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# Theragatha

## Chapter XIX -- The Fifties

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XIX -- Talaputa {vv. 1091-1145}
[Bhikkhu Khantipalo, trans. From Forest Meditations: The Verses of the Arahant Talaputa Thera (WH 243/244), by Bhikkhu Khantipalo (Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society, 1983). Copyright ©1983 Buddhist Publication Society. Used with permission.]

#### I. Thoughts Before Going Forth

> 1. When, O when shall I live all alone
> in mountain caves, unmated with desire,
> clear seeing as unstable all that comes to be?
> This wish of mine, when indeed will it be?

> 2. When shall I, wearing the patchwork robes
> of color dun, be sage, uncraving, never making mine,
> with greed, aversion and delusion slain
> and to the wild woods gone, in bliss abide?

> 3. When shall I, this body seeing clear --
> unstable nest of dying and disease
> oppressed by age and death, dwell free from fear
> in the woods alone? When indeed will it be?

> 4. When indeed shall I dwell seizing the sharpened sword
> of wisdom made? When cut the craving creeper --
> breeder of fear, bringer of pain and woe,
> and twining everywhere? When indeed will it be?

> 5. When lion-like in the victor's stance
> shall I draw quick the sage's sword
> of wisdom forged and fiery might
> quick breaking Mara with his host? When indeed will it be?

> 6. When myself exerting, shall I be seen
> in goodly company of those esteeming Dhamma?
> Those with faculties subdued who see things as they are?
> Those who are 'Thus'? When indeed will it be?

> 7. When indeed will weariness not worry me --
> hunger, thirst and wind, heat, bugs and creeping things,
> while bent on my own good, the Goal,
> in Giribbaja's wilds? When indeed will it be?

> 8. When indeed shall I, self-mindful and composed
> win to that wisdom known by Him,
> the Greatest Sage, the Four Truths won within,
> so very hard to see? When indeed will it be?

> 9. When shall I, possessed of meditation's calm
> with wisdom see the forms innumerable,
> sounds, smells and tastes, touches and dhammas too,
> as a raging blaze? When will this be for me?

> 10. When shall I indeed, when with abusive words
> addressed, not be displeased because of that,
> and then again when praised be neither pleased
> because of that? When will this be for me?

> 11. When shall I indeed weigh as the same:
> wood, grass and creepers with these craved-for groups,
> both inner and external forms
> the dhammas numberless? When will it be for me?

> 12. When in the season of the black raincloud
> shall I follow the path within the wood
> trodden by those that See; robes moistened
> by new falling rain? When indeed will it be?

> 13. When in a mountain cave having heard the peacock's cry,
> that crested twice-born, bird down in the wood,
> shall I arise and collect together mind
> for attaining the undying? When indeed will it be?

> 14. When shall I, the Ganges and the Yamuna,
> the Sarasvati and the awful ocean mouth
> of the Balava-abyss, by psychic might
> untouching go across? When indeed will it be?

> 15. When shall I, like charging elephant unbound,
> break up desire for sensual happiness
> and shunning all the marks of loveliness
> strive in concentrated states? When indeed will it be?

> 16. When, as pauper by his debts distressed,
> by creditors oppressed, a treasure finds,
> shall I be pleased the Teaching to attain
> of the Greatest Sage? When indeed will it be?

#### II. Self-admonishments After Going Forth

> 17. Long years have I been begged by you
> 'Enough for you of this living in a house.'
> by now I have gone forth to homelessness
> what reason is there, mind, for you not to urge me on?

> 18. Was I not, O mind, assured by you indeed:
> 'The brightly plumaged birds on Giribbaja's peaks
> greeting the thunder, the sound of great Indra,
> will bring to you joy meditating in the wood?'

> 19. Dear ones and friends and kin within the family,
> playing and loving, sensual pleasures of the world:
> all have I given up and reached at last to this,
> even now, O mind, you are not pleased with me.

> 20. Mine you are, mind, possessed by none but me;
> why then lament when comes this time to arm?
> Seeing all as unstable this is now renounced:
> longing for, desirous of the Undying State.

> 21. Said He who speaks the best, Best among mankind,
> man-taming trainer, Physician Great indeed:
> 'Unsteady, likened to a monkey is the mind,
> extremely hard to check by not rid of lust.'

> 22. For varied, sweet, delightful are desires of sense;
> blind, foolish common men long have lain in them
> seeking after birth again, 'tis they who wish for ill,
> by mind they are led on to perish in hell.

> 23. 'In the jungle you should dwell, resounding with the cries
> of peacocks and herons, by pard and tiger hailed:
> Abandon longing for the body -- do not fail'
> So indeed my mind you used to urge me on.

> 24. 'Grow in concentrations, the faculties and powers,
> develop wisdom-factors by meditation deep
> and then with Triple Knowledge touch the Buddha-sasana.'
> So indeed my mind you used to urge me on.

> 25. 'Grow in the Eightfold Way for gaining the Undying
> leading to Release and cleansing of all stains;
> Plunge to the utter destruction of all Ill!'
> So indeed my mind you used to urge me on.

> 26. 'Thoroughly examine the craved-for groups as Ill.
> Abandon that from which arises ill.
> Here and now make you an end of ill.'
> So indeed my mind you used to urge me on.

> 27. 'Thoroughly see inward the impermanent as ill,
> the void as without self, and misery as bane,
> and so the mind restrain in its mental wanderings.'
> So indeed my mind you used to urge me on.

