MahāmoggallānaMahāmoggallānattheragāthā

“Living in the wilderness, eating only almsfood,“Āraññikā piṇḍapātikā, happy with the scraps in our bowls,uñchāpattāgate ratā; let us tear apart the army of death,Dālemu maccuno senaṁ, while remaining serene within.ajjhattaṁ susamāhitā.

Living in the wilderness, eating only almsfood,Āraññikā piṇḍapātikā, happy with the scraps in our bowls,uñchāpattāgate ratā; let us crush the army of death,Dhunāma maccuno senaṁ, as an elephant a hut of reeds.naḷāgāraṁva kuñjaro.

Living at the foot of a tree, persistent,Rukkhamūlikā sātatikā, happy with the scraps in our bowls,uñchāpattāgate ratā; let us tear apart the army of death,Dālemu maccuno senaṁ, while remaining serene within.ajjhattaṁ susamāhitā.

Living at the foot of a tree, persistent,Rukkhamūlikā sātatikā, happy with the scraps in our bowls,uñchāpattāgate ratā; let us crush the army of death,Dhunāma maccuno senaṁ, as an elephant a hut of reeds.”naḷāgāraṁva kuñjaro”.

“You hut, made of a chain of bones,“Aṭṭhikaṅkalakuṭike, sewn together with flesh and sinew;maṁsanhārupasibbite; curse you mortal frame, you stink,Dhiratthu pure duggandhe, you cherish the parts of others!paragatte mamāyase.

You sack of dung swathed in skin!Gūthabhaste taconaddhe, You demoness with horns on your chest!uragaṇḍipisācini; O body, you have nine streamsNava sotāni te kāye, that are flowing all the time.yāni sandanti sabbadā.

With its nine streams,Tava sarīraṁ navasotaṁ, your body stinks, full of dung.Duggandhakaraṁ paribandhaṁ; A monk seeking purityBhikkhu parivajjayate taṁ, would avoid it like excrement.Mīḷhaṁ ca yathā sucikāmo.

If they knew youEvañce taṁ jano jaññā, like I do,yathā jānāmi taṁ ahaṁ; they’d keep far away,Ārakā parivajjeyya, like a cesspit in the monsoon.”gūthaṭṭhānaṁva pāvuse”.

“So it is, great hero!“Evametaṁ mahāvīra, As you say, ascetic!yathā samaṇa bhāsasi; But some founder hereEttha ceke visīdanti, like an old bull stuck in a bog.”paṅkamhiva jaraggavo”.

“Whoever might think“Ākāsamhi haliddiyā, of making the sky yellow,yo maññetha rajetave; or some other color,Aññena vāpi raṅgena, would only trouble themselves.vighātudayameva taṁ.

This mind is like the sky:Tadākāsasamaṁ cittaṁ, serene inside itself.ajjhattaṁ susamāhitaṁ; Evil-minded one, don’t attack me,Mā pāpacitte āsādi, you’ll end up like a moth in a mass of fire.”aggikhandhaṁva pakkhimā”.

“See this fancy puppet,“Passa cittakataṁ bimbaṁ, a body built of sores,arukāyaṁ samussitaṁ; diseased, obsessed over,Āturaṁ bahusaṅkappaṁ, in which nothing lasts at all.yassa natthi dhuvaṁ ṭhiti.

See this fancy figure,Passa cittakataṁ rūpaṁ, with its gems and earrings;maṇinā kuṇḍalena ca; it is bones swathed in skin,Aṭṭhiṁ tacena onaddhaṁ, made pretty by its clothes.saha vatthehi sobhati.

Rouged feetAlattakakatā pādā, and powdered facemukhaṁ cuṇṇakamakkhitaṁ; may be enough to beguile a fool,Alaṁ bālassa mohāya, but not a seeker of the far shore.no ca pāragavesino.

