomplished (comm) - not attained perfection |
| hi | ind | indeed | |
| bhav'ābhavesu | noun | masc.loc.pl | in this or that life, any form of existence, some sort of existence |
| pāpāni | adj | nt.acc.pl | evil, criminal, wrong, bad, vicious |
| kammāni | noun | nt.acc.pl | actions, deeds, doing |
| karoti | verb | pr.3.sg | does, makes, acts, performs, builds |
| mohā | noun | masc.abl.sg | because of illusion, delusion, confusion |
Therefore indeed wisdom is better than wealth, by which one reaches perfection in this world. Because of not attaining perfection, indeed from life to life, one does evil deeds because of delusion.
kāmā hi citrā madhurā manoramā
virūparūpena mathenti cittaṃ
ādīnavaṃ kāmaguṇesu disvā
tasmā ahaṃ pabbajitomhi rāja
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| kāmā | noun | masc.nom.pl | pleasures, sensual pleasures |
| hi | ind | indeed, certainly, truly, definitely | |
| citrā | adj | masc.nom.pl | decorated, beautiful, adorned |
| madhurā | adj | masc.nom.pl | sweet, lovely |
| manoramā | adj | masc.nom.pl | delightful, attractive, lit. mind pleasing |
| virūparūpena | ind | adv | in different ways, in various ways, differently |
| mathenti | verb | pr.3.pl | they agitate, shakes about, harass, upset |
| cittaṃ | noun | nt.acc.sg | mind |
| ādīnavaṃ | noun | masc.acc.sg | danger (in), disadvantage (of), risk (of), peril (in) |
| kāmaguṇesu | noun | masc.loc.pl | in objects of sensual pleasure, sensual stimulation, lit. sensual strings |
| disvā | verb | abs | having seen, having understood, having found |
| tasmā | ind | adv | therefore, that is why, lit. from that |
| ahaṃ | pron | 1.nom.sg | I |
| pabbajito- | pp/noun | masc.nom.sg | (one) gone forth, a monk, monastic, renunciant |
| amhi | verb | pr.1.sg | I am |
| rāja | noun | masc.voc.sg | o king |
Indeed sensual pleasures are beautiful, sweet and delightful, in various ways they agitate the mind. Having seen danger in objects of sensual pleasure, therefore, I am a monk, o king!
dumapphalānīva patanti māṇavā
daharā ca vuḍḍhā ca sarīrabhedā
etam'pi disvā pabbajito'mhi raja
apaṇṇakaṃ sāmaññam'eva seyyo
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| duma- | noun | tree | |
| phalāni- | noun | nt.nom.pl | fruits |
| iva | ind | like, as | |
| patanti | verb | pr.3.pl | they fall |
| māṇavā | noun | masc.nom.pl | young men, young gentlemen, young Brahmans |
| daharā | adj | masc.nom.pl | young |
| ca | ind | and | |
| vuḍḍhā | adj | masc.nom.pl | old, elderly, senior |
| ca | ind | and | |
| sarīra- | noun | body | |
| bhedā | noun | masc.abl.sg | from breaking-up (of), breaking apart (of) |
| etaṃ api | pron | masc.acc.sg | just this, this alone, this |
| disvā | verb | abs | having seen, having understood, having found |
| pabbajito- | pp/noun | masc.nom.sg | (one) gone forth, a monk, monastic, renunciant |
| amhi | verb | pr.1.sg | I am |
| rāja | noun | masc.voc.sg | o king |
| apaṇṇakaṃ | ind | surely; certainly | |
| sāmaññaṃ- | noun | nt.nom.sg | monkhood, state of being a monk |
| eva | ind | only, just, so, even, also | |
| seyyo | ind | better |
As fruits from a tree, people fall, young and old, from the breaking-up of the body,
just having seen this, I am a monk, o king. Certainly only monkhood is better.