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The Book of the Twos The First Chapter The Verses of Elder Uttara No becoming is eternal, nor are formations everlasting; These aggregates arise, and pass away again and again. Knowing this danger, I am not fond of becoming; Released from all desires, I have attained the destruction of defilements. Thus indeed spoke the venerable Elder Uttara. The Verses of Elder Piṇḍolabhāradvāja This life is not by wrong means, nor is food for the heart's comfort; This body subsists on food, thus seeing, I wander for alms. Indeed, they call it mud, this veneration and homage in families; A subtle dart, hard to extract, honor is hard for a base man to abandon. Thus indeed spoke the venerable Elder Piṇḍolabhāradvāja. The Verses of Elder Valli A monkey in this hut with five doors, having entered; Goes around through the doors, poking again and again. Stop, monkey, do not run, it is not for you as before; You are restrained by wisdom, you will not go far. … Elder Valli…. The Verses of Elder Gaṅgātīriya My hut is made of three palm leaves, on the bank of the Ganges; My bowl is like a skull, and my robe is from a rag heap. For two rainy seasons, one word I spoke; In the third rainy season, the mass of darkness was shattered. … Elder Gaṅgātīriya…. The Verses of Elder Ajina Even if one is threefold-knowledgeable, having abandoned death, undefiled; The foolish, not knowing, despise him as unknown. But the person here who obtains food and drink; Even if he is of evil conduct, he is honored by them. … Elder Ajina…. The Verses of Elder Meḷajina When I heard the Dhamma, spoken by the Teacher; I knew no doubt, in the All-knowing, the Unconquered. In the caravan leader, the great hero, the supreme among charioteers; In the path, the practice or that, no doubt exists for me. ... Elder Meḷajina ... 7. The Verses of Elder Rādha 133. Just as a house badly roofed, Rain penetrates; So an undeveloped mind, Passion penetrates. 134. Just as a house well roofed, Rain does not penetrate; So a well-developed mind, Passion does not penetrate. ... Elder Rādha ... 8. The Verses of Elder Surādha 135. Indeed, my birth is destroyed, The teaching of the Conqueror has been lived; The net, so-called, is abandoned, The craving for becoming is uprooted. 136. For the sake of which I went forth, From home to homelessness; That goal has been attained by me, The destruction of all fetters. ... Elder Surādha ... 9. The Verses of Elder Gotama 137. Happily sleep the sages, Who are not bound by women; Who must always be guarded against, In whom truth is very rare. 138. We have walked the path of destruction for you, O craving, Now we are free from debt to you; Now we go to Nibbāna, Having gone there, one does not grieve. ... Elder Gotama ... 10. The Verses of Elder Vasabha 139. First he harms himself, Afterwards he harms others; He harms himself badly, Like a bird with a broken wing. 140. Not by outward appearance is one a brahmin, Indeed, by inner quality is one a brahmin; In whom evil deeds exist, He is indeed dark, O good speaker. ... Elder Vasabha ... The first chapter is finished. Its summary – Uttara and Piṇḍola, Valliya, Tīriya, Isi; Ajina and Meḷajina, Rādha, Surādha, Gotama; With Vasabha, these are, Ten elders of great psychic power. 2. The Second Chapter 1. The Verses of Elder Mahācunda 141. Listening increases learning, Learning increases wisdom; By wisdom one knows the meaning, The known meaning brings happiness. 142. One should resort to remote dwellings, One should practice for the release from fetters; If one does not find delight there, One should dwell in the Saṅgha, self-guarded and mindful. ... Elder Mahācunda ... 2. The Verses of Elder Jotidāsa Indeed, those with deceitful mixing and with various deeds oppress people, harsh-acting folk. They too are scattered right there, for deeds do not perish. Whatever deed a person does, whether good or evil, of that very deed he is the heir, whatever deed he performs. Days and nights pass by, life is cut short. The life of mortals wastes away, like water in small rivers. Then evil deeds doing, the fool does not understand. Afterwards it is bitter for him, indeed, his result is evil. Having boarded a small piece of wood, just as one sinks in the great ocean; so too, approaching a lazy person, even one living well sinks. Therefore, one should avoid him, the lazy, of low energy. With the secluded noble ones, with those who have sent forth their minds, the meditators, always with those who have aroused energy, with the wise, one should dwell together. People are bound to people, people rely on people. People are troubled by people, and people trouble people. What indeed is his purpose with people, or with people born? Leaving people, going, having troubled many people. A dark woman, tall, of crow-like form, having broken one thigh and another thigh, having broken one arm and another arm, and having broken the head like a curd-bowl; she sits, having joined it all together. Whoever, indeed, ignorant, makes attachments, that fool repeatedly experiences suffering. Therefore, knowing, one should not make attachments, "May I not lie again with a broken head." He makes enemies, though shaven, clad in a robe; Obtaining food and drink, clothing and lodging. 