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Homage to that Blessed One, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Self-Enlightened One. In the Minor Collection The Verses of the Elder Monks Introductory Verses Like roaring lions, with tusks, in mountain caves; Listen to the verses of those whose minds are developed, which lead to the goal. As they were named, as their clan, as they lived according to the Dhamma; As they were resolved, the wise ones, unwearied, they lived. Having seen clearly here and there, having touched the Deathless State; Reflecting on what was done, they spoke this matter. 1. The Chapter of Ones 1. The First Section 1. The Verses of Elder Subhūti 1. My hut is roofed, pleasant, sheltered from the wind; Rain, O god, as you please; My mind is well-composed, liberated; I dwell ardent, rain, O god! Thus indeed, the Venerable Elder Subhūti spoke this verse. 2. The Verses of Elder Mahākoṭṭhika 2. Peaceful, ceased, speaking wisely, not arrogant; He shakes off evil states, like the wind shakes off a tree's leaves. Thus indeed, the Venerable Elder Mahākoṭṭhika spoke this verse. 3. The Verses of Elder Kaṅkhārevata 3. See this wisdom of the Tathāgatas, like a fire blazing in the night; They become givers of light, givers of sight, those who remove the doubts of those who come. Thus indeed, the Venerable Elder Kaṅkhārevata spoke this verse. 4. The Verses of Elder Puṇṇa 4. One should associate only with the good, with the wise who see the goal; A great, profound, hard-to-see, subtle, minute goal; The steadfast attain it, the diligent, the discerning. Thus indeed, the Venerable Elder Puṇṇa Mantāṇiputta spoke this verse. 5. The Verses of Elder Dabba 5. He who was hard to tame, is tamed by taming, Dabba; Content, with doubts overcome; Victorious, indeed fearless, that Dabba is fully extinguished, steadfast in mind. Thus indeed, the Venerable Elder Dabba spoke this verse. 6. The Verses of Elder Sītavaniya 6. He who The monk went to Sītavana, alone, content, with mind composed. Victorious, with no goosebumps, he guarded mindfulness of the body, resolute. Thus indeed, the Elder Sītavaniya spoke this verse. 7. The Verses of Elder Bhalliya 7. He who drove away the army of the King of Death, as a great flood a very weak reed-bridge; Victorious, indeed fearless, tamed is he, fully extinguished, with mind firm. Thus indeed, the Elder Bhalliya spoke this verse. 8. The Verses of Elder Vīra 8. He who, untamable, was tamed by taming, heroic, content, with doubts dispelled; Victorious, with no goosebumps, that hero is fully extinguished, with mind firm. Thus indeed, the Elder Vīra spoke this verse. 9. The Verses of Elder Pilindavaccha 9. "Well-come, not ill-come, nor was this ill-advised by me; Among the doctrines well-divided, I attained that which is supreme." Thus indeed, the Elder Pilindavaccha spoke this verse. 10. The Verses of Elder Puṇṇamāsa 10. "He lived without attachment, here or beyond, he who is a knower of the Vedas, calmed, with mind restrained; Unstained by all phenomena, he would know the arising and passing away of the world." Thus indeed, the Elder Puṇṇamāsa spoke this verse. The first chapter is finished. Its summary: Subhūti, Koṭṭhika the Elder, Kaṅkhārevata, Sammata; Mantāṇiputta, Dabba, Sītavaniya, and Bhalliya; Vīra, Pilindavaccha, and Puṇṇamāsa, dispeller of darkness. 2. The Second Chapter 1. The Verses of Elder Cūḷavaccha 11. "A monk full of joy, in the Dhamma proclaimed by the Buddha; May attain the peaceful state, the calming of formations, happiness." ... Elder Cūḷavaccha ... 2. The Verses of Elder Mahāvaccha 12. "Strong in wisdom, endowed with virtue, composed, delighting in jhāna, mindful; Eating food for its purpose, he would await the time, here free from passion." ... Mahāvaccha ... Blue cloud-colored, charming, bearing cool, pure water; covered with crimson beetles, those rocks delight me. My preceptor said to me, "Let us go from here, Sīvaka." My body dwells in the village, my mind has gone to the forest. Even while lying down, I go; there is no attachment for one who knows. Cut off five, abandon five, and cultivate five more. A monk who has gone beyond the five attachments is called one who has crossed the flood. Just as a noble steed, skilled at turning the plough, goes with little effort; so my days and nights go with little effort, having gained the unworldly happiness. When one is sluggish and a great eater, a sleeper, one who rolls over and sleeps, like a great hog fed on swill, that dullard repeatedly enters the womb. There was an heir of the Buddha, a monk in the Bhesakaḷā forest. Solely by the perception of bones, he pervaded this earth. I think that he will quickly abandon the craving for sensual pleasures. Indeed, irrigators lead the water; fletchers bend the arrow shaft; carpenters bend the wood; the good and disciplined tame themselves. I have no fear of death, no craving for life. I shall lay down this