Taṇhāvagga
Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral
1Manujassa pamattacārino,When a man lives heedlessly,2Taṇhā vaḍḍhati māluvā viya;craving grows in them like a camel’s foot creeper.3So plavatī hurā huraṁ,They jump from one thing to the next, like a langur4Phalamicchaṁva vanasmi vānaro.greedy for fruit in a forest grove.1
1Yaṁ esā sahate jammī,Whoever is beaten by this wretched craving,2taṇhā loke visattikā;this attachment to the world,3Sokā tassa pavaḍḍhanti,their sorrow grows,4abhivaṭṭhaṁva bīraṇaṁ.like grass in the rain.
1Yo cetaṁ sahate jammiṁ,But whoever prevails over this wretched craving,2taṇhaṁ loke duraccayaṁ;so hard to get over in the world,3Sokā tamhā papatanti,their sorrows fall from them,4udabinduva pokkharā.like a drop from a lotus-leaf.
1Taṁ vo vadāmi bhaddaṁ vo,I say this to you, good people,2yāvantettha samāgatā;all those who have gathered here:3Taṇhāya mūlaṁ khaṇatha,dig up the root of craving,4usīratthova bīraṇaṁ;as you’d dig up grass in search of roots.5Mā vo naḷaṁva sotova,Don’t let Māra break you again and again,6māro bhañji punappunaṁ.like a stream breaking a reed.
1Yathāpi mūle anupaddave daḷhe,A tree grows back even when cut down,2Chinnopi rukkho punareva rūhati;so long as its roots are strong and undamaged;3Evampi taṇhānusaye anūhate,suffering springs up again and again,4Nibbattatī dukkhamidaṁ punappunaṁ.so long as the tendency to craving is not pulled out.
1Yassa chattiṁsati sotā,A person of low views2manāpasavanā bhusā;in whom the thirty-six streams3Mahāvahanti duddiṭṭhiṁ,that flow to pleasure are mighty,4saṅkappā rāganissitā.is swept away by lustful thoughts.
1Savanti sabbadhi sotā,The streams flow everywhere;2latā uppajja tiṭṭhati;a weed springs up and remains.3Tañca disvā lataṁ jātaṁ,Seeing this weed that has been born,4mūlaṁ paññāya chindatha.cut the root with wisdom.
1Saritāni sinehitāni ca,A personage’s joys2Somanassāni bhavanti jantuno;flow from senses and cravings.3Te sātasitā sukhesino,Seekers of happiness, bent on pleasure,4Te ve jātijarūpagā narā.continue to be reborn and grow old.
1Tasiṇāya purakkhatā pajā,People governed by thirst,2Parisappanti sasova bandhito;crawl about like a trapped rabbit.3Saṁyojanasaṅgasattakā,Bound and fettered, for a long time4Dukkhamupenti punappunaṁ cirāya.they return to pain time and again.
1Tasiṇāya purakkhatā pajā,People governed by thirst,2Parisappanti sasova bandhito;crawl about like a trapped rabbit.3Tasmā tasiṇaṁ vinodaye,That’s why one who longs for dispassion4Ākaṅkhanta virāgamattano.should dispel thirst.
1Yo nibbanatho vanādhimutto,Unsnarled, they set out for the jungle,2Vanamutto vanameva dhāvati;then they run right back to the jungle they left behind.3Taṁ puggalametha passatha,Just look at this individual!4Mutto bandhanameva dhāvati.Freed, they run to bondage.
1Na taṁ daḷhaṁ bandhanamāhu dhīrā,The attentive say that shackle is not strong2Yadāyasaṁ dārujapabbajañca;that’s made of iron, wood, or knots.3Sārattarattā maṇikuṇḍalesu,But obsession with jeweled earrings,4Puttesu dāresu ca yā apekkhā.concern for your partners and children:
1Etaṁ daḷhaṁ bandhanamāhu dhīrā,this, say the attentive, is a strong shackle2Ohārinaṁ sithilaṁ duppamuñcaṁ;dragging the indulgent down, hard to escape.3Etampi chetvāna paribbajanti,Having cut this one too they go forth,4Anapekkhino kāmasukhaṁ pahāya.unconcerned, having given up sensual pleasures.