Hair in eight braidsAṭṭhapadakatā kesā, and eyeshadownettā añjanamakkhitā; may be enough to beguile a fool,Alaṁ bālassa mohāya, but not a seeker of the far shore.no ca pāragavesino.

A rotting body all adornedAñjanīva navā cittā, like a freshly painted makeup boxpūtikāyo alaṅkato; may be enough to beguile a fool,Alaṁ bālassa mohāya, but not a seeker of the far shore.no ca pāragavesino.

The hunter laid his snare,Odahi migavo pāsaṁ, but the deer didn’t spring the trap.nāsadā vāguraṁ migo; I’ve eaten the bait and now I go,Bhutvā nivāpaṁ gacchāma, leaving the trapper to lament.kaddante migabandhake.

The hunter’s snare is broken,Chinno pāso migavassa, but the deer didn’t spring the trap.nāsadā vāguraṁ migo; I’ve eaten the bait and now I go,Bhutvā nivāpaṁ gacchāma, leaving the deer-hunter to grieve.”socante migaluddake”.

“Then there was terror!“Tadāsi yaṁ bhiṁsanakaṁ, Then they had goosebumps!tadāsi lomahaṁsanaṁ; When Sāriputta, <j>endowed with many fine qualities,Anekākārasampanne, became quenched.sāriputtamhi nibbute.

Oh! Conditions are impermanent,Aniccā vata saṅkhārā, their nature is to rise and fall;uppādavayadhammino; having arisen, they cease;Upajjitvā nirujjhanti, their settling is such bliss.”tesaṁ vūpasamo sukho.

“Those who see the five aggregatesSukhumaṁ te paṭivijjhanti, as other, not as self,vālaggaṁ usunā yathā; penetrate a subtle thing,Ye pañcakkhandhe passanti, like a hair-tip with an arrow.parato no ca attato.

Those who see conditionsYe ca passanti saṅkhāre, as alien, not as self,parato no ca attato; pierce a fine thing,Paccabyādhiṁsu nipuṇaṁ, like a hair-tip with an arrow.”vālaggaṁ usunā yathā.

“Like they’re struck by a sword,Sattiyā viya omaṭṭho, like their head was on fire,ḍayhamānova matthake; a mendicant should wander mindful,Kāmarāgappahānāya, to give up sensual desire.sato bhikkhu paribbaje.

Like they’re struck by a sword,Sattiyā viya omaṭṭho, like their head was on fire,ḍayhamānova matthake; a mendicant should wander mindful,Bhavarāgappahānāya, to give up desire for rebirth.”sato bhikkhu paribbaje.

“Urged by the developed one,Codito bhāvitattena, who bore his final body,sarīrantimadhārinā; I shook the stilt longhouse of Migāra’s motherMigāramātupāsādaṁ, with my big toe.”pādaṅguṭṭhena kampayiṁ.

“Not by being slack,Nayidaṁ sithilamārabbha, or with little strengthnayidaṁ appena thāmasā; may this be realized—extinguishment,Nibbānamadhigantabbaṁ, the release from all ties.”sabbaganthapamocanaṁ.

“This young monk,Ayañca daharo bhikkhu, this best of men,ayamuttamaporiso; bears his final body,Dhāreti antimaṁ dehaṁ, having vanquished Māra and his legions.”jetvā māraṁ savāhiniṁ.

“Lightning flashes downVivaramanupabhanti vijjutā, on the cleft of Vebhāra and Paṇḍava.Vebhārassa ca paṇḍavassa ca; But in the mountain cleft he is absorbed in jhāna—Nagavivaragato jhāyati, the son of the Buddha, inimitable and unaffected.”Putto appaṭimassa tādino.

“Calm and still,Upasanto uparato, the sage in his remote lodging,pantasenāsano muni; the heir to the best of Buddhas,Dāyādo buddhaseṭṭhassa, is honored even by the Divinity.brahmunā abhivandito”.

