Source:: [SuttaCentral.net](https://suttacentral.net/thag17.3/en/sujato?layout=sidebyside&script=latin) # Thag17.3 Ānandattheragāthā | by [[Ananda|Venerable Ānanda]] Tags:: #gatha ## Notes > [!NOTE] Great learnings & mistakes — In Ānandattheragāthā ([thag17.3](https://suttacentral.net/thag17.3/en/sujato)) > “**82,000 from the Buddha**, > _Dvāsīti buddhato gaṇhiṁ,_ > > and **2,000 more from the monks**: > _dve sahassāni bhikkhuto;_ > > **84,000 teachings I’ve learned**, > _Caturāsītisahassāni,_ > > and these are what I promulgate.” > _ye me dhammā pavattino._ > > --- > “A person of little learning > _Appassutāyaṁ puriso,_ > > ages like an ox— > _balibaddova jīrati;_ > > their flesh grows, > _Maṁsāni tassa vaḍḍhanti,_ > > but not their wisdom. > _paññā tassa na vaḍḍhati._ > > --- > A learned person who, on account of their learning, > _Bahussuto appassutaṁ,_ > > **looks down on someone of little learning**, > _yo **sutenātimaññati**;_ > > seems to me like > _Andho padīpadhārova,_ > > **==a blind man holding a lamp==**. > _tatheva paṭibhāti maṁ._ ^great-learnings > [!NOTE] How to live the [[Brahmacariya]] — In Ānandattheragāthā ([thag17.3](https://suttacentral.net/thag17.3/en/sujato)) > #dhamma/practice/overview > You should **==stay close to a learned person==**— > _**Bahussutaṁ upāseyya**,_ > > **don’t lose what you’ve learned**. > _**sutañca na vināsaye**;_ > > It is the **==root of the spiritual life==**, > _Taṁ **mūlaṁ brahmacariyassa**,_ > > which is why you should **memorize the teaching**. > _tasmā **dhammadharo** siyā._ > > --- > Knowing the sequence and meaning of the teaching, > _Pubbāparaññū atthaññū,_ > > expert in the interpretation of terms, > _niruttipadakovido;_ > > they make sure it is well memorized, > _Suggahītañca gaṇhāti,_ > > and then examine the meaning. > _atthañcopaparikkhati._ > > --- > Accepting the teachings, they become enthusiastic; > _Khantyā chandikato hoti,_ > > making an effort, they weigh up the teaching. > _ussahitvā tuleti taṁ;_ > > When it’s time, they strive > _Samaye so padahati,_ > > serene inside themselves. > _ajjhattaṁ susamāhito._ ^brahmacariya > [!NOTE] [[Kayagatasati|Kāyagatāsati]], the only friend — In Ānandattheragāthā ([thag17.3](https://suttacentral.net/thag17.3/en/sujato)) > When your friend has passed away, > _Abbhatītasahāyassa,_ > > and your Teacher is past and gone, > _atītagatasatthuno;_ > > there’s **no friend** like > _**Natthi** etādisaṁ **mittaṁ**,_ > > **mindfulness of the body**. > _yathā **==kāyagatā sati==**._ > > --- > The old have passed away, > _Ye purāṇā atītā te,_ > > and I don’t agree with the new. > _navehi na sameti me;_ > > Today I **meditate alone** > _Svajja **ekova jhāyāmi**,_ > > like a bird snug in its nest.” > _vassupetova pakkhimā”._ ^kayagatasati-only-friend ## Sutta (Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato) Verses of the Senior Monks 17.3 Theragāthā 17.3 The Book of the Thirties Tiṁsanipāta Chapter One Paṭhamavagga Ānanda Ānandattheragāthā “The astute would not make friends “Pisuṇena ca kodhanena ca, with the slanderous or the hateful, Maccharinā ca vibhūtanandinā; with a miser or a gloater, Sakhitaṁ na kareyya paṇḍito, for it’s bad to consort with sinners. Pāpo kāpurisena saṅgamo. The astute would make friends Saddhena ca pesalena ca, with the faithful and the pleasant, Paññavatā bahussutena ca; the wise and the learned, Sakhitaṁ kareyya paṇḍito, for it’s a blessing to consort with good people.” Bhaddo sappurisena saṅgamo. “See this fancy puppet, Passa cittakataṁ bimbaṁ, a body built of sores, … pe diseased, obsessed over, … in which nothing lasts at all. yassa natthi dhuvaṁ ṭhiti. See this fancy puppet, Passa cittakataṁ bimbaṁ, with its gems and earrings; … pe it is bones encased in skin, … made pretty by its clothes. vatthehi sobhati. Rouged feet Alattakakatā, and powdered face … pe may be enough to beguile a fool, … but not a seeker of the far shore. no ca pāragavesino. Hair in eight braids Aṭṭhapadakatā, and eyeliner … pe may be enough to beguile a fool, … but not a seeker of the far shore. no ca pāragavesino. A rotting body all adorned Añjanīva navā, like a freshly painted makeup box … pe may be enough to beguile a fool, … but not a seeker of the far shore.” no ca pāragavesino. “Gotama is learned, a brilliant speaker, Bahussuto cittakathī, the attendant to the Buddha. buddhassa paricārako; With burden put down, detached, Pannabhāro visaññutto, Gotama made his bed. seyyaṁ kappeti gotamo. Defilements ended, detached, Khīṇāsavo visaññutto, he has got over clinging and become quenched. saṅgātīto sunibbuto; He bears his final body, Dhāreti antimaṁ dehaṁ, having gone beyond birth and death.” jātimaraṇapāragū. “Gotama stands firm Yasmiṁ patiṭṭhitā dhammā, on the path that leads to quenching, buddhassādiccabandhuno; where the teachings of the Buddha, Nibbānagamane magge, the kinsman of the Sun, are grounded.” soyaṁ tiṭṭhati gotamo. “82,000 from the Buddha, Dvāsīti buddhato gaṇhiṁ, and 2,000 more from the monks: dve sahassāni bhikkhuto; 84,000 teachings I’ve learned, Caturāsītisahassāni, and these are what I promulgate.” ye me dhammā pavattino. “A person of little learning Appassutