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4. The Chapter of Fours 1. The Verses of Elder Nāgasamāla 267. Adorned, well-dressed, Garlanded, smeared with sandalwood; In the middle of the great road, a woman, A dancer, dances to music. 268. Having entered for alms, As I went, I saw her; Adorned, well-dressed, Like a snare of death spread out. 269. Then to me, attention, Wisely, arose; The danger became manifest, Disenchantment was established. 270. Then my mind was liberated, See the well-taught Dhamma's excellence; The three knowledges were attained, The Buddha's teaching was done. ...Elder Nāgasamāla... 2. The Verses of Elder Bhagu 271. I, overcome by drowsiness, Came out from the monastery; Ascending the walking path, Right there I fell to the ground. 272. Having wiped my limbs, Again ascending the walking path; On the walking path, I walked, Well-concentrated internally. 273. Then to me, attention, Wisely, arose; The danger became manifest, Disenchantment was established. 274. Then my mind was liberated, See the well-taught Dhamma's excellence; The three knowledges were attained, The Buddha's teaching was done. ...Elder Bhagu... 3. The Verses of Elder Sabhiya 275. Others do not know, "We perish here"; But those who know this, From that, their quarrels cease. 276. When the ignorant behave As if immortal; Those who know the Dhamma Are undisturbed among the disturbed. 277. Whatever slack action, And whatever defiled vow; A doubtful holy life, That is not of great fruit. 278. In whom respect for fellow practitioners Is not found; He is far from the true Dhamma, As sky from earth. ...Elder Sabhiya... 4. The Verses of Elder Nandaka 279. Fie upon the foul-smelling body, Full of defilements, belonging to Māra's party; Nine streams are in your body, Which flow constantly. 280. Do not think of the old (body), Do not disparage the Tathāgata; Even in heaven, you will not delight what then, among humans? 281. And indeed those who are foolish, dull-witted, ill-advised, enveloped in delusion; Such ones delight there, in Māra's realm, in bondage. 282. For whom lust and hatred, and ignorance have faded away; Such ones do not delight there, with severed threads, unbound. 283. Fifty-five years, I bore dirt and grime; Eating monthly food, I plucked out hair and beard. 284. I stood on one leg, I avoided a seat; And I ate dried dung, and I did not accept instruction. 285. Having done such a thing, much leading to a bad destination; Being swept away by the great flood, I came to the Buddha for refuge. 286. See the going for refuge, see the well-taught nature of the Dhamma; The three knowledges have been attained, the Buddha's teaching has been done. 287. Welcome indeed it was for me, in Gaya, at Gayaphaggu; That I saw the Fully Awakened One, teaching the supreme Dhamma. 288. Of great splendor, the teacher of the multitude, who has attained the highest, the leader; Of the world with its devas, the conqueror, of incomparable vision. 289. The great elephant, the great hero, of great radiance, without defilements; Whose all defilements are exhausted, the teacher, fearless. 290. Me, long defiled indeed, bound by the fetter of views; That Blessed One liberated, from all ties, Senaka. 291. Whoever rushes in a slow time, and is slow when one should rush; By unwise arrangement, the fool goes to suffering. 292. His aims decline, like the moon in the dark fortnight; And he incurs disgrace, and quarrels with friends. 293. Whoever is slow in a slow time, and rushes when one should rush; By wise arrangement, the wise person attains happiness. 294. His aims are fulfilled shines, like the moon in the bright fortnight; He attains fame and glory, and does not quarrel with friends." … Elder Sambhūta …. 8. The Verses of Elder Rāhula 295. "Endowed with both, they know me as Rāhula the Fortunate; because I am the Buddha's son, and have eyes in the Dhamma. 296. "And because my defilements are destroyed, and there is no more rebirth; I am an Arahant, worthy of offerings, endowed with the three knowledges, seeing the Deathless. 297. "Blinded by desires, covered by a net, veiled by the covering of craving; bound by the bonds of heedlessness, like fish in the mouth of a trap. 298. "Having abandoned that desire, having cut Māra's bonds; having uprooted craving with its root, I am cooled, I am extinguished." … Elder Rāhula …. 9. The Verses of Elder Candana 299. "Adorned with gold, surrounded by a retinue of slave-girls; taking my son on her hip, my wife approached me. 300. "Seeing her coming, the mother of my own son; adorned, well-dressed, like a snare of death spread out. 301. "Then for me, attention, wisely arose; the danger became clear, disenchantment was established. 302. "Then my mind was liberated, see the well-taught nature of the Dhamma; the three knowledges were attained, the Buddha's teaching has been done." … Elder Candana …. 10. The Verses of Elder Dhammika 303. "Indeed, Dhamma protects one who lives by Dhamma, Dhamma well-practiced brings happiness; This is the benefit of Dhamma well-practiced, one who lives by Dhamma does not go to a bad destination. 304. "Not Dhamma and non-Dhamma, both have the same result; non-Dhamma leads to hell, Dhamma leads to a good destination. 305. "Therefore, one should develop desire for Dhamma, thus rejoicing with the Fortunate One, the Such-one; Disciples of the Supreme Fortunate One, established in Dhamma, the wise ones are led to the supreme refuge. 306. "The root of the boil has been burst, the net of craving has been uprooted; He whose cycle of existence is ended has nothing, like the moon on a full moon night." … Elder Dhammika …. 1. Sappaka Thera's Verses 307. When the cranes, with pure white wings, threatened by the fear of the black cloud; flee to their nests, seeking shelter, then the Ajākaraṇī river delights me. 308. When the cranes, very pure white, threatened by the fear of the black cloud; seek a cave, though not seeing a cave, then the Ajākaraṇī river delights me. 309. Whom would they not delight there, the rose-apple trees on both sides; adorn the river banks, behind my cave. 310. Those, having abandoned the multitude of pride and intoxication, the frogs, with a gentle sound, croak; 'Today is not the time to depart from the mountain rivers, the Ajākaraṇī is safe, auspicious, and very delightful.' … Elder Sappaka…. 12. Mudita Thera's Verses 311. I went forth, seeking a livelihood, having obtained ordination; then I gained faith, and strove with firm energy. 312. Let this body break apart if it will, let the fleshly sinews decay; from both knee joints, let my shins fall off. 313. I will not eat, I will not drink, nor will I leave the monastery; nor will I lie down to sleep, until the dart of craving is uprooted. 314. As I thus dwelled, see my energetic striving; the three knowledges were attained, the Buddha's teaching has been done. … Elder Mudita…. The Chapter of Fours is finished. Therein is the summary – Nāgasamāla and Bhagu, Sabhiya and also Nandaka; Jambuka, Elder Senaka, Sambhūta and also Rāhula. Elder Candana is there, these ten disciples of the Buddha; Dhammika, Elder Sappaka, and Mudita, these three; fifty-two verses, all the elders are thirteen.