Calm and still,“Upasantaṁ uparataṁ, the sage in his remote lodging,pantasenāsanaṁ muniṁ; is heir to the best of Buddhas:Dāyādaṁ buddhaseṭṭhassa, Brahmin, you should honor Kassapa!vanda brāhmaṇa kassapaṁ.

Even if someone were to be born again and againYo ca jātisataṁ gacche, a hundred times in the human realm,sabbā brāhmaṇajātiyo; and always as a brahmin,Sottiyo vedasampanno, a student accomplished in the Vedas;manussesu punappunaṁ.

and if he were to become a reciter,Ajjhāyakopi ce assa, a master of the three Vedas:tiṇṇaṁ vedāna pāragū; honoring such a personEtassa vandanāyetaṁ, isn’t worth a sixteenth of that.kalaṁ nāgghati soḷasiṁ.

One who attains the eight liberationsYo so aṭṭha vimokkhāni, forwards and backwardspurebhattaṁ aphassayi; before breakfast,Anulomaṁ paṭilomaṁ, and then goes on almsround—tato piṇḍāya gacchati.

don’t attack such a mendicant!Tādisaṁ bhikkhuṁ māsādi, Don’t ruin yourself, brahmin!māttānaṁ khaṇi brāhmaṇa; Let your heart have trustAbhippasādehi manaṁ, in the perfected one, the unaffected;arahantamhi tādine; quickly venerate him with cupped palms:Khippaṁ pañjaliko vanda, don’t let your head explode!”mā te vijaṭi matthakaṁ”.

“If you prioritize transmigration,“Neso passati saddhammaṁ, you don’t see the true teaching.saṁsārena purakkhato; You’re following a twisted path,Adhogamaṁ jimhapathaṁ, a bad path that will lead you down.kummaggamanudhāvati.

Like a worm smeared with dung,Kimīva mīḷhasallitto, he is besotted with conditions.saṅkhāre adhimucchito; Consumed by gain and honor,Pagāḷho lābhasakkāre, Poṭṭhila goes on, hollow.”tuccho gacchati poṭṭhilo”.

“See Sāriputta coming!“Imañca passa āyantaṁ, It is good to see him;sāriputtaṁ sudassanaṁ; he is freed in both ways,Vimuttaṁ ubhatobhāge, serene inside himself;ajjhattaṁ susamāhitaṁ.

free of thorns, with yoking ended,Visallaṁ khīṇasaṁyogaṁ, master of the three knowledges, <j>conqueror of death;tevijjaṁ maccuhāyinaṁ; worthy of offerings,Dakkhiṇeyyaṁ manussānaṁ, a supreme field of merit for the people.”puññakkhettaṁ anuttaraṁ”.

“These many gods,“Ete sambahulā devā, powerful and glorious,iddhimanto yasassino; all 10,000 of them,Dasa devasahassāni, are priests of Divinity.sabbe brahmapurohitā; They stand with cupped palmsMoggallānaṁ namassantā, honoring Moggallāna:tiṭṭhanti pañjalīkatā.

‘Homage to you, O thoroughbred!‘Namo te purisājañña, Homage to you, supreme among men!namo te purisuttama; Since your defilements are ended,Yassa te āsavā khīṇā, you, good fellow, are worthy of teacher’s offerings.’dakkhiṇeyyosi mārisa’.

Venerated by the lordly god,Pūjito naradevena, he has arisen, the master of death.uppanno maraṇābhibhū; He is unsmeared by conditions,Puṇḍarīkaṁva toyena, as a lotus-flower by water.”saṅkhārenupalippati.

“The mendicant by whom the galaxyYassa muhuttena sahassadhā loko, with the age of the Divinity are known in an hour—Saṁvidito sabrahmakappo vasi; that master of psychic ability sees the godsIddhiguṇe cutupapāte kāle, at the time they pass away and are reborn.”Passati devatā sa bhikkhu”.

“Sāriputta is full of wisdom,“Sāriputtova paññāya, ethics, and peace.sīlena upasamena ca; Even a mendicant who has crossed overYopi pāraṅgato bhikkhu, might at best equal him.etāvaparamo siyā.

