Buddhism · Sutta Pitaka · Minor Collection (Khuddaka)

Thag, poem 255

Aṅgulimāla · Aṅgulimālattheragāthā

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“While walking, ascetic, you say ‘I’ve stopped.’ And I have stopped, but you tell me I’ve not. I’m asking you this, ascetic: how is it you’ve stopped and I have not?”

“Gacchaṁ vadesi samaṇaṭṭhitomhi, Mamañca brūsi ṭhitamaṭṭhitoti; Pucchāmi taṁ samaṇa etamatthaṁ, ‘Kathaṁ ṭhito tvaṁ ahamaṭṭhitomhi’”.

“Aṅgulimāla, I have forever stopped— I’ve laid aside violence toward all creatures. But you can’t stop yourself from harming living creatures; that’s why I’ve stopped, but you have not.”

“Ṭhito ahaṁ aṅgulimāla sabbadā, Sabbesu bhūtesu nidhāya daṇḍaṁ; Tuvañca pāṇesu asaññatosi, Tasmā ṭhitohaṁ tuvamaṭṭhitosi”.

“Oh, at long last a renowned great seer, an ascetic has followed me into this deep wood. Now that I’ve heard your verse on Dhamma, I shall discard a thousand evils.”

“Cirassaṁ vata me mahito mahesī, Mahāvanaṁ samaṇo paccapādi; Sohaṁ cajissāmi sahassapāpaṁ, Sutvāna gāthaṁ tava dhammayuttaṁ”.

With these words, the bandit hurled his sword and weapons down a cliff into an abyss. He venerated the Holy One’s feet, and requested the going forth from the Buddha right away.

Icceva coro asimāvudhañca, Sobbhe papāte narake anvakāsi; Avandi coro sugatassa pāde, Tattheva pabbajjamayāci buddhaṁ.

Then the Buddha, the compassionate great seer, the Teacher of the world with its gods, said to him, “Come, monk!” And with that he became a monk.

Buddho ca kho kāruṇiko mahesi, Yo satthā lokassa sadevakassa; “Tamehi bhikkhū”ti tadā avoca, Eseva tassa ahu bhikkhubhāvo.

“He who once was heedless, but turned to heedfulness, shines upon this world, like the moon freed from clouds.

“Yo ca pubbe pamajjitvā, pacchā so nappamajjati; Somaṁ lokaṁ pabhāseti, abbhā muttova candimā.

Someone whose bad deed is supplanted by the good, shines upon this world, like the moon freed from clouds.

Yassa pāpaṁ kataṁ kammaṁ, kusalena pidhīyati; Somaṁ lokaṁ pabhāseti, abbhā muttova candimā.

A young mendicant devoted to the Buddha’s teaching, shines upon this world, like the moon freed from clouds.

Yo have daharo bhikkhu, yuñjati buddhasāsane; Somaṁ lokaṁ pabhāseti, abbhā muttova candimā.

May even my enemies hear a Dhamma talk! May even my enemies devote themselves to the Buddha’s teaching! May even my enemies associate with those good men who establish others in the Dhamma!

Disāpi me dhammakathaṁ suṇantu, Disāpi me yuñjantu buddhasāsane; Disāpi me te manuje bhajantu, Ye dhammamevādapayanti santo.

May even my enemies hear Dhamma at the right time, from those who teach acceptance, praising acquiescence; and may they follow that path!

Disā hi me khantivādānaṁ, avirodhappasaṁsinaṁ; Suṇantu dhammaṁ kālena, tañca anuvidhīyantu.

For then they’d never wish harm upon myself or others. Having arrived at ultimate peace, they’d look after creatures firm and frail.

Na hi jātu so mamaṁ hiṁse, aññaṁ vā pana kiñcanaṁ; Pappuyya paramaṁ santiṁ, rakkheyya tasathāvare.

For while irrigators guide water, fletchers bend arrows straight, and carpenters bend timber straight, the astute tame themselves.

