The Connected Collection

Would he say 'I speak,'

Would he say 'they speak to me'?"

One who has eliminated the mental corruptions, bearing his final body;

Would he say 'I speak,'

He would say 'they speak to me';

Having understood the common usage in the world, being skilled,

He would express himself merely by conventional expression."

One who has eliminated the mental corruptions, bearing his final body;

Would that monk, having approached conceit,

Say 'I speak';

Would he say 'they speak to me'?"

All mental knots of conceit are scattered;

That wise one has transcended conceiving,

He would say 'I speak.'

Having understood the common usage in the world, being skilled;

He would express himself merely by conventional expression."

The sun shines by day, the moon radiates at night.

The Fully Self-Enlightened One is the best of those that shine, this radiance is unsurpassed."

From there the waters turn back, here the round of rebirths does not turn;

Here mentality and materiality entirely cease."

Who here have abandoned craving, who in the world are without zeal?"

Having left lust and hate, and having become dispassionate towards ignorance;

Those who have eliminated the mental corruptions, the Worthy Ones, they in the world are without zeal."

Having uprooted craving with its root, thus there will be progress."

Having removed desire here, thus one is freed from suffering."

With the Worthy One, the Lamp, the Lake, and with Great Wealth;

With Four Wheels as ninth, with Antelope Legs - these are ten.

Having understood the Good Teaching of the virtuous, one becomes better, not worse."

Having understood the Good Teaching of the virtuous, wisdom is obtained, not from another."

Having understood the Good Teaching of the virtuous, one does not grieve in the midst of sorrow."

Having understood the Good Teaching of the virtuous, one shines in the midst of relatives."

Having understood the Good Teaching of the virtuous, beings go to a good destination."

Having understood the Good Teaching of the virtuous, beings abide constantly in happiness."

Having understood the Good Teaching of the virtuous, one is freed from all suffering."

By one desiring merit, a gift should be given by one who knows."

The hunger and thirst which the miser fears,

That very thing touches the fool, in this world and the next.

Merits are a support for beings in the world beyond."

Those who give from little, this is an eternal principle.

An offering given from little is measured equal to a thousand."

The bad do not imitate, the principle of the good is hard to follow.

The bad go to hell, the good are destined for heaven."

Supporting a wife, giving from little;

A hundred thousand who sacrifice a thousand,

Are not worth even a fraction of one such as that."

Not worth what is given righteously?

How is it that a hundred thousand who sacrifice a thousand each,

Are not worth even a fraction of one such as that."

Having cut off, having killed, and having caused sorrow;

That offering, with tearful faces, with punishment,

Is not worth what is given righteously.

Are not worth even a fraction of one such as that."

Through stinginess and through negligence, thus a gift is not given;

By one desiring merit, a gift should be given by one who knows."

But even from little, giving is good."

An offering given from little is measured equal to a thousand."

But giving with faith is also good."

Even few, being good, conquer many;

If one with faith gives even a little,

By that very deed he becomes happy in the hereafter."

Giving with faith is also good; But giving of what is righteously acquired is also good."

A person, of what is obtained through effort and energy;

Having passed beyond Yama's Vetaraṇī river,

That mortal attains divine states."

Giving with faith is also good; giving from what is righteously acquired is also good;

but giving with discrimination is also good."

those who are worthy of offerings here in the world of the living;

gifts given to them are of great fruit,

like seeds sown in a good field."

Giving with faith is also good; giving from what is righteously acquired is also good;

giving with discrimination is also good; but self-control towards living beings is also good."

they do not do evil through fear of others' censure;

they praise the timid, not the hero there,

for the peaceful do not do evil out of fear."

but the state of the Teaching is better than giving;

for in the past and in times even more remote, the peaceful,

those with wisdom, attained Nibbāna itself."

There are desirable things here to which one is bound;

In which being heedless, to the state of no return,

A person does not come from the realm of Death."

By the removal of desire, misery is removed;

By the removal of misery, suffering is removed."

Lust for thoughts is a person's sensual pleasure;

The various things remain just so in the world,

But here the wise remove desire for them.

One should overcome every mental fetter;

Sufferings do not befall one who does not cling

To mentality-materiality, one who owns nothing.

