Theragāthā 245

Verses of the Senior Monks 14.2

The Book of the Fourteens

Chapter One

Godatta

1 Just as a fine thoroughbred,

yoked to a carriage, endures the load.

Though oppressed by the heavy burden,

it doesn’t shake off the yoke.

2 So too, those who are as full of wisdom

as the ocean is with water,

don’t look down on others;

this is the teaching of the noble ones

for living creatures.

3 People who fall under the sway of time,

the sway of rebirth in this or that state,

undergo suffering,

and those young men grieve in this life.

4 Elated by things that bring happiness,

downcast by things that bring suffering:

this pair destroys the fool

who doesn’t see things as they are.

5 But those who in suffering, and in happiness,

and in the middle have overcome the weaver—

they stand like Indra’s pillar,

neither elated nor downcast.

6 Not to gain nor loss,

not to fame nor reputation,

not to criticism nor praise,

not to suffering nor happiness—

7 the wise cling to nothing,

like a droplet on a lotus-leaf.

They are happy everywhere,

and victorious everywhere.

8 There’s legitimate loss,

and there’s illegitimate gain.

Legitimate loss is better

than illegitimate gain.

9 There’s the fame of the unintelligent,

and there’s the disrepute of the discerning.

The disrepute of the discerning is better

than the fame of the unintelligent.

10 There’s praise by simpletons,

and there’s criticism by the discerning.

Criticism by the discerning is better

than praise by fools.

11 There’s the happiness of sensual pleasures,

and there’s the suffering of seclusion.

The suffering of seclusion is better

than the happiness of sensual pleasures.

12 There’s life without principles,

and there’s death with principles.

Death with principles is better

than life without principles.

13 Those who’ve given up desire and anger,

their minds at peace

regarding rebirth in this or that state,

wander in the world unattached,

for them nothing is beloved or unloved.

14 Having developed the awakening factors,

the faculties and the powers,

having arrived at ultimate peace,

the undefiled become fully quenched.