1.1“Na gaṇena purakkhato care,“You shouldn’t live for the adulation of a following;1.2Vimano hoti samādhi dullabho;it turns your mind, making it hard to get immersion.1.3Nānājanasaṅgaho dukho,Seeing that popularity is suffering,1.4Iti disvāna gaṇaṁ na rocaye.you shouldn’t consent to a following.

2.1Na kulāni upabbaje muni,A sage should not visit respectable families;2.2Vimano hoti samādhi dullabho;it turns your mind, making it hard to get immersion.2.3So ussukko rasānugiddho,If you’re eager and greedy for flavors,2.4Atthaṁ riñcati yo sukhāvaho.you’ll miss the goal that brings such happiness.

3.1Paṅkoti hi naṁ avedayuṁ,They know it really is a bog,3.2Yāyaṁ vandanapūjanā kulesu;this homage and veneration in respectable families.3.3Sukhumaṁ sallaṁ durubbahaṁ,Honor is a subtle dart, hard to extract,3.4Sakkāro kāpurisena dujjaho.and hard for a reprobate to give up.”

4.1Senāsanamhā oruyha,“I came down from my lodging4.2nagaraṁ piṇḍāya pāvisiṁ;and entered the city for alms.4.3Bhuñjantaṁ purisaṁ kuṭṭhiṁ,I courteously stood by4.4sakkaccaṁ taṁ upaṭṭhahiṁ.while a leper ate.

5.1So me pakkena hatthena,With his putrid hand5.2ālopaṁ upanāmayi;he offered me a morsel.5.3Ālopaṁ pakkhipantassa,Putting the morsel in my bowl,5.4aṅguli cettha chijjatha.his finger dropped off right there.

6.1Kuṭṭamūlañca nissāya,Sitting by a wall,6.2ālopaṁ taṁ abhuñjisaṁ;I ate that lump of rice.6.3Bhuñjamāne vā bhutte vā,I did not feel any disgust6.4jegucchaṁ me na vijjati.while eating or afterwards.

7.1Uttiṭṭhapiṇḍo āhāro,Anyone who makes use of7.2pūtimuttañca osadhaṁ;leftovers for food,7.3Senāsanaṁ rukkhamūlaṁ,rancid urine as medicine,7.4paṁsukūlañca cīvaraṁ;the root of a tree as lodging,7.5Yassete abhisambhutvā,and cast-off rags as robes,7.6sa ve cātuddiso naro.is at ease in any quarter.”

8.1Yattha eke vihaññanti,“Where some have fallen to ruin8.2āruhantā siluccayaṁ;while climbing the mountain,8.3Tassa buddhassa dāyādo,there Kassapa ascends;8.4sampajāno patissato;an heir of the Buddha,8.5Iddhibalenupatthaddho,aware and mindful,8.6kassapo abhirūhati.owing to his psychic powers.

9.1Piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto,Returning from almsround,9.2selamāruyha kassapo;Kassapa ascends the mountain,9.3Jhāyati anupādāno,and practices absorption without grasping,9.4pahīnabhayabheravo.with fear and dread given up.

10.1Piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto,Returning from almsround,10.2selamāruyha kassapo;Kassapa ascends the mountain,10.3Jhāyati anupādāno,and practices absorption without grasping,10.4ḍayhamānesu nibbuto.quenched amongst those who burn.

11.1Piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto,Returning from almsround,11.2selamāruyha kassapo;Kassapa ascends the mountain,11.3Jhāyati anupādāno,and practices absorption without grasping,11.4katakicco anāsavo.his task completed, free of defilements.”¹

12.1Karerimālāvitatā,“Strewn with garlands of the musk-rose tree,12.2bhūmibhāgā manoramā;these regions are so delightful, so lovely,12.3Kuñjarābhirudā rammā,echoing with the trumpeting of elephants:12.4te selā ramayanti maṁ.these rocky crags delight me!

13.1Nīlabbhavaṇṇā rucirā,Glistening, they look like blue stormclouds,13.2vārisītā sucindharā;with waters cool and streams so clear,13.3Indagopakasañchannā,and covered all in ladybugs:13.4te selā ramayanti maṁ.these rocky crags delight me!

14.1Nīlabbhakūṭasadisā,Like the peak of a blue stormcloud,14.2kūṭāgāravarūpamā;or like a fine bungalow, lovely,14.3Vāraṇābhirudā rammā,echoing with the trumpeting of elephants:14.4te selā ramayanti maṁ.these rocky crags delight me!

15.1Abhivuṭṭhā rammatalā,The rain comes down on the lovely flats,15.2nagā isibhi sevitā;in the mountains frequented by seers.15.3Abbhunnaditā sikhīhi,Echoing with the cries of peacocks,15.4te selā ramayanti maṁ.these rocky crags delight me!

16.1Alaṁ jhāyitukāmassa,It’s enough for me, who loves absorption,16.2pahitattassa me sato;to remain resolute.16.3Alaṁ me atthakāmassa,It’s enough for me,16.4pahitattassa bhikkhuno.a resolute monk who wants what’s best.

17.1Alaṁ me phāsukāmassa,It’s enough for me,17.2pahitattassa bhikkhuno;a resolute monk who loves comfort.17.3Alaṁ me yogakāmassa,It’s enough for me,17.4pahitattassa tādino.resolute and unaffected, loving meditation.

18.1Umāpupphena samānā,Covered with flowers of flax,18.2gaganāvabbhachāditā;like the welkin covered with stormclouds,18.3Nānādijagaṇākiṇṇā,full of flocks of many different birds,18.4te selā ramayanti maṁ.these rocky crags delight me!

19.1Anākiṇṇā gahaṭṭhehi,Empty of householders,19.2migasaṅghanisevitā;frequented by herds of deer,19.3Nānādijagaṇākiṇṇā,full of flocks of many different birds,19.4te selā ramayanti maṁ.these rocky crags delight me!

20.1Acchodikā puthusilā,The water’s clear and the rocks are broad,20.2gonaṅgulamigāyutā;monkeys and deer are all around;20.3Ambusevālasañchannā,festooned with dewy moss,20.4te selā ramayanti maṁ.these rocky crags delight me!”

21.1Na pañcaṅgikena turiyena,“Even the music of a five-piece band21.2Rati me hoti tādisī;can never give such pleasure21.3Yathā ekaggacittassa,as when, with unified mind,21.4Sammā dhammaṁ vipassato.you rightly discern the Dhamma.”

22.1Kammaṁ bahukaṁ na kāraye,“Don’t get involved in lots of work,22.2Parivajjeyya janaṁ na uyyame;avoid people, and don’t try to acquire things.22.3Ussukko so rasānugiddho,If you’re eager and greedy for flavors,22.4Atthaṁ riñcati yo sukhāvaho.you’ll miss the goal that brings such happiness.

23.1Kammaṁ bahukaṁ na kāraye,Don’t get involved in lots of work,23.2Parivajjeyya anattaneyyametaṁ;avoid what doesn’t lead to the goal.23.3Kicchati kāyo kilamati,The body gets worn out and fatigued,23.4Dukkhito so samathaṁ na vindati.and when you ache, you won’t find serenity.”

24.1Oṭṭhappahatamattena,“You won’t see yourself24.2attānampi na passati;by merely reciting words,24.3Patthaddhagīvo carati,wandering stiff-necked24.4ahaṁ seyyoti maññati.and thinking, ‘I’m better than them.’

25.1Aseyyo seyyasamānaṁ,The fool is no better,25.2bālo maññati attānaṁ;but they think they are.25.3Na taṁ viññū pasaṁsanti,The wise don’t praise25.4patthaddhamānasaṁ naraṁ.pompous people.

26.1Yo ca seyyohamasmīti,Whoever does not waver26.2nāhaṁ seyyoti vā pana;due to the discriminations—26.3Hīno taṁsadiso vāti,‘I am better’, ‘I’m not better’,26.4vidhāsu na vikampati.‘I am worse’, or ‘I am the same’—

27.1Paññavantaṁ tathā tādiṁ,with such understanding, unaffected,27.2sīlesu susamāhitaṁ;steady in ethics,27.3Cetosamathamanuttaṁ,and devoted to serenity of mind:27.4tañce viññū pasaṁsare.that is who the wise praise.”