154. Knowing this danger, the great peril in honors; With little gain, unattached, mindful, a monk should wander. … Elder Tissa…. 8. The Verses of Elder Kimila 155. In the Eastern Bamboo Grove, the Sakyan sons, my companions; Having abandoned abundant enjoyments, delight in what comes to their bowl by gleaning. 156. With energy aroused, dedicated, always of firm endeavor; They delight in the joy of Dhamma, having abandoned worldly joy. … Elder Kimila…. 9. The Verses of Elder Nanda 157. Through unwise attention, I indulged in adornment; I was arrogant and fickle, afflicted by sensual passion. 158. By the Buddha, kinsman of the sun, skilled in means; Having practiced wisely, I lifted my mind from existence. … Elder Nanda…. 10. The Verses of Elder Sirimā 159. Others may praise him, if his self is not composed; Vainly do others praise, for his self is not composed. 160. Others may blame him, if his self is well-composed; Vainly do others blame, for his self is well-composed. … Elder Sirimā…. The second chapter is finished. Its summary – Cunda and Jotidas, and the elder Heraññakāni; Somamitta, Sabbhamitta, Kāla, Tissa, and Kimila; Nanda and Sirimā, these are ten elders of great power. 3. The Third Chapter 1. The Verses of Elder Uttara 161. The aggregates are fully known by me, craving is well uprooted by me; The factors of awakening are developed by me, the destruction of defilements is attained by me. 162. Having fully known the aggregates, having pulled out the net (of craving); Having developed the factors of awakening, I shall be extinguished, without defilements. … Elder Uttara…. 2. The Verses of Elder Bhaddaji 163. King Panāda by name, whose sacrificial post was golden; Sixteen cubits wide across, ub they say it whirls a thousandfold. 164. “A thousand shafts, a hundred balls, a banner green and waving; There danced the gandhabbas, six thousand, sevenfold.” … Bhaddaji Thera…. 3. Sobhita Thera’s Verses 165. “Mindful, wise bhikkhu, with strong energy aroused; For five hundred aeons, I recollected a single night. 166. “Developing the four foundations of mindfulness, the seven and eight factors; For five hundred aeons, I recollected a single night.” … Sobhita Thera…. 4. Valli Thera’s Verses 167. “What must be done by one of firm energy, what must be done by one wishing to awaken; I shall do, I shall not fail, see my energy, my effort. 168. “And you, tell me the path, the direct way to the deathless; I, with silence, shall be silent, like the Ganges current to the ocean.” … Valli Thera…. 5. Vītasoka Thera’s Verses 169. “My hair they will shave, the barber approached; Then taking a mirror, I examined my body. 170. “The body appeared empty, darkness, gloom vanished; All defilements were cut off, there is now no rebirth.” … Vītasoka Thera…. 6. Puṇṇamāsa Thera’s Verses 171. “Having abandoned the five hindrances, for the attainment of security; Taking the mirror of Dhamma, my own knowledge and vision. 172. “I examined this body, all within and without; Internally and externally, the body appeared empty.” … Puṇṇamāsa Thera…. 7. Nandaka Thera’s Verses 173. “Just as a noble thoroughbred, stumbling, stands firm again; Gaining more urgency, undaunted, it bears the burden. 174. “So hold me to be a thoroughbred, a disciple of the Perfectly Enlightened One, endowed with vision, a true son of the Buddha.” … Nandaka Thera…. 8. Bharata Thera’s Verses 175. “Come, Nandaka, let us go, to the preceptor’s presence; We shall roar the lion’s roar, before the foremost Buddha. 176. “What Out of compassion for us, the Sage ordained us; That goal has been attained by us, the destruction of all fetters. … The elder Bharata…. 9. The Verses of the Elder Bhāradvāja 177. Thus roar the wise, like lions in a mountain cave; Heroes who have conquered the battle, having vanquished Māra with his army. 178. The Teacher has been served by me, the Dhamma and Sangha have been honored; And I am joyful, glad-minded, having seen the son free from defilements. … The elder Bhāradvāja…. 10. The Verses of the Elder Kaṇhadinna 179. Good people have been attended, the Dhamma has been heard repeatedly; Having heard, I will practice, the straight path to the Deathless. 180. For me, who was struck by craving for existence, craving for existence no longer exists for me; It was not, nor will it be for me, nor does it exist for me now. … The elder Kaṇhadinna…. The third chapter is finished. Its summary – Uttara, Bhaddaji the elder, Sobhita, Valliya the sage; And the elder Vitasoka, Punnamasa and Nandaka; Bharata and Bharadvaja, Kanhadinna, the great sage. 4. The Fourth Chapter 1.