1Ye rāgarattānupatanti sotaṁ,Besotted by lust they fall into the stream,2Sayaṅkataṁ makkaṭakova jālaṁ;like a spider caught in the web she wove.3Etampi chetvāna vajanti dhīrā,The attentive proceed, having cut this one too,4Anapekkhino sabbadukkhaṁ pahāya.unconcerned, having given up all suffering.
1Muñca pure muñca pacchato,Let go of the past, let go of the future,2Majjhe muñca bhavassa pāragū;let go of the present, having gone beyond rebirth.3Sabbattha vimuttamānaso,With your heart freed in every respect,4Na punaṁ jātijaraṁ upehisi.you’ll not come again to rebirth and old age.
1Vitakkamathitassa jantuno,For a personage churned by thoughts,2Tibbarāgassa subhānupassino;very lustful, focusing on beauty,3Bhiyyo taṇhā pavaḍḍhati,their craving grows and grows,4Esa kho daḷhaṁ karoti bandhanaṁ.tying them with a stout bond.
1Vitakkūpasame ca yo rato,But one who loves to calm their thoughts,2Asubhaṁ bhāvayate sadā sato;developing perception of ugliness, ever mindful,3Esa kho byanti kāhiti,will surely eliminate that craving,4Esa checchati mārabandhanaṁ.cutting off the bonds of Māra.
1Niṭṭhaṅgato asantāsī,One who is confident, unafraid,2vītataṇho anaṅgaṇo;rid of craving, free of blemish,3Acchindi bhavasallāni,having struck down the arrows flying to future lives,4antimoyaṁ samussayo.this bag of bones is their last.
1Vītataṇho anādāno,Rid of craving, free of grasping,2Niruttipadakovido;expert in the definition of terms,3Akkharānaṁ sannipātaṁ,knowing the correct4Jaññā pubbāparāni ca;structure and sequence of syllables,5Sa ve “antimasārīro,they are said to be one who bears their final body,6Mahāpañño mahāpuriso”ti vuccati.one of great wisdom, a great person.
1Sabbābhibhū sabbavidūhamasmi,I am the vanquisher of all, the knower of all,2Sabbesu dhammesu anūpalitto;unsullied in the midst of all things.3Sabbañjaho taṇhakkhaye vimutto,I’ve given up all, freed in the ending of craving.4Sayaṁ abhiññāya kamuddiseyyaṁ.Since I know for myself, whose follower should I be?
1Sabbadānaṁ dhammadānaṁ jināti,The gift of the teaching surmounts all other gifts;2Sabbarasaṁ dhammaraso jināti;the taste of the teaching surmounts all other tastes;3Sabbaratiṁ dhammarati jināti,the joy of the teaching surmounts all other joys;4Taṇhakkhayo sabbadukkhaṁ jināti.the ending of craving surmounts all suffering.
1Hananti bhogā dummedhaṁ,Riches ruin a simpleton,2no ca pāragavesino;but not a seeker of the far shore.3Bhogataṇhāya dummedho,From craving for wealth, a simpleton4hanti aññeva attanaṁ.ruins themselves and others.
1Tiṇadosāni khettāni,Weeds are the bane of crops,2rāgadosā ayaṁ pajā;but greed is these folk’s bane.3Tasmā hi vītarāgesu,That’s why a gift to one rid of greed4dinnaṁ hoti mahapphalaṁ.is so very fruitful.
1Tiṇadosāni khettāni,Weeds are the bane of crops,2dosadosā ayaṁ pajā;but hate is these folk’s bane.3Tasmā hi vītadosesu,That’s why a gift to one rid of hate4dinnaṁ hoti mahapphalaṁ.is so very fruitful.
1Tiṇadosāni khettāni,Weeds are the bane of crops,2mohadosā ayaṁ pajā;but delusion is these folk’s bane.3Tasmā hi vītamohesu,That’s why a gift to one rid of delusion4dinnaṁ hoti mahapphalaṁ.is so very fruitful.
1Tiṇadosāni khettāni,Weeds are the bane of crops,2icchādosā ayaṁ pajā;but desire is these folk’s bane.3Tasmā hi vigaticchesu,That’s why a gift to one rid of desire4dinnaṁ hoti mahapphalaṁ.is so very fruitful.
5Taṇhāvaggo catuvīsatimo.
The vānara is a type of human-like monkey often identified with the langur. See Ja 57.