28.1Yassa sabrahmacārīsu,“Whoever has no respect28.2gāravo nūpalabbhati;for their spiritual companions28.3Ārakā hoti saddhammā,is as far from the true teaching28.4nabhato puthavī yathā.as the earth is from the sky.

29.1Yesañca hiriottappaṁ,Those whose conscience and prudence29.2sadā sammā upaṭṭhitaṁ;are always rightly established,29.3Virūḷhabrahmacariyā te,thrive in the spiritual life;29.4tesaṁ khīṇā punabbhavā.for them, there are no future lives.

30.1Uddhato capalo bhikkhu,When a mendicant who is haughty and fickle30.2paṁsukūlena pāruto;wears rags from the rubbish-heap,30.3Kapīva sīhacammena,that doesn’t make them shine:30.4na so tenupasobhati.they’re like a monkey in a lion skin.

31.1Anuddhato acapalo,But if they not restless or fickle,31.2nipako saṁvutindriyo;alert, with senses restrained,31.3Sobhati paṁsukūlena,then, wearing rags from the rubbish-heap, they shine31.4sīhova girigabbhare.like a lion in a mountain cave.”

32.1Ete sambahulā devā,“These many gods32.2iddhimanto yasassino;powerful and glorious,32.3Dasadevasahassāni,all 10,000 of them,32.4sabbe te brahmakāyikā.belong to the host of the Divinity.

33.1Dhammasenāpatiṁ vīraṁ,They stand with cupped palms33.2mahājhāyiṁ samāhitaṁ;honoring Sāriputta,33.3Sāriputtaṁ namassantā,the General of the Dhamma, the hero,33.4tiṭṭhanti pañjalīkatā.the serene great meditator:

34.1‘Namo te purisājañña,‘Homage to you, O thoroughbred!34.2namo te purisuttama;Homage to you, supreme among men!34.3Yassa te nābhijānāma,We don’t understand34.4yampi nissāya jhāyati.the basis of your absorption.

35.1Accheraṁ vata buddhānaṁ,The profound domain of the Buddhas35.2gambhīro gocaro sako;is truly amazing.35.3Ye mayaṁ nābhijānāma,We don’t understand,35.4vālavedhisamāgatā’.though we’ve gathered here to split hairs.’

36.1Taṁ tathā devakāyehi,When he saw the host of gods36.2pūjitaṁ pūjanārahaṁ;paying homage to Sāriputta—36.3Sāriputtaṁ tadā disvā,who is truly worthy of homage—36.4kappinassa sitaṁ ahu.Kappina smiled.”

37.1Yāvatā buddhakhettamhi,“As far as the range of the Buddha extends,37.2ṭhapayitvā mahāmuniṁ;apart from the great sage himself,37.3Dhutaguṇe visiṭṭhohaṁ,I am distinguished in austerities,37.4sadiso me na vijjati.no equal to me is found.

38.1Pariciṇṇo mayā satthā,I’ve served the Teacher38.2kataṁ buddhassa sāsanaṁ;and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.38.3Ohito garuko bhāro,The heavy burden is laid down,38.4natthi dāni punabbhavo.now there’ll be no more future lives.”

39.1Na cīvare na sayane,“Like a lotus flower39.2bhojane nupalimpati;to which water will not stick,39.3Gotamo anappameyyo,Gotama the immeasurable is unstained39.4muḷālapupphaṁ vimalaṁva;by robes, lodgings, or food.39.5Ambunā nekkhammaninno,He inclines to renunciation,39.6tibhavābhinissaṭo.and has escaped the three states of existence.

40.1Satipaṭṭhānagīvo so,The great sage’s neck is mindfulness meditation;40.2saddhāhattho mahāmuni;faith is his hands, and wisdom his head.40.3Paññāsīso mahāñāṇī,Having great knowledge,40.4sadā carati nibbuto”ti.he always wanders, quenched.”

40.5… Mahākassapo thero …

40.6Cattālīsanipāto niṭṭhito.The Book of the Forties is finished.

41.0Tatruddānaṁ

41.1Cattālīsanipātamhi,41.2mahākassapasavhayo;41.3Ekova thero gāthāyo,41.4cattālīsa duvepi cāti.