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10. The Chapter of the Tens 1. The Verses of Elder Kāḷudāyī 527. Now, Venerable Sir, the trees are like embers, bearing fruit, having shed their leaves. They shine forth as if aflame. It is the season, Great Hero, for sharing the delights. 528. The trees are in full bloom, delightful, fragrant in every direction all around. Having shed their leaves, desiring fruit, it is time, Hero, to depart from here. 529. It is neither too cold nor too hot, the season is pleasant for travel, Venerable Sir. Let the Sakiyas and Koliyas see you, crossing the Rohini, facing west. 530. With hope, one ploughs the field; with hope, one sows the seed. With hope, merchants go to the sea, bringing wealth. The hope with which I stand, may that hope of mine be fulfilled. 531. Again and again they sow the seed; again and again the king of gods rains. Again and again farmers plough the field; again and again grain comes to the country. 532. Again and again beggars wander; again and again donors give. Again and again donors, having given, again and again go to a heavenly abode. 533. Indeed, a hero brings merit to seven generations, in whose family a greatly wise one is born. I think the god of gods is able, for by you was born the sage, truly named. 534. Suddhodana was the father of the Great Seer, and the Buddha's mother was named Maya. She, having carried the Bodhisatta in her womb, rejoices in the Tāvatiṃsa heaven after the body's break-up. 535. That Gotamī, having passed away, departed from here, endowed with divine sensual pleasures. She rejoices with the five strands of sensual pleasure, surrounded by those hosts of devas. 536. I am the son of the Buddha, the irresistible conqueror, of Angirasa, the incomparable, the Such-one. You are my father's father, Sakka, by Dhamma, Gotama, you are my grandfather. … Elder Kāḷudāyī…. 2. The Verses of Elder Ekavihāriya 537. If no other is found, either in front or behind, it is exceedingly comfortable for one dwelling alone in the forest. 538. Come, alone, go I shall enter the forest, praised by the Buddha; comfortable for one dwelling alone, a monk with a resolute mind. 539. Delightful, bringing joy to yogis, frequented by intoxicated elephants; I, alone and self-controlled, will quickly enter the grove. 540. In a well-flowered cool forest, in a cool mountain cave; having bathed my limbs, I will walk alone. 541. Alone, without a companion, in the delightful great forest; when shall I dwell, having done my duty, free from defilements? 542. May this aspiration of mine, who wishes to act thus, be fulfilled; I myself will accomplish it, no one else is the doer for another. 543. I am girding on my armor, I will enter the forest; I will not emerge from it, until I have attained the destruction of defilements. 544. While the cool, fragrant breeze blows; I will tear apart ignorance, seated on a mountaintop. 545. In a forest strewn with flowers, surely in a cool mountain cleft; happy with the bliss of liberation, I will delight in the mountain peak. 546. I, with my resolve fully accomplished, like the moon on the fifteenth day; with all defilements destroyed, there is now no more rebirth. … The Elder Ekavihāriya…. 3. The Verses of Elder Mahākappina 547. He who foresees the future, both what is beneficial and what is harmful; his enemies or well-wishers, looking closely, do not see his weak points. 548. He whose mindfulness of breathing is complete, well-developed; gradually cultivated, as taught by the Buddha; he illuminates this world, like the moon freed from clouds. 549. Indeed, my mind is pure, immeasurable, well-developed; penetrated and grasped, it illuminates all directions. 550. A wise person lives, even with loss of wealth; but without the gain of wisdom, even a wealthy person does not truly live. 551. Wisdom discerns what is heard, wisdom increases fame and renown; a person endowed with wisdom here, finds happiness even in suffering. 552. Nāy What is this present Dhamma? It is neither strange nor wonderful. Where one is born and dies, What is so wonderful there? 553. For one just born, Death from life is certain. Born and born again, they die here; Such is the nature of living beings. 554. It is not for the benefit of the dead What is for the life of other people. Weeping for the dead brings no fame, no worldly gain, Nor is it praised by ascetics and brahmins. 555. The eye and body are harmed by it, Color, strength, and wisdom decline. The directions become joyful for him, But his well-wishers are not happy. 556. Therefore, one should wish for Wise and learned ones dwelling in the family, Whose work is with the power of wisdom, They cross the full river as if by boat. … The Elder Mahākappina…. 4. The Verses of the Elder Cūḷapanthaka 557. My gait was slow, I was despised before. My brother drove me away, "Go home now." 558. Being driven away, In the storeroom of the monastery, I stood there dejected, Longing for the teaching. 