Theragāthā 204

Verses of the Senior Monks 5.7

The Book of the Fives

Chapter One

Gayākassapa

1 Three times a day—

morning, midday, and evening—

I plunged into the water at Gayā

for the Gayā spring festival.

2 “Any bad things I’ve done

in previous lives,

I’ll now rinse away right here”—

such was the view I used to hold.

3 Having heard the fine words,

a passage meaningful and principled,

I rationally reflected

on the true, essential goal.

4 I’ve washed away all bad things;

I’m stainless, clean, pristine;

the pure heir of the pure one,

a bosom son of the Buddha.

5 When I plunged into the eightfold stream,

all bad things were rinsed away.

I’ve attained the three knowledges

and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.