1.1“Gacchaṁ vadesi samaṇaṭṭhitomhi,“While walking, ascetic, you say ‘I’ve stopped.’¹1.2Mamañca brūsi ṭhitamaṭṭhitoti;And I have stopped, but you tell me I’ve not.1.3Pucchāmi taṁ samaṇa etamatthaṁ,I’m asking you this, ascetic:1.4‘Kathaṁ ṭhito tvaṁ ahamaṭṭhitomhi’”.how is it you’ve stopped and I have not?”

2.1“Ṭhito ahaṁ aṅgulimāla sabbadā,“Aṅgulimāla, I have forever stopped—2.2Sabbesu bhūtesu nidhāya daṇḍaṁ;I’ve laid aside violence toward all creatures.2.3Tuvañca pāṇesu asaññatosi,But you can’t stop yourself <j>from harming living creatures;2.4Tasmā ṭhitohaṁ tuvamaṭṭhitosi”.that’s why I’ve stopped, but you have not.”

3.1“Cirassaṁ vata me mahito mahesī,“Oh, at long last a renowned great seer,3.2Mahāvanaṁ samaṇo paccapādi;an ascetic has followed me into this deep wood.3.3Sohaṁ cajissāmi sahassapāpaṁ,Now that I’ve heard your verse on Dhamma,3.4Sutvāna gāthaṁ tava dhammayuttaṁ”.I shall discard a thousand evils.”

4.1Icceva coro asimāvudhañca,With these words, <j>the bandit hurled his sword and weapons4.2Sobbhe papāte narake anvakāsi;down a cliff into an abyss.4.3Avandi coro sugatassa pāde,He venerated the Holy One’s feet,4.4Tattheva pabbajjamayāci buddhaṁ.and requested the going forth <j>from the Buddha right away.

5.1Buddho ca kho kāruṇiko mahesi,Then the Buddha, the compassionate great seer,5.2Yo satthā lokassa sadevakassa;the Teacher of the world with its gods,5.3“Tamehi bhikkhū”ti tadā avoca,said to him, “Come, monk!”5.4Eseva tassa ahu bhikkhubhāvo.And with that he became a monk.

6.1“Yo ca pubbe pamajjitvā,“He who once was heedless,6.2pacchā so nappamajjati;but turned to heedfulness,6.3Somaṁ lokaṁ pabhāseti,shines upon this world,6.4abbhā muttova candimā.like the moon freed from clouds.

7.1Yassa pāpaṁ kataṁ kammaṁ,Someone whose bad deed7.2kusalena pidhīyati;is supplanted by the good,7.3Somaṁ lokaṁ pabhāseti,shines upon this world,7.4abbhā muttova candimā.like the moon freed from clouds.

8.1Yo have daharo bhikkhu,A young mendicant8.2yuñjati buddhasāsane;devoted to the Buddha’s teaching,8.3Somaṁ lokaṁ pabhāseti,shines upon this world,8.4abbhā muttova candimā.like the moon freed from clouds.

9.1Disāpi me dhammakathaṁ suṇantu,May even my enemies <j>hear a Dhamma talk!9.2Disāpi me yuñjantu buddhasāsane;May even my enemies <j>devote themselves to the Buddha’s teaching!9.3Disāpi me te manuje bhajantu,May even my enemies associate with those good men9.4Ye dhammamevādapayanti santo.who establish others in the Dhamma!

10.1Disā hi me khantivādānaṁ,May even my enemies <j>hear Dhamma at the right time,10.2avirodhappasaṁsinaṁ;from those who teach acceptance,10.3Suṇantu dhammaṁ kālena,praising acquiescence;10.4tañca anuvidhīyantu.and may they follow that path!

11.1Na hi jātu so mamaṁ hiṁse,For then they’d never wish harm11.2aññaṁ vā pana kiñcanaṁ;upon myself or others.11.3Pappuyya paramaṁ santiṁ,Having arrived at ultimate peace,11.4rakkheyya tasathāvare.they’d look after creatures firm and frail.

12.1Udakañhi nayanti nettikā,For while irrigators guide water,12.2Usukārā namayanti tejanaṁ;fletchers bend arrows straight,12.3Dāruṁ namayanti tacchakā,and carpenters bend timber straight,12.4Attānaṁ damayanti paṇḍitā.the astute tame themselves.