body, with full awareness and mindfulness. Cūḷavaccha, Mahāvaccha, Vanavaccha, and Sīvaka; Kuṇḍadhāna and Belaṭṭhi, Dāsaka, and above them; Elder Siṅgālapitika, Kula, and Ajita, these ten. 3. The Third Chapter 1. The Verses of Elder Nigrodha 21. I do not fear fear, Our Teacher is skilled in the Deathless; Where fear does not abide, By that path bhikkhus go. … Elder Nigrodha … 2. The Verses of Elder Cittaka 22. Blue-necked, crested, Peacocks cry out in Kārambiya; They, delighted by the cool wind, Awaken the meditating one from sleep. … Elder Cittaka … 3. The Verses of Elder Gosāla 23. Indeed, in the bamboo grove, Having eaten honey-rice; Contemplating the rise and fall of aggregates, Turning rightwards; I will return to the peak, Cultivating seclusion. … Elder Gosāla … 4. The Verses of Elder Sugandha 24. Ordained for a year, See the well-taught Dhamma; The three knowledges attained, The Buddha’s teaching done. … Elder Sugandha … 5. The Verses of Elder Nandiya 25. Whose mind is frequently Illuminated, fruitful; Encountering such a bhikkhu, O Māra, you will come to suffering. … Elder Nandiya … 6. The Verses of Elder Abhaya 26. Having heard the well-spoken word, Of the Buddha, kinsman of the sun; I pierced it precisely, Like a hair-tip with an arrow. … Elder Abhaya … 7. The Verses of Elder Lomasakaṅgiya 27. Dabba grass, kusa grass, poṭakila, Usīra, muñja, pabbaja; With my chest I will push them aside, Cultivating seclusion. … Elder Lomasakaṅgiya … 8. The Verses of Elder Jambugāmikaputta 28. Are you not devoted to robes? Are you not delighted in adornments? Do you not breathe the fragrance of virtue, Unlike other people? … Elder Jambugāmikaputta … **Verses of Elder Hārita** 29. Straightening oneself, like a fletcher straightens an arrow shaft; Making the mind straight, break ignorance, Hārita. … Elder Hārita … **10. Verses of Elder Uttiya** 30. When illness arose in me, mindfulness arose in me. Illness has arisen in me, it is not time for me to be heedless. … Elder Uttiya … The third chapter is finished. Its summary – Nigrodha, Cittaka, the elder Gosāla, Sugandha; Nandiya, Abhaya, the elder Lomasakaṅgiya; Jambugāmikaputta, and Hārita, Uttiya, the sages. **4. The Fourth Chapter** **1. Verses of Elder Gahvaratīriya** 31. Afflicted by stinging flies and mosquitoes, in the great forest, like an elephant in battle, one should dwell there mindfully. … Elder Gahvaratīriya … **2. Verses of Elder Suppiya** 32. Aging, seeking the unaging, striving for Nibbāna, one should attain supreme peace, the unsurpassed security. … Elder Suppiya … **3. Verses of Elder Sopāka** 33. Just as one would be skillful with a beloved only son, so too with all beings, one should be skillful everywhere. … Elder Sopāka … **4. Verses of Elder Posiyo** 34. These excellent things are not near, always knowing this. Having come from the village to the forest, then he entered a dwelling. Then rising, he departed, without taking leave, Posiyo. … Elder Posiyo … **5. Verses of Elder Sāmaññakāni** 35. Happiness the seeker obtains by practice, fame he attains, his renown grows. He who cultivates the noble eightfold straight path, the path to the Deathless's attainment. … Elder Sāmaññakāni … **6. Verses of Elder Kumāputta** 36. Good is learning, good is conduct, good is always dwelling without a home. Asking about the meaning, and respectful actions, this is the asceticism of one with nothing. … Elder Kumāputta … **7. Verses of Elder Kumāputta's Companion** 37. Of various countries they go, wandering unrestrained; They miss concentration, what will wandering for alms do? Therefore, having removed agitation, one should meditate unattached. … The companion elder of Kumāputta. 8. Gavampati Thera’s Verses 38. “He who by psychic power established Sarabhu, that Gavampati, unattached, unagitated; That great sage, gone beyond all attachments, the devas salute, the one who has crossed over existence.” … Gavampati Thera. 9. Tissa Thera’s Verses 39. “As if pierced by a spear, as if his head were aflame; For the abandoning of sensual desire, mindful, a bhikkhu should wander.” … Tissa Thera. 10. Vaḍḍhamāna Thera’s Verses 40. “As if pierced by a spear, as if his head were aflame; For the abandoning of desire for existence, mindful, a bhikkhu should wander.” … Vaḍḍhamāna Thera. The Fourth Chapter is finished. Its summary – Gahvara, Tiriya, Suppiya, Sopāka and Posiya; Sāmaññakāni, Kumāputta, Kumāputta’s companion; Gavampati, Tissa Thera, Vaḍḍhamāna of great fame. 5. The Fifth Chapter 1. Sirivaḍḍha Thera’s Verses 41. “Lightning flashes pursue the opening, of Veḷhāra and Paṇḍava; And he meditates in the mountain cave, the son of the incomparable, such one.” … Sirivaḍḍha Thera. 2. Khadiravaniya Thera’s Verses 42. “Do you dwell mindful, in Cālā, Upacālā, Sīsūpacālā? The one who pierces like a hair has come to you.” … Khadiravaniya Thera. 3. Sumaṅgala Thera’s Verses 43. “Well-freed, well-freed, indeed, well-freed am I from three crooked things;