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 Fours

4.7. Sambhūta

Hurrying when it’s time for going slowly;
Going slowly when it’s time to hurry;
That fool falls into suffering
Because of these muddled arrangements.

Their good fortune wastes away
Like the moon in the waning fortnight;
They become disgraced,
And alienated from their friends.

Going slowly when it’s time for going slowly;
Hurrying when it’s time to hurry;
That wise person comes into happiness
Because of these proper arrangements.

Their good fortune flourishes
Like the moon in the waxing fortnight;
They become famous and respected,
Not alienated from their friends.