But in a moment I can create the likenessesKoṭisatasahassassa, of ten million times 100,000 people!Attabhāvaṁ khaṇena nimmine; I’m skilled in transformations;Ahaṁ vikubbanāsu kusalo, I’m a master of psychic powers.Vasībhūtomhi iddhiyā.

A member of the Moggallāna clan, <j>attained to perfection and masterySamādhivijjāvasipāramīgato, in immersion and knowledge, <j>wise in the teachings of the unattached,Moggallānagotto asitassa sāsane; with serene faculties, has burst his bondsDhīro samucchindi samāhitindriyo, like an elephant bursts a vine.Nāgo yathā pūtilataṁva bandhanaṁ.

I’ve served the TeacherPariciṇṇo mayā satthā, and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.kataṁ buddhassa sāsanaṁ; The heavy burden is laid down,Ohito garuko bhāro, the leash to existence is eradicated.bhavanetti samūhatā.

I’ve attained the goalYassa catthāya pabbajito, for the sake of which I went forthagārasmānagāriyaṁ; from the lay life to homelessness—So me attho anuppatto, the ending of all fetters.”sabbasaṁyojanakkhayo.

“What kind of hell was that,Kīdiso nirayo āsi, where Dūsī was roastedyattha dussī apaccatha; after attacking the disciple VidhuraVidhuraṁ sāvakamāsajja, along with the brahmin Kakusandha?kakusandhañca brāhmaṇaṁ.

There were 100 iron spikes,Sataṁ āsi ayosaṅkū, each one uniquely painful.sabbe paccattavedanā; That’s the kind of hellĪdiso nirayo āsi, where Dūsī was roastedyattha dussī apaccatha; after attacking the disciple VidhuraVidhuraṁ sāvakamāsajja, along with the brahmin Kakusandha.kakusandhañca brāhmaṇaṁ.

Dark One, if you attackYo etamabhijānāti, a mendicant who directly knows this,bhikkhu buddhassa sāvako; a disciple of the Buddha,Tādisaṁ bhikkhumāsajja, you’ll fall into suffering.kaṇha dukkhaṁ nigacchasi.

There are mansions that last an eonMajjhesarasmiṁ tiṭṭhanti, standing in the middle of a lake.vimānā kappaṭhāyino; Sapphire-colored, brilliant,Veḷuriyavaṇṇā rucirā, they sparkle and shine.accimanto pabhassarā; Dancing there are nymphsAccharā tattha naccanti, shining in all different colors.puthu nānattavaṇṇiyo.

Dark One, if you attackYo etamabhijānāti, a mendicant who directly knows this,… pe a disciple of the Buddha,… you’ll fall into suffering.kaṇha dukkhaṁ nigacchasi.

I’m the one who, urged by the Buddha,Yo ve buddhena codito, shook the stilt longhouse of Migāra’s motherbhikkhusaṅghassa pekkhato; with his big toeMigāramātupāsādaṁ, as the Saṅgha of mendicants watched.pādaṅguṭṭhena kampayi.

Dark One, if you attackYo etamabhijānāti, a mendicant who directly knows this,… pe a disciple of the Buddha,… you’ll fall into suffering.kaṇha dukkhaṁ nigacchasi.

I’m the one who shook the Palace of VictoryYo vejayantapāsādaṁ, with his big toepādaṅguṭṭhena kampayi; owing to psychic power,Iddhibalenupatthaddho, inspiring deities to awe.saṁvejesi ca devatā.

Dark One, if you attackYo etamabhijānāti, a mendicant who directly knows this,… pe a disciple of the Buddha,… you’ll fall into suffering.kaṇha dukkhaṁ nigacchasi.