He has cut off craving here in mentality-materiality;

Him, with knots cut, free from trouble, desireless,

Seeking they did not find;

Gods and humans, here or beyond,

In the heavens or in all abodes."

Gods and humans, here or beyond;

The highest among men, working for the welfare of people,

Those who venerate him are praiseworthy."

Who venerate him thus liberated;

Having understood the Teaching, having abandoned sceptical doubt,

Those monks too become ones who have gone beyond attachment."

Having deceived, like a cheat, that is enjoyed by him through theft.

One not doing but speaking - the wise fully understand him."

Can this firm practice be followed;

By which the wise are freed, meditators, from Māra's bondage.

Having understood, the wise are quenched, having crossed over attachment in the world."

With anger within, burdened with hate, he binds enmity upon himself."

And enmities would not be appeased, by what would one here be wholesome?"

Who does not fall into confusion, and who is wise, always mindful?"

For him there are no transgressions, for him there is no wrongdoing;

He does not fall into confusion, he alone is wise, always mindful."

One with inner irritation, weighed down by hate, he binds enmity upon himself;

I do not delight in that enmity, I accept your confession."

If faithlessness does not remain;

Fame and renown are his from that,

And he goes to heaven, having left the body."

One should overcome every mental fetter;

Sufferings do not befall one who does not cling

To mentality-materiality, one who owns nothing."

But the wise one guards diligence as the foremost wealth.

For the diligent one, meditating, attains the highest happiness."

We have come to this Teaching assembly, to see the unconquered Community."

Like a charioteer having taken the reins, the wise ones guard their faculties."

They walk about pure, spotless, well tamed by the one with vision, young elephants."

Having abandoned the human body, they will fill up the group of gods."

Yet their minds are not rightly liberated, of inferior nature, they do not go to the far shore.

Yet their minds are not rightly liberated, of inferior nature, they do not go to the far shore.

One dwelling alone in the forest, heedless, would not cross to the far shore of Death's realm."

One dwelling alone in the forest, heedful, he would cross to the far shore of Death's realm."

I am Kokanadā, I pay homage, Kokanadā, the daughter of Pajjunna.

Now I myself know as a witness, as the sage, the Fortunate One, teaches.

They go to the terrible Roruva hell, they experience suffering for a long time.

Having abandoned the human body, they will fill up the group of gods."

Paying homage to the Buddha and the Teaching, she spoke these verses full of meaning.

I shall speak the meaning in brief, as far as I have learnt it by mind.

Or by body, anything in the whole world;

Having abandoned sensual pleasures, mindful and fully aware,

One should not pursue suffering connected with harm."

Faith, time, splinter, both daughters of Pajjunna.

That is for one's benefit, not what is burnt there.

One should take out by giving, what is given is well removed.

Thieves take it, kings take it, fire burns it, it perishes.

Having understood this, the wise one should enjoy and give;

Having given and enjoyed according to one's ability;

Blameless, one goes to the heavenly state."

A giver of a vehicle is a giver of happiness, a giver of a lamp is a giver of vision.

And he is a giver of the Deathless, who instructs in the Teaching."

That very food follows him, in this world and the next.

Merits are a support for beings in the world beyond."

The chariot is named 'Non-creaking', fitted with wheels of the Teaching.

I call the Teaching the charioteer, with right view running in front.

He indeed by this vehicle is near to Nibbāna itself."

And drinking halls and wells, those who give a dwelling.

Righteous, accomplished in morality, those people are heaven-bound."

By this mortals are purified, not by clan or by wealth.

Should wisely investigate the Teaching, thus he becomes purified therein.

Even a monk who has gone beyond, this would be his highest."

Having come to ask the Blessed One, how may we know this?"

Men who create obstacles for others who are giving.

If they come to human existence, they are born in a poor family.

The fools hope for things from others, but even that they do not obtain;

This is the result in the present life, and in the future state an unfortunate realm."

Those who here, having obtained human existence, are bountiful, free from avarice.

What kind of result is theirs, and what kind is their future state;

Having come to ask the Blessed One, how may we know this?"

