1.1Pāsādike bahū disvā,Seeing many who inspire confidence,1.2bhāvitatte susaṁvute;evolved and well-restrained,1.3Isi paṇḍarasagotto,the seer of the Paṇḍara clan,¹1.4apucchi phussasavhayaṁ.asked the one known as Phussa:

2.1“Kiṁchandā kimadhippāyā,“In future times,2.2kimākappā bhavissare;what desire and motivation2.3Anāgatamhi kālamhi,and behavior will people have?2.4taṁ me akkhāhi pucchito”.Please answer my question.”

3.1“Suṇohi vacanaṁ mayhaṁ,“Listen to my words,3.2isipaṇḍarasavhaya;O seer known as a Paṇḍara,3.3Sakkaccaṁ upadhārehi,and remember them carefully,3.4ācikkhissāmyanāgataṁ.I will describe the future.

4.1Kodhanā upanāhī ca,In the future many will be4.2makkhī thambhī saṭhā bahū;angry and hostile,4.3Ussukī nānāvādā ca,offensive, stubborn, and devious,4.4bhavissanti anāgate.jealous, holding divergent views.

5.1Aññātamānino dhamme,Imagining they understand <j>the depths of the teaching,5.2gambhīre tīragocarā;they resort to the near shore.5.3Lahukā agarū dhamme,Superficial and disrespectful toward the teaching,5.4aññamaññamagāravā.they lack respect for one another.

6.1Bahū ādīnavā loke,In the future6.2uppajjissantyanāgate;many dangers will arise in the world.6.3Sudesitaṁ imaṁ dhammaṁ,Idiots will defile6.4kilesessanti dummatī.the Dhamma that was taught so well.

7.1Guṇahīnāpi saṅghamhi,Though bereft of good qualities,7.2voharantā visāradā;unlearned prattlers, too sure of themselves,7.3Balavanto bhavissanti,will become powerful7.4mukharā assutāvino.in running Saṅgha proceedings.²

8.1Guṇavantopi saṅghamhi,Though possessing good qualities,8.2voharantā yathātthato;the conscientious and unbiased, <j>acting in the proper spirit,8.3Dubbalā te bhavissanti,will become weak8.4hirīmanā anatthikā.in running Saṅgha proceedings.

9.1Rajataṁ jātarūpañca,In the future, simpletons will accept9.2khettaṁ vatthumajeḷakaṁ;currency and gold,³9.3Dāsidāsañca dummedhā,fields and land, goats and sheep,9.4sādiyissantyanāgate.and bonded servants, male and female.

10.1Ujjhānasaññino bālā,Fools finding fault in others,10.2sīlesu asamāhitā;but unsteady in their own ethics,10.3Unnaḷā vicarissanti,will wander about, insolent,10.4kalahābhiratā magā.like cantankerous beasts.

11.1Uddhatā ca bhavissanti,They’ll be haughty,11.2nīlacīvarapārutā;wrapped in robes of blue;⁴11.3Kuhā thaddhā lapā siṅgī,deceivers and flatterers, pompous and fake,11.4carissantyariyā viya.they’ll wander as if they were noble ones.

12.1Telasaṇṭhehi kesehi,With hair sleeked back with oil,12.2capalā añjanakkhikā;fickle, their eyes painted with eyeshadow,12.3Rathiyāya gamissanti,they’ll travel on the high-road,12.4dantavaṇṇikapārutā.wrapped in robes of ivory color.

13.1Ajegucchaṁ vimuttehi,The deep-dyed ocher robe,13.2surattaṁ arahaddhajaṁ;worn without disgust by the free,13.3Jigucchissanti kāsāvaṁ,they will come to loathe,13.4odātesu samucchitā.besotted by white clothes.⁵

14.1Lābhakāmā bhavissanti,They’ll want lots of possessions,14.2kusītā hīnavīriyā;and be lazy, lacking energy.14.3Kicchantā vanapatthāni,Weary of the forest,14.4gāmantesu vasissare.they’ll stay within villages.

15.1Ye ye lābhaṁ labhissanti,Being unrestrained, they’ll keep company with15.2micchājīvaratā sadā;those who acquire profit,15.3Te teva anusikkhantā,and who always enjoy wrong livelihood,15.4bhajissanti asaṁyatā.following their example.

16.1Ye ye alābhino lābhaṁ,They won’t respect those16.2na te pujjā bhavissare;who don’t get lots of stuff,16.3Supesalepi te dhīre,and they won’t associate with the attentive,16.4sevissanti na te tadā.even though they’re very amiable.

