Theragāthā 206

Verses of the Senior Monks 5.9

The Book of the Fives

Chapter One

Vijitasena

1 I’ll cage you, mind,

like an elephant in a stockade.

Born of the flesh, that net of the senses,

I won’t urge you to do bad.

2 Caged, you won’t go anywhere,

like an elephant who can’t find an open gate.

Loser mind, you won’t wander again and again,

bullying, in love with wickedness.

3 Just as a strong trainer with a hook

takes a wild, newly captured elephant

and wins it over against its will,

so I’ll win you over.

4 Just as a fine charioteer, skilled in the taming

of fine horses, tames a thoroughbred,

so I’ll tame you,

firmly established in the five powers.

5 I’ll bind you with mindfulness;

devout, I shall tame you;

kept in check by harnessed energy,

mind, you won’t go far from here.