559. The Blessed One came there, He touched my head. Taking me by the arm, He led me into the monastery. 560. Out of compassion, the Teacher Gave me a foot-wiping cloth. "Establish this as pure, Well-established in one place." 561. Hearing his words, I dwelled, delighted in the teaching. I developed concentration, For the attainment of the highest goal. 562. I know my past lives, The divine eye is purified. The three knowledges are attained, The Buddha's teaching has been done. 563. Having created a thousand selves, Panthaka sat In the delightful mango grove, Until the time was announced. 564. Then my Teacher sent A messenger to announce the time. When the time was announced, I approached through the air. 565. Having paid homage, at the Teacher's feet, I sat down to one side. Knowing me seated, then the Teacher accepted. 566. "An offering for all the world, a recipient of oblations; A field of merit for humans, accept this offering." … Cūḷapanthaka the Elder…. 5. Kappa the Elder's Verses 567. "Full of various impurities, a great heap of refuse; Like a ripe boil, a great tumor, a great sore. 568. "Full of pus and blood, immersed in a pit of excrement; A body oozing water, always flowing with putridity. 569. "Bound by sixty tendons, smeared with a coating of flesh; Covered with a skin-jacket, a putrid, useless body. 570. "Formed by a collection of bones, bound by sinew-strings; Due to the coming together of many, it performs postures. 571. "Constantly moving towards death, near the king of death; Having abandoned it right here, a person goes wherever they wish. 572. "A body enveloped by ignorance, bound by four knots; A body sinking in the flood, covered by the net of latent tendencies. 573. "Engaged with the five hindrances, filled with thoughts; Followed by the root of craving, covered by the veil of delusion. 574. "Thus this body operates, driven by the machine of kamma; Success and failure, various states arise. 575. "Those foolish ordinary people who cling to this body as 'mine'; They increase the dreadful charnel ground, they take on rebirth again. 576. "Those who shun this body, like a snake smeared with excrement; Having vomited out the root of existence, the taintless ones will attain Nibbāna." … Kappa the Elder…. 6. Vaṅgantaputta Upasena the Elder's Verses 577. "A secluded dwelling, free from noise, frequented by wild animals; A bhikkhu should resort to such a dwelling, for the sake of solitude. 578. "Gathering rags from rubbish heaps, from charnel grounds and roads; Then making a robe from them, he should wear a coarse robe. 579. "Making his mind humble, going from house to house for alms; Pi A bhikkhu should wander for alms, with guarded doors, well-restrained. 580. He should be content even with coarse food, not craving many other tastes; For one greedy for tastes, the mind does not delight in meditation. 581. Content and with few wishes, the sage should dwell secluded; Unassociated with householders, and with the homeless ones too. 582. As if dull or mute, so should he show himself; He should not speak excessively, the wise one in the midst of the Saṅgha. 583. He should not blame anyone, he should avoid harm; Restrained in the Pātimokkha, and moderate in food. 584. Skilled in the arising of thoughts, of a well-grasped sign; He should equally practice, and insight in due time. 585. Endowed with persistent effort, he should always be diligent; And not, without reaching the end of suffering, should the wise one become complacent. 586. For a bhikkhu living thus, desiring purity; All defilements are exhausted, and he attains Nibbāna. … The Elder Upasena Vaṅgantaputta…. 7. The Verses of the Elder (Another) Gotama 587. One should know one's own welfare, and examine the teaching; What is suitable here, for one who has undertaken monkhood. 588. A good friend here, and a vast undertaking of training; And obedience to teachers, this is suitable for a recluse. 589. Reverence for the Buddhas, true respect for the Dhamma; And esteem for the Saṅgha, this is suitable for a recluse. 590. Engaged in conduct and resort, a purified blameless livelihood; And the settling of the mind, this is suitable for a recluse. 591. Practice and avoidance, a pleasing deportment; And application to higher mind, this is suitable for a recluse. 592. Forest dwellings, remote and quiet; To be frequented by the sage, this is suitable for a recluse. 593. Virtue and much learning, true investigation of phenomena; And the realization of the Truths, this is suitable for a recluse. 594. One should develop and impermanence, perception of non-self, and perception of impurity; and non-delight in the world, this is fitting for a recluse. 595. And he should develop the factors of awakening, bases of power, faculties, powers; the Noble Eightfold Path, this is fitting for a recluse. 596. The sage should abandon craving, should destroy the root-bound defilements;