Pārāsariya (3rd)Pārāpariyattheragāthā

This thought came to the asceticSamaṇassa ahu cintā, in the forest full of flowers,pupphitamhi mahāvane; as he was seated aloneEkaggassa nisinnassa, meditating in seclusion:pavivittassa jhāyino.

“The behavior of the mendicants“Aññathā lokanāthamhi, these days seems differenttiṭṭhante purisuttame; from when the protector of the world,Iriyaṁ āsi bhikkhūnaṁ, the best of men, was still here.aññathā dāni dissati.

Their robes were only for covering the private parts,Sītavātaparittāṇaṁ, and protection from the cold and wind.hirikopīnachādanaṁ; They ate in moderation,Mattaṭṭhiyaṁ abhuñjiṁsu, content with whatever they were offered.santuṭṭhā itarītare.

Whether food was fine or coarse,Paṇītaṁ yadi vā lūkhaṁ, a little or a lot,appaṁ vā yadi vā bahuṁ; they ate only for sustenance,Yāpanatthaṁ abhuñjiṁsu, without greed or gluttony.agiddhā nādhimucchitā.

They weren’t so very eagerJīvitānaṁ parikkhāre, for the requisites of life,bhesajje atha paccaye; such as tonics and other necessities,Na bāḷhaṁ ussukā āsuṁ, as they were for the ending of defilements.yathā te āsavakkhaye.

In the wilderness, at a tree’s root,Araññe rukkhamūlesu, in caves and caverns,kandarāsu guhāsu ca; fostering seclusion,Vivekamanubrūhantā, they lived with that as their final goal.vihaṁsu tapparāyaṇā.

They were used to simple things, unburdensome,Nīcā niviṭṭhā subharā, gentle, not pompous at heart,mudū atthaddhamānasā; unsullied, not scurrilous,Abyāsekā amukharā, their thoughts were intent on the goal.atthacintā vasānugā.

That’s why they inspired confidence,Tato pāsādikaṁ āsi, in their movements, eating, and practice;gataṁ bhuttaṁ nisevitaṁ; their deportment was as smoothSiniddhā teladhārāva, as a stream of oil.ahosi iriyāpatho.

With the utter ending of all defilements,Sabbāsavaparikkhīṇā, those senior monks have now been quenched.mahājhāyī mahāhitā; They were great meditators and great benefactors—Nibbutā dāni te therā, there are few like them today.parittā dāni tādisā.

With the endingKusalānañca dhammānaṁ, of good principles and understanding,paññāya ca parikkhayā; the victor’s teaching,Sabbākāravarūpetaṁ, full of all excellent qualities, falls apart.lujjate jinasāsanaṁ.

This is the seasonPāpakānañca dhammānaṁ, for bad principles and defilements.kilesānañca yo utu; Those who are ready for seclusionUpaṭṭhitā vivekāya, are all that’s left of the true Dhamma.ye ca saddhammasesakā.

As they grow, the defilementsTe kilesā pavaḍḍhantā, possess most people;āvisanti bahuṁ janaṁ; they play with fools, it seems to me,Kīḷanti maññe bālehi, like monsters with the mad.ummattehiva rakkhasā.

Overcome by defilements,Kilesehābhibhūtā te, they run here and theretena tena vidhāvitā; among the bases for defilement,Narā kilesavatthūsu, as if they had declared war on themselves.sasaṅgāmeva ghosite.

Having forsaken the true teaching,Pariccajitvā saddhammaṁ, they argue with each other.aññamaññehi bhaṇḍare; Following wrong viewsDiṭṭhigatāni anventā, they think, ‘This is better.’idaṁ seyyoti maññare.

They cut off their wealth,Dhanañca puttaṁ bhariyañca, children, and wife to go forth.chaḍḍayitvāna niggatā; But then they do what they shouldn’t,Kaṭacchubhikkhahetūpi, for the sake of a measly spoon of almsfood.akicchāni nisevare.

They eat until their bellies are full,Udarāvadehakaṁ bhutvā, and then they lie to sleep on their backs.sayantuttānaseyyakā; When they wake up, they keep on chatting,Kathaṁ vattenti paṭibuddhā, the kind of talk the Teacher criticized.yā kathā satthugarahitā.

Valuing all the arts and crafts,Sabbakārukasippāni, they train themselves in them.cittiṁ katvāna sikkhare; Not being settled inside, they think,Avūpasantā ajjhattaṁ, ‘This is the goal of the ascetic life.’sāmaññatthotiacchati.

They provide clay, oil, and talcum powder,Mattikaṁ telacuṇṇañca, water, lodgings, and foodudakāsanabhojanaṁ; for householders,Gihīnaṁ upanāmenti, expecting more in return.ākaṅkhantā bahuttaraṁ.

And in addition, tooth-picks of white fig,Dantaponaṁ kapitthañca, flowers, food to eat,pupphaṁ khādaniyāni ca; well-cooked almsfood,Piṇḍapāte ca sampanne, mangoes and myrobalans.ambe āmalakāni ca.

In medicine they are like doctors,Bhesajjesu yathā vejjā, in business like householders,kiccākicce yathā gihī; in makeup like prostitutes,Gaṇikāva vibhūsāyaṁ, in sovereignty like aristocrats.issare khattiyā yathā.

Cheats, frauds,Nekatikā vañcanikā, false witnesses, sly:kūṭasakkhī apāṭukā; using multiple plans,Bahūhi parikappehi, they enjoy things of the flesh.āmisaṁ paribhuñjare.

Pursuing shams, contrivances, and plans,Lesakappe pariyāye, by such meansparikappenudhāvitā; they accumulate a lot of wealthJīvikatthā upāyena, for the sake of their own livelihood.saṅkaḍḍhanti bahuṁ dhanaṁ.

They assemble the communityUpaṭṭhāpenti parisaṁ, for business rather than Dhamma.kammato no ca dhammato; They teach the Dhamma to othersDhammaṁ paresaṁ desenti, for gain, not for the goal.lābhato no ca atthato.

Those barred from the SaṅghaSaṅghalābhassa bhaṇḍanti, quarrel over the Saṅgha’s property.saṅghato paribāhirā; Lacking conscience, they do not careParalābhopajīvantā, that they live on the earnings of others.ahirīkā na lajjare.

Some with shaven head and robeNānuyuttā tathā eke, are not devoted to practice,muṇḍā saṅghāṭipārutā; but wish only to be honored,Sambhāvanaṁyevicchanti, besotted with property and reverence.lābhasakkāramucchitā.

When things have come to this,Evaṁ nānappayātamhi, it’s not easy these daysna dāni sukaraṁ tathā; to realize what has not yet been realized,Aphusitaṁ vā phusituṁ, or to preserve what has been realized.phusitaṁ vānurakkhituṁ.

When shoeless on a thorny path,Yathā kaṇṭakaṭṭhānamhi, one would walkcareyya anupāhano; very mindfully;Satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvāna, that’s how a sage should walk in the village.evaṁ gāme munī care.

Remembering the meditators of old,Saritvā pubbake yogī, and recollecting their conduct,tesaṁ vattamanussaraṁ; even in the latter days,Kiñcāpi pacchimo kālo, it’s still possible to realize freedom from death.”phuseyya amataṁ padaṁ.

That is what the ascetic, whose facultiesIdaṁ vatvā sālavane, were fully developed, said in the sāl tree grove.samaṇo bhāvitindriyo; The brahmin, the seer, became fully extinguished,Brāhmaṇo parinibbāyī, putting an end to all future lives.isi khīṇapunabbhavo”ti.