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The Chapter of Threes 1. The Verses of Elder Aṅgaṇikabhāradvāja 219. Seeking purity wrongly, I served fire in the forest; Not knowing the path to purity, I practiced immortal asceticism. 220. That happiness, obtained with ease, See the well-taught nature of the Dhamma; The three knowledges are attained, The Buddha's teaching is accomplished. 221. Formerly I was a kinsman of Brahmā, Now indeed I am a brahmin; I am one with the three knowledges, a purified one, I am a sotthiya, a master of the Vedas. ...Elder Aṅgaṇikabhāradvāja. 2. The Verses of Elder Paccaya 222. Five days after I went forth, A trainee, with mind not yet attained, As I entered my dwelling, This aspiration arose in my mind. 223. I will not eat, I will not drink, I will not leave my dwelling; Nor will I lie down to sleep, Until the dart of craving is uprooted. 224. As I thus dwelled, See my energy and effort; The three knowledges are attained, The Buddha's teaching is accomplished. ...Elder Paccaya. 3. The Verses of Elder Bākula 225. Whoever wishes to do later What should be done first, He falls from a happy state, And later he repents. 226. What one does, that one should say; What one does not do, that one should not say; Speaking without doing, The wise understand. 227. Truly, Nibbāna is very pleasant, Taught by the Perfectly Enlightened One; Sorrowless, dustless, secure, Where suffering ceases. ...Elder Bākula. 4. The Verses of Elder Dhaniya 228. If one wishes to live happily, Having regard for the ascetic life, One should not despise the Sangha's Robes, drinks, and food. 229. If one wishes to live happily, Having regard for the ascetic life, Like a snake in a mouse-hole, One should use one's lodging. 230. If one wishes to live happily, Having regard for the ascetic life, One should be content with whatever, And cultivate the one Dhamma. ...Elder Dhaniya. 5. The Verses of Elder Mātaṅgaputta 231. Too cold, too hot , this was too late; Thus, for those who abandoned their tasks, moments pass by, young man. 232. "Whoever regards cold and heat as no more than grass, performing a man's duties, he does not fall away from happiness. 233. "Dabba grass, kusa grass, poṭakila, usīra, muñja, pabbaja – I push them away with my chest, cultivating solitude." … The Elder Mātangaputta … 6. Khujjasobhita Thera's Verses 234. "Those eloquent and learned ascetics, who dwell in Pāṭaliputta, this young man, one of them, Khujjasobhita, stands at the door. 235. "Those eloquent and learned ascetics, who dwell in Pāṭaliputta, this young man, one of them, stands at the door, moved by the wind. 236. "By good fighting, by good sacrifice, and by victory in battle, by having practiced the holy life, thus does he prosper in happiness." … The Elder Khujjasobhita … 7. Vāraṇa Thera's Verses 237. "Whoever here among humans harms other living beings, that person falls away from this world and the next, from both. 238. "And whoever with a mind of loving-kindness compassionates all living beings, that kind of person produces much merit. 239. "One should train in well-spoken words, and in attending on ascetics, and in sitting alone in seclusion, and in the calming of the mind." … The Elder Vāraṇa … 8. Vassika Thera's Verses 240. "Even one faithful and wise person, among faithless relatives here, established in Dhamma, endowed with virtue, is for the welfare of kinsmen. 241. "Restrained and exhorted by me, out of compassion, my relatives, out of love for kinsmen and family, did service to the bhikkhus. 242. "They have passed away, made their time, they have attained happiness in the heavens; my brothers and mother rejoice, desiring pleasures." … The Elder Vassika … 9. Yasojā Thera's Verses 243. "Like a burnt log, thin, covered with veins, moderate in food and drink, a person with an unbowed mind." 244. "Afflicted by flies and mosquitoes, in the great forest wilderness, like an elephant in battle, mindful, one should dwell there. 245. "Just as Just as Brahma is one, Just as the devas are two, Just as the village is three, Then there is an uproar. There was faith in you before, That is not found in you today. What is yours, that is yours alone, There is no misconduct of mine. Indeed, faith is impermanent and wavering, Thus has it been seen by me. They are attached, and they become unattached, What does the sage lose there? The sage's meal is cooked, A little, a little, in house after house. I will wander for alms, I have strength in my legs. Having gone forth with faith, A newly ordained, a novice, Should associate with good friends, Pure in livelihood, and diligent. Having gone forth with faith, A newly ordained, a novice, A monk dwelling in the Sangha, The wise one should learn the discipline. Having gone forth with faith, A newly ordained, a novice, Skilled in what is proper and improper, Should wander without being led. Though I was wise, And capable of discerning the meaning, The five strands of sensual pleasure in the world, Through delusion, cast me down. Having plunged into Mara's domain, Pierced by a strong dart, I was able to, Release myself from the snare of the King of Death. All sensual desires are abandoned by me, All existences are shattered. The cycle of rebirth is exhausted, There is now no further becoming. Listen, all you relatives, As many as are gathered here. I will teach you the Dhamma, Birth again and again is suffering. Strive, go forth, Engage in the Buddha's teaching. Shake off the army of death, As an elephant a reed-hut. Whoever in this Dhamma and Discipline, Dwells heedfully, Having abandoned birth... this wandering-on, will make an end of suffering." … Elder Abhibhūta … 14. Verses of Elder Gotama 258. Wandering on, indeed I went to hell, I went to the realm of ghosts again and again; Even in the miserable animal realm, Indeed, I have lived for a long time in many ways. 259. And even human existences were attained, I went to the heavenly realm again and again; In the form realms, in the formless realms, In neither-perception-nor-non-perception, I arose in non-perception. 260. All becomings are well-known as essenceless, Conditioned, agitated, accompanied by trembling; Knowing that, my own becoming, The mindful one indeed attained peace. … Elder Gotama … 15. Verses of Elder Hārita 261. Whoever wishes to do later Things that should be done earlier; He falls from his happy state, And later he regrets. 262. What one does, that one should say, What one does not do, that one should not say; Wise ones know the one Who speaks but does not act. 263. Indeed, very happy is Nibbāna, Taught by the Perfectly Enlightened One; Sorrowless, passionless, secure, Where suffering ceases. … Elder Hārita … 16. Verses of Elder Vimala 264. Having avoided evil friends, One should associate with the best person; And one should abide in his advice, Desiring unshakeable happiness. 265. Having climbed a small piece of wood, Just as one sinks in the great ocean; Thus, having approached a lazy person, Even one living well sinks; Therefore, one should avoid him, The lazy one of little energy. 266. With secluded noble ones, With minds devoted, meditators; Always with those who have aroused energy, One should dwell together with the wise. … Elder Vimala … The Threes Section is finished. Therein is the summary – Aṅgaṇika, Bhāradvāja, Paccaya, Bākula the sage; Dhaniya, Mātaṅgaputta, Sobhita, Vāraṇa the sage. And Vassika and Yasojā, And Sāṭimatti and Upāli; Uttarapāla, Abhibhūta, Gotama and Hārita too. The Elder Vimala is mentioned In the Threes Section, in Nibbāna. Forty-eight verses, Sixteen Elders are recounted.