This translation of the Theragāthā was made by Bhikkhu Sujato with Jessica Walton. It is based on the Mahāsaṅgīti edition of the Pali text.

The translation relies heavily on the translation and notes by K.R. Norman for the Pali Text Society, published as Elders’s Verses I, first published 1965. For a few verses we have also consulted translations by Bhikkhu Thanissaro and Bhikkhu Bodhi. In all cases, however, the final translation was made directly from the Pali text.

This translation is published in September 2014. It is released by means of Creative Commons Zero (CC0 1.0 Universal) Public Domain Dedication. The translators waive all rights to the work worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law. You are encouraged to do anything you like with this text. You can copy, modify, translate, distribute, print, and perform the work, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

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Prepared for SuttaCentral by Bhikkhu Sujato.

Theragāthā

Verses of the Senior Monks

Chapter of the Threes

3.13. Abhibhūta

All my family gathered here,
Listen to me,
I’ll teach you Dhamma!
Being born again and again is suffering.

Rouse yourselves, let go!
Devote yourselves to the teachings of the Buddha!
Crush the army of death,
Like an elephant crushes a hut of reeds.

Whoever will live heedfully
In this Dhamma and discipline,
Will abandon transmigration through births,
And make an end to suffering.