13.1Daṇḍeneke damayanti,Some tame by using the rod,13.2aṅkusebhi kasāhi ca;some with goads, and some with whips.13.3Adaṇḍena asatthena,But the unaffected one tamed me13.4ahaṁ dantomhi tādinā.without rod or sword.

14.1‘Ahiṁsako’ti me nāmaṁ,My name is ‘Harmless’,14.2hiṁsakassa pure sato;though I used to be harmful.14.3Ajjāhaṁ saccanāmomhi,The name I bear today is true,14.4na naṁ hiṁsāmi kiñcanaṁ.for I do no harm to anyone.

15.1Coro ahaṁ pure āsiṁ,I used to be a bandit,15.2aṅgulimāloti vissuto;the notorious Aṅgulimāla.15.3Vuyhamāno mahoghena,Swept away in a great flood,15.4buddhaṁ saraṇamāgamaṁ.I went to the Buddha for refuge.

16.1Lohitapāṇi pure āsiṁ,I used to have blood on my hands,16.2aṅgulimāloti vissuto;the notorious Aṅgulimāla.16.3Saraṇagamanaṁ passa,See the refuge I’ve found—16.4bhavanetti samūhatā.the leash to existence is eradicated.

17.1Tādisaṁ kammaṁ katvāna,I’ve done many of the sort of deeds17.2bahuṁ duggatigāminaṁ;that lead to a bad destination.17.3Phuṭṭho kammavipākena,The result of my deeds has already struck me,17.4anaṇo bhuñjāmi bhojanaṁ.so I enjoy my food free of debt.

18.1Pamādamanuyuñjanti,Fools and simpletons18.2bālā dummedhino janā;devote themselves to negligence.18.3Appamādañca medhāvī,But the wise protect diligence18.4dhanaṁ seṭṭhaṁva rakkhati.as their best treasure.

19.1Mā pamādamanuyuñjetha,Don’t devote yourself to negligence,19.2mā kāmaratisanthavaṁ;or delight in erotic intimacy.19.3Appamatto hi jhāyanto,For if you’re diligent and practice absorption,19.4pappoti paramaṁ sukhaṁ.you’ll attain ultimate happiness.

20.1Svāgataṁ nāpagataṁ,It was welcome, not unwelcome,20.2netaṁ dummantitaṁ mama;the advice I got was good.20.3Savibhattesu dhammesu,Of the well-explained teachings,20.4yaṁ seṭṭhaṁ tadupāgamaṁ.I arrived at the best.

21.1Svāgataṁ nāpagataṁ,It was welcome, not unwelcome,21.2netaṁ dummantitaṁ mama;the advice I got was good.21.3Tisso vijjā anuppattā,I’ve attained the three knowledges,21.4kataṁ buddhassa sāsanaṁ.and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.”

22.1Araññe rukkhamūle vā,“In the wilderness, at a tree’s root,²22.2pabbatesu guhāsu vā;on mountains, or in caves—22.3Tattha tattheva aṭṭhāsiṁ,it used to be that wherever I stood,22.4ubbiggamanaso tadā.my mind was anxious.

23.1Sukhaṁ sayāmi ṭhāyāmi,But now I lie down happily and stand up happily,23.2sukhaṁ kappemi jīvitaṁ;I live my life happily,23.3Ahatthapāso mārassa,out of Māra’s reach;23.4aho satthānukampito.the Teacher had sympathy for me.

24.1Brahmajacco pure āsiṁ,I used to be of brahmin birth,24.2udicco ubhato ahu;highborn on both sides,24.3Sojja putto sugatassa,now I’m a son of the Holy One,24.4dhammarājassa satthuno.the Teacher, King of Dhamma.

25.1Vītataṇho anādāno,I am rid of craving, free of grasping,25.2guttadvāro susaṁvuto;my sense doors are guarded and well-restrained.25.3Aghamūlaṁ vadhitvāna,I’ve destroyed the root of gloom,25.4patto me āsavakkhayo.and attained the ending of defilements.

26.1Pariciṇṇo mayā satthā,I’ve served the Teacher26.2kataṁ buddhassa sāsanaṁ;and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.26.3Ohito garuko bhāro,The heavy burden is laid down,26.4bhavanetti samūhatā”ti.the leash to existence is eradicated.”

26.5… Aṅgulimālo thero ….