Devoted to the Buddha and the Teaching, and with keen respect for the Community;

These heavens shine forth, where they are reborn.

Cloth, almsfood, pleasure, amusement, where these are obtained without difficulty.

This is the result in the present life, and in the future state a fortunate realm."

Who, having abandoned the human body, have overcome the divine bond?"

Bhaddiya and Khaṇḍadeva, and Bāhuraggi and Siṅgiya;

They, having abandoned the human body, have overcome the divine bond."

Whose Teaching did they understand, that they cut the bond of existence?"

Whose Teaching they understood, that they cut the bond of existence.

That Teaching of yours, having understood it here, they cut the bond of existence."

Whose Teaching have you understood, that you speak such a word?"

I was a supporter of my mother and father, a lay follower of Kassapa.

I was your fellow villager, I was formerly your friend.

With lust and hate eliminated, they have crossed over attachment in the world."

He was formerly a potter, a pot-maker in Vekaḷiṅga;

"Abstaining from sexual intercourse, leading the holy life, spiritual;

He was my fellow villager, he was formerly my friend."

Both with developed selves, bearing their final bodies."

Nymph-Forest-Planting, with Avarice, Ghaṭīkara.

Wisdom is the jewel of men, merit is hard to steal by thieves."

Wisdom is the jewel of men, merit cannot be stolen by thieves."

A companion for one whose need has arisen, is a friend again and again;

Meritorious deeds done by oneself, that is a friend pertaining to the future life."

Beings live on rain, those living beings dependent on the earth."

A being got into the round of rebirths, suffering is his great fear."

A being got into the round of rebirths, he is not freed from suffering."

A being got into the round of rebirths, action is his ultimate goal."

Woman is the stain of the holy life, here this generation is attached;

Austere asceticism and the holy life, that is the bath without water."

A mortal delighting in Nibbāna is freed from all suffering."

Verses are based on name, a poet is the foundation of verses."

Wrong Path and Second, the chapter is completed with Poet.

To name, the one thing, all have come under control."

To mind, the one thing, all have come under control."

To craving, the one thing, have all come under control."

By the abandoning of craving is it called Nibbāna."

By the abandoning of craving does one cut all bondage."

By the dart of craving is it overcome, by desire is it always fuming."

By death the world is closed in, in suffering the world is established."

By craving the world is ensnared, by ageing is it surrounded."

By the abandoning of desire one cuts all bondage."

Clinging to the six only, in the six is the world vexed."

Afflicted, burned up, closed in, desire, with world - these are ten.

Of what one thing do you approve the murder, Gotama?"

Of wrath with its poisonous root, with its sweet tip, O deity,

The noble ones praise the murder, for having cut that off one does not grieve."

A king is the mark of a country, a husband is the mark of a woman."

Truth indeed is sweeter among flavours, living by wisdom they call life foremost."

Cattle are excellent among those going forth, a son is excellent among those speaking."

The Community is excellent among those going forth, the Buddha is excellent among those speaking."

Not doing evil deeds by body;

Dwelling in a house with abundant food and drink,

Faithful, gentle, generous, bountiful;

Established in these four qualities,

One established in the Teaching would not fear the world beyond."

Having come to ask the Blessed One, how may we know this?"

Lust is called the side road.

Woman is the stain of the holy life, here this generation is attached;

Austere asceticism and the holy life, that is the bath without water.

Laziness and negligence, inactivity and lack of self-control;

Sleep and weariness are those holes, one should avoid them altogether."

Whom coming again and again do the wise delight in?"

Wrath is the stain of the knife in the world, thieves are the tumours in the world.

An ascetic coming again and again - the wise delight in."

He should release good speech, and should not release evil speech."

Desire drags a man about, desire is difficult to give up in the world;

Bound by desire are many beings, like a bird by a snare."

What do beings live on, those living beings dependent on the earth?"

Cattle are the companions in work for those who live, the plough is the way of life.

Beings live on rain, those living beings dependent on the earth."

What is it here of low birth, that warriors pay respect to?"

Ascetics fully understand desire, for ascetics there is freedom always.

An ascetic here of low birth, warriors pay respect to."

Lord, sensual pleasure, provisions, lamp, and with non-conflict.