6.
The Book of the Sixes
1.
Verses of the Elder Uruveḷakassapa
I did not bow down for so long, deceived by jealousy and conceit.
Then there was spiritual urgency for me, wonderful and terrifying.
Having disregarded that then, I went forth in the Conqueror's Dispensation.
Afterwards I abolished lust and hate, and delusion too.
Possessing supernormal power, a knower of others' minds, and I attained the divine ear.
That purpose has been attained by me, the destruction of all mental fetters."
... The Elder Uruveḷakassapa...
2.
Verses of the Elder Tekicchakāri
Yet I do not obtain almsfood, what shall I do?"
Your body pervaded with rapture, you will be constantly elated.
Your body pervaded with rapture, you will be constantly elated.
Your body pervaded with rapture, you will be constantly elated.
Do not be overcome by the cold and suffer hardship, enter the dwelling with bolts fastened.
I shall not suffer hardship from the cold, dwelling unperturbed."
... The Elder Tekicchakārī...
3.
Verses of the Elder Mahānāga
He falls away from the Good Teaching, like a fish in little water.
He does not grow in the Good Teaching, like a rotten seed in a field.
He is far from Nibbāna, in the Dispensation of the King of the Dhamma.
He does not abandon the Good Teaching, like a fish in abundant water.
He grows in the Good Teaching, like a good seed in a field.
Nibbāna is near, in the Dispensation of the King of the Dhamma."
... The Elder Mahānāga...
4.
Verses of the Elder Kulla
Thrown aside in the cemetery, being eaten, pervaded with worms.
Oozing and dripping, delighted in by the foolish.
I reviewed this body, hollow within and without.
As below so above, as above so below.
As before so after, as after so before.
As for one with a fully focused mind, rightly seeing the Teaching with insight."
... The Elder Kulla...
5.
Verses of the Elder Mālukyaputta
He floats from existence to existence, like a monkey in the forest desiring fruit.
His sorrows increase, like bīraṇa grass rained upon.
Sorrows fall from him, like a water drop from a lotus.
Dig up the root of craving, as one desiring usīra digs up bīraṇa grass;
Let not Māra break you again and again, as a stream breaks a reed.
For those who have missed the moment grieve, consigned to hell.
By diligence, by true knowledge, one should draw out the dart from oneself."
... The Elder Mālukyaputta...
6.
Verses of the Elder Sappadāsa
Not even for a mere finger-snap, did I attain peace of mind.
Having raised my arms, weeping, I went out from the dwelling.
For how could one like me, having rejected the training, meet death?
The razor was brought up, to cut my own vein.
Danger became manifest, disenchantment was established.
The three true knowledges have been attained, the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled."
... Sappadāsa the elder...
7. Verses of the Elder Kāṭiyāna
Let not the King of Death, friend of the heedless, conquer you, the lazy one, as if by deceit.
So make a good island for yourself, for indeed no other shelter for you exists.
Diligent in the former and latter parts of the night, devote yourself, make your exertion firm.
Do not engage in play and delight, nor in sleep, meditate, Kātiyāna.
Having attained the unsurpassed purification, you will attain final nibbāna like a flame by water.
Even so you, not grasping, O kinsman of Indra, shake off Māra;
He, without lust for feelings, should await the time, become cool right here."
... Kātiyāna the elder...
8.
Verses of the Elder Migajāla
Gone beyond all fetters, destroyer of the entire round of rebirths.
Having cut off the slaughter-house, the root of poison, it causes one to reach peace.
In the possession of consciousnesses, the striker with the thunderbolt of knowledge.
Observing existence with knowledge as if it were a pit of embers.
The noble eightfold path, alleviating suffering, secure.
Of phenomena arisen through dependent origination, seeing according to the light of insight;
Going to great security, peaceful, auspicious at the final goal."
... Migajāla the elder...
9.
Verses of the Elder Jenta, the Son of the Royal Chaplain
With form, beauty and appearance, intoxicated with vanity I wandered.
A fool destroyed by arrogance, very stiff, with banner raised.
I saluted no one, stubborn in pride, disrespectful.
Shining like the sun, honoured by the community of monks.
With my head I saluted the highest of all beings.
The conceit 'I am' is cut off, all discriminations of conceit are destroyed."
... Jenta, the son of the royal chaplain, the elder...
10.
Verses of the Elder Sumana
Having overcome by supernormal power, the serpent king of great supernormal power.
I was bringing from there when, having seen me, the Teacher said this."
Having taken a water-pot, internally well concentrated.
The novice of Anuruddha, confident in supernormal power.
Disciplined by Anuruddha, trained by one who has done his task.
That novice Sumana wishes 'May they not know me'."
... The Elder Sumana...
11.
Verses of the Elder Nhātakamuni
In a miserable place with scarce alms-resort, monk, what will you do?"
Even enduring rough conditions, I will dwell in the forest.
Accomplished in the fineness of meditative absorption, I shall dwell without mental corruptions.
Repeatedly reviewing, I shall dwell without mental corruptions.
All without remainder have been cut off, and they will not arise again.
The elimination of suffering has been attained, there is now no more rebirth."
... Nhātakamuni the elder...
12.
Verses of the Elder Brahmadatta
To one completely liberated through final knowledge, to one at peace, to such a one.
Not becoming angry in return at one who is angry, one wins a battle hard to win.
Knowing the other to be enraged, one who is mindful becomes calm.
People think 'he is a fool' - those who are unskilled in the Teaching.
If craving for flavour should arise, remember the simile of the son's flesh.
Quickly restrain it with mindfulness, like a bad beast that eats corn."
... Brahmadatta the elder...
13.
Verses of the Elder Sirimaṇḍa
Therefore open what is covered, thus it will not rain upon that.
By the dart of craving is it overcome, by desire is it always fuming.
Without shelter, it is always destroyed, like a thief who has received the rod.
There is no power to confront them, there is no speed to flee.
Whatever night one passes, by that much is one's life diminished.
The final night approaches, this is not the time for you to be negligent."
... Sirimaṇḍa the elder...
14.
Verses of the Elder Sabbakāmi
Full of various corpses, oozing here and there.
Like a monkey by bird-lime, they afflict the worldling.
These five types of sensual pleasure are seen in the form of a woman.
They increase the terrible cemetery, they accumulate rebirth.
He, mindful, overcomes this clinging in the world.
Escaped from all sensual pleasures, the elimination of mental corruptions has been attained by me."
... Sabbakāmī the elder...
The Chapter of Sixes is concluded.
The summary therein:
Mahānāga and Kulla, Mālukya and Sappadāsaka.
Nhātamuni, Brahmadatta, Sirimaṇḍa and Sabbakāmī;
Eighty-four verses, and fourteen elders herein.