> 28. 'Head-shaven and unsightly, go to be reviled,
> among the people beg with skull-like bowl in hand.
> To the Greatest Sage, the Teacher's word devote yourself.'
> So indeed my mind you used to urge at me on.

> 29. 'Wander well-restrained among the streets and families
> having a mind to sensual pleasures unattached,
> as the full moon shining clear at night.'
> So indeed my mind you used to urge me on.

> 30. 'You should be a forest-dweller, almsman too,
> a graveyard-dweller and a rag-robe wearer too,
> one never lying down, delighting in austerities.'
> So indeed my mind you used to urge me on.

> 31. As he who having planted trees about to fruit
> should wish to cut a tree down to the root:
> that simile you made, mind, that do you desire
> when on me urge the unstable and the frail.

> 32. Formless one, far-traveler, a wanderer alone,
> no more shall I your bidding do, for sense desires
> are ill, leading to bitter fruit, to brooding fear:
> with mind Nibbana-turned I shall walk on.

> 33. Not from lack of luck did I go forth,
> nor shamelessness, nor caused by mind's inconstancy,
> nor banishment nor caused by livelihood,
> and therefore I agreed with you, O mind.

> 34. 'Having few wishes, disparagement's abandoning,
> with the stilling of all ill is praised by goodly men'
> so indeed, my mind, then you urged at me,
> but now you go back to habits made of old.

> 35. Craving, unknowing, the liked and the disliked,
> delighting in forms and pleasing feelings too,
> dear pleasures of the senses -- all have been vomited:
> never to that vomit can I make myself return.

> 36. In every life, O mind, your word was done by me,
> In many births I have not sought to anger you.
> That which within oneself produced by you, ingrate,
> long wandered on in ill create by you.

> 37. Indeed it is you, mind, makes us brahmanas,
> you make us noble warriors, kings and seers as well,
> sometimes it is merchant or workers become,
> or led by you indeed we come to gods' estate.

> 38. Indeed you are the cause of becoming titans too,
> and you are the root for becoming in the hells;
> sometimes there is going to birth as animals,
> or led by you indeed be come to ghosts' estate.

> 39. Not now will you injure me ever and again,
> moment by moment as though showing me a play,
> as with one gone mad you play with me --
> but how, O mind, have you been failed by me?

> 40. Formerly this wandering mind, a wanderer,
> went where it wished, wherever whim or pleasure led,
> today I shall thoroughly restrain it
> as a trainer's hook the elephant in rut.

> 41. He, the Master made me see this world --
> unstable, unsteady, lacking any essence;
> now in the Conqueror's Teaching, mind make me leap
> cross me over the great floods so very hard to cross!

> 42. Now it's not for you, mind, as it was before,
> not likely am I to return to your control --
> in the Greatest Sage's Sasana I have gone forth
> and those like me are not by ruin wrapped.

> 43. Mountains, seas, rivers, and this wealthy world,
> four quarters, points between, the nadir and the heavens
> all the Three Becomings unstable and oppressed.
> Where, mind, having gone will you happily delight?

> 44. Firm, firm in my aim! What will you do, my mind?
> No longer in your power, mind, nor your follower.
> None would even handle a double-ended sack,
> let be a thing filled full and flowing with nine streams.

> 45. Whether peak or slopes or fair open space
> or forest besprinkled with fresh showers in the Rains,
> where frequently are found boar and antelope,
> there will you delight to a grotto-lodging gone.

> 46. Fair blue-throated and fair-crested, the peacock fair of tail,
> wing-plumes of many hues, the passengers of air,
> greeting the thunder with fair-sounding cries
> will bring to you joy meditating in the wood.

> 47. When the sky-god rains on the four inch grass
> and on full-flowering cloud-like woods,
> within the mountains like a log I'll lie
> and soft that seat to me as cotton down.

> 48. Thus will I do even as a master should:
> Let whatever is obtained be enough for me,
> that indeed I'll do to you as energetic man
> by taming makes supple a catskin bag.

> 49. Thus will I do even as a master should;
> Let whatever is obtained be enough for me,
> by energy I'll bring you in my power
> as a skilled trainer the elephant in rut.

> 50. With you well-tamed, no longer turning round,
> like to a trainer with a straight running horse,
> I am able to practice the safe and blissful Path
> ever frequented by them who guard the mind.

> 51. I'll bind you by strength to the meditation-base
> as elephant to post by a strong rope bound;
> well-guarded by me, well-grown with mindfulness,
> you shall, by all becomings, be without support.

> 52. With wisdom cutting off wending the wrong path,
> by endeavor restrained, established in the Path,
> having seen the origin of passing, rising too --
> you will be an heir to the Speaker of the Best.

> 53. You dragged me, mind, as on an ox's round,
> in the power of the Four Perversions set;
> come now, serve the Great Sage, Compassionate,
> He the sure cutter of fetters and bonds.

> 54. As a deer roams in the very varied woods
> and goes to the pleasant crest garlanded by clouds,
> so there you will delight on that unentangled mount.
> There is no doubt, mind, you'll be established there.

> 55. Men and women enjoying any happiness
> controlled by thy desires and delighting in life,
> blind fools they are who comply with Mara's power,
> they driven on, O mind, servants are of thee.

Revised: Fri 12 April 2002