Sattakanipāta

Theragāthā 7.1

Verses of the Senior Monks 7.1

Sattakanipāta

The Book of the Sevens

Paṭhamavagga

Chapter One

Sundarasamuddattheragāthā

Sundarasamudda

“Alaṅkatā suvasanā,

Adorned with jewelry and all dressed up,

māladhārī vibhūsitā;

with her garland and her makeup on,

Alattakakatāpādā,

and her feet so brightly rouged:

pādukāruyha vesikā.

the courtesan was wearing slippers.

Pādukā oruhitvāna,

Taking off her slippers in front of me,

purato pañjalīkatā;

her palms joined in greeting,

Sā maṁ saṇhena mudunā,

smiling, she spoke to me

mhitapubbaṁ abhāsatha.

so softly and so sweet:

Yuvāsi tvaṁ pabbajito,

“You’re too young to go forth—

tiṭṭhāhi mama sāsane;

come, stay in my teaching!

Bhuñja mānusake kāme,

Enjoy human sensual pleasures,

ahaṁ vittaṁ dadāmi te;

I’ll give you riches.

Saccaṁ te paṭijānāmi,

I promise this is the truth—

aggiṁ vā te harāmahaṁ.

I swear it by the Sacred Flame.

Yadā jiṇṇā bhavissāma,

And when we’ve grown old together,

ubho daṇḍaparāyanā;

both of us leaning on staffs,

Ubhopi pabbajissāma,

we shall both go forth,

ubhayattha kaṭaggaho.

and hold a winning hand on both counts.”

Tañca disvāna yācantiṁ,

I saw the courtesan seducing me,

vesikaṁ pañjalīkataṁ;

her palms joined in greeting,

Alaṅkataṁ suvasanaṁ,

adorned with jewelry and all dressed up,

maccupāsaṁva oḍḍitaṁ.

set up like a snare of death.

Tato me manasīkāro,

Then the realization

… pe

came upon me—

…

the danger became clear

nibbidā samatiṭṭhatha.

and I grew firmly disillusioned.

Tato cittaṁ vimucci me,

Then my mind was freed—

… pe

see the excellence of the Dhamma!

…

I’ve attained the three knowledges,

kataṁ buddhassa sāsanan”ti.

and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.

… Sundarasamuddo thero ….