I’m the one who asked SakkaYo vejayantapāsāde, in the Palace of Victory:sakkaṁ so paripucchati; ‘Respectable sir, I hope you recallApi āvuso jānāsi, the one who is freed through the ending of craving?’taṇhakkhayavimuttiyo; And I’m the one to whom SakkaTassa sakko viyākāsi, admitted the truth when asked.pañhaṁ puṭṭho yathātathaṁ”.

Dark One, if you attack“Yo etamabhijānāti, a mendicant who directly knows this,… pe a disciple of the Buddha,… you’ll fall into suffering.kaṇha dukkhaṁ nigacchasi.

I’m the one who asked the DivinityYo brahmānaṁ paripucchati, in the Hall of Clear Right before the assembly:Sudhammāyaṁ ṭhito sabhaṁ; ‘Respectable sir, do you still have the same viewAjjāpi tyāvuso sā diṭṭhi, that you had in the past?Yā te diṭṭhi pure ahu; Or do you see the radiancePassasi vītivattantaṁ, surpassing the realm of divinity?’Brahmaloke pabhassaraṁ.

And I’m the one to whom the DivinityTassa brahmā viyākāsi, admitted the truth when asked.pañhaṁ puṭṭho yathātathaṁ; ‘Good fellow, I don’t have that viewNa me mārisa sā diṭṭhi, that I had in the past.yā me diṭṭhi pure ahu.

I see the radiancePassāmi vītivattantaṁ, surpassing the realm of divinity.brahmaloke pabhassaraṁ; So how could I say todaySohaṁ ajja kathaṁ vajjaṁ, that I am permanent and eternal?’ahaṁ niccomhi sassato”.

Dark One, if you attack“Yo etamabhijānāti, a mendicant who directly knows this,… pe a disciple of the Buddha,… you’ll fall into suffering.kaṇha dukkhaṁ nigacchasi.

I’m the one who touched the peak of Mount NeruYo mahāneruno kūṭaṁ, using the power of meditative liberation.vimokkhena aphassayi; I’ve visited the forests of the peopleVanaṁ pubbavidehānaṁ, who dwell in the land east of Videha.ye ca bhūmisayā narā.

Dark One, if you attackYo etamabhijānāti, a mendicant who directly knows this,bhikkhu buddhassa sāvako; a disciple of the Buddha,Tādisaṁ bhikkhumāsajja, you’ll fall into suffering.kaṇha dukkhaṁ nigacchasi.

Though a fire doesn’t think,Na ve aggi cetayati, ‘I’ll burn the fool!’ahaṁ bālaṁ ḍahāmīti; Still the fool who attacksBālova jalitaṁ aggiṁ, the fire gets burnt.āsajja naṁ paḍayhati.

In the same way, Māra,Evamevaṁ tuvaṁ māra, in attacking the Realized One,āsajja naṁ tathāgataṁ; you’ll only burn yourself,Sayaṁ ḍahissasi attānaṁ, like a fool touching the flames.bālo aggiṁva samphusaṁ.

Māra’s done a bad thingApuññaṁ pasavī māro, in attacking the Realized One.āsajja naṁ tathāgataṁ; Wicked One, do you imagine thatKiṁ nu maññasi pāpima, your wickedness won’t bear fruit?na me pāpaṁ vipaccati.

Your deeds heap up wickednessKarato te cīyate pāpaṁ, that will last a long time, terminator!cirarattāya antaka; Give up on the Buddha, Māra!Māra nibbinda buddhamhā, And hold no hope for the mendicants!”āsaṁ mākāsi bhikkhusu”.

That is how, in the Bhesekaḷā grove,“Iti māraṁ atajjesi, the mendicant warned Māra.bhikkhu bhesakaḷāvane; That spirit, downcast,Tato so dummano yakkho, disappeared right there.tatthevantaradhāyathā”ti.

That is how these verses were recited by the senior venerable Mahāmoggallāna.Itthaṁ sudaṁ āyasmā mahāmoggallāno thero gāthāyo abhāsitthāti.

The Book of the Sixties is finished.Saṭṭhinipāto niṭṭhito.