Udakañhi nayanti nettikā, Usukārā namayanti tejanaṁ; Dāruṁ namayanti tacchakā, Attānaṁ damayanti paṇḍitā.

Some tame by using the rod, some with goads, and some with whips. But the unaffected one tamed me without rod or sword.

Daṇḍeneke damayanti, aṅkusebhi kasāhi ca; Adaṇḍena asatthena, ahaṁ dantomhi tādinā.

My name is ‘Harmless’, though I used to be harmful. The name I bear today is true, for I do no harm to anyone.

‘Ahiṁsako’ti me nāmaṁ, hiṁsakassa pure sato; Ajjāhaṁ saccanāmomhi, na naṁ hiṁsāmi kiñcanaṁ.

I used to be a bandit, the notorious Aṅgulimāla. Swept away in a great flood, I went to the Buddha for refuge.

Coro ahaṁ pure āsiṁ, aṅgulimāloti vissuto; Vuyhamāno mahoghena, buddhaṁ saraṇamāgamaṁ.

I used to have blood on my hands, the notorious Aṅgulimāla. See the refuge I’ve found— the leash to existence is eradicated.

Lohitapāṇi pure āsiṁ, aṅgulimāloti vissuto; Saraṇagamanaṁ passa, bhavanetti samūhatā.

I’ve done many of the sort of deeds that lead to a bad destination. The result of my deeds has already struck me, so I enjoy my food free of debt.

Tādisaṁ kammaṁ katvāna, bahuṁ duggatigāminaṁ; Phuṭṭho kammavipākena, anaṇo bhuñjāmi bhojanaṁ.

Fools and simpletons devote themselves to negligence. But the wise protect diligence as their best treasure.

Pamādamanuyuñjanti, bālā dummedhino janā; Appamādañca medhāvī, dhanaṁ seṭṭhaṁva rakkhati.

Don’t devote yourself to negligence, or delight in erotic intimacy. For if you’re diligent and practice absorption, you’ll attain ultimate happiness.

Mā pamādamanuyuñjetha, mā kāmaratisanthavaṁ; Appamatto hi jhāyanto, pappoti paramaṁ sukhaṁ.

It was welcome, not unwelcome, the advice I got was good. Of the well-explained teachings, I arrived at the best.

Svāgataṁ nāpagataṁ, netaṁ dummantitaṁ mama; Savibhattesu dhammesu, yaṁ seṭṭhaṁ tadupāgamaṁ.

It was welcome, not unwelcome, the advice I got was good. I’ve attained the three knowledges, and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.”

Svāgataṁ nāpagataṁ, netaṁ dummantitaṁ mama; Tisso vijjā anuppattā, kataṁ buddhassa sāsanaṁ.

“In the wilderness, at a tree’s root, on mountains, or in caves— it used to be that wherever I stood, my mind was anxious.

Araññe rukkhamūle vā, pabbatesu guhāsu vā; Tattha tattheva aṭṭhāsiṁ, ubbiggamanaso tadā.

But now I lie down happily and stand up happily, I live my life happily, out of Māra’s reach; the Teacher had sympathy for me.

Sukhaṁ sayāmi ṭhāyāmi, sukhaṁ kappemi jīvitaṁ; Ahatthapāso mārassa, aho satthānukampito.

I used to be of brahmin birth, highborn on both sides, now I’m a son of the Holy One, the Teacher, King of Dhamma.

Brahmajacco pure āsiṁ, udicco ubhato ahu; Sojja putto sugatassa, dhammarājassa satthuno.

I am rid of craving, free of grasping, my sense doors are guarded and well-restrained. I’ve destroyed the root of gloom, and attained the ending of defilements.

Vītataṇho anādāno, guttadvāro susaṁvuto; Aghamūlaṁ vadhitvāna, patto me āsavakkhayo.

I’ve served the Teacher and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions. The heavy burden is laid down, the leash to existence is eradicated.”

Pariciṇṇo mayā satthā, kataṁ buddhassa sāsanaṁ; Ohito garuko bhāro, bhavanetti samūhatā”ti. … Aṅgulimālo thero ….