17.1Milakkhurajanaṁ rattaṁ,Disparaging their own banner,⁶17.2garahantā sakaṁ dhajaṁ;dyed a vermilion color,17.3Titthiyānaṁ dhajaṁ keci,some will wear the white banner17.4dhārissantyavadātakaṁ.of those of other religions.

18.1Agāravo ca kāsāve,Then they’ll have no respect18.2tadā tesaṁ bhavissati;for the ocher robe.18.3Paṭisaṅkhā ca kāsāve,The mendicants will not reflect18.4bhikkhūnaṁ na bhavissati.on the nature of the ocher robe.

19.1Abhibhūtassa dukkhena,This awful lack of reflection19.2sallaviddhassa ruppato;was unthinkable to the elephant,19.3Paṭisaṅkhā mahāghorā,who was overcome by suffering,19.4nāgassāsi acintiyā.inflicted by an arrow strike.

20.1Chaddanto hi tadā disvā,Then the six-tusked elephant,⁷20.2surattaṁ arahaddhajaṁ;seeing the deep-dyed banner of the perfected ones,20.3Tāvadeva bhaṇī gāthā,straight away spoke these verses20.4gajo atthopasaṁhitā.connected with the goal.

21.1‘Anikkasāvo kāsāvaṁ,‘One who, not free of stains themselves,⁸21.2yo vatthaṁ paridhassati;would wear the robe stained in ocher,21.3Apeto damasaccena,bereft of self-control and truth:21.4na so kāsāvamarahati.they are not worthy of the ocher robe.

22.1Yo ca vantakasāvassa,One who’s purged all their stains,22.2sīlesu susamāhito;steady in ethics,22.3Upeto damasaccena,possessing truth and self-control:22.4sa ve kāsāvamarahati.they are truly worthy of the ocher robe.’

23.1Vipannasīlo dummedho,Devoid of virtue, a simpleton,23.2pākaṭo kāmakāriyo;wild, doing what they like,23.3Vibbhantacitto nissukko,their minds astray, indolent:23.4na so kāsāvamarahati.they are not worthy of the ocher robe.

24.1Yo ca sīlena sampanno,One accomplished in ethics,24.2vītarāgo samāhito;free of greed, serene,24.3Odātamanasaṅkappo,their heart’s intention pure:24.4sa ve kāsāvamarahati.they are truly worthy of the ocher robe.

25.1Uddhato unnaḷo bālo,The haughty, insolent fool,25.2sīlaṁ yassa na vijjati;who has no ethics at all,25.3Odātakaṁ arahati,is worthy of a white robe—25.4kāsāvaṁ kiṁ karissati.what use is an ocher robe for them?

26.1Bhikkhū ca bhikkhuniyo ca,In the future, monks and nuns26.2duṭṭhacittā anādarā;with corrupt hearts, lacking regard for others,26.3Tādīnaṁ mettacittānaṁ,will disparage those26.4niggaṇhissantyanāgate.with hearts of loving-kindness.

27.1Sikkhāpentāpi therehi,Though trained in wearing the robe27.2bālā cīvaradhāraṇaṁ;by senior monks,27.3Na suṇissanti dummedhā,simpletons will not listen,27.4pākaṭā kāmakāriyā.wild, doing what they like.

28.1Te tathā sikkhitā bālā,With that kind of attitude to training,28.2aññamaññaṁ agāravā;those fools won’t respect each other,28.3Nādiyissantupajjhāye,or take any notice of their mentors,28.4khaḷuṅko viya sārathiṁ.like a wild colt with its charioteer.

29.1Evaṁ anāgataddhānaṁ,Even so, in the future,29.2paṭipatti bhavissati;this will be the practice29.3Bhikkhūnaṁ bhikkhunīnañca,of monks and nuns29.4patte kālamhi pacchime.’when the latter days have come.

30.1Purā āgacchate etaṁ,Before this frightening future arrives,30.2anāgataṁ mahabbhayaṁ;be easy to admonish,30.3Subbacā hotha sakhilā,courteous in speech,30.4aññamaññaṁ sagāravā.and respect one another.

31.1Mettacittā kāruṇikā,Have hearts of love and compassion,31.2Hotha sīlesu saṁvutā;and please do keep your precepts.31.3Āraddhavīriyā pahitattā,Be energetic, resolute,31.4Niccaṁ daḷhaparakkamā.and always staunchly vigorous.

32.1Pamādaṁ bhayato disvā,Seeing negligence as fearful,32.2Appamādañca khemato;and diligence as a sanctuary,32.3Bhāvethaṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ,develop the eightfold path,32.4Phusantā amataṁ padan”ti.realizing the state free of death.”

32.5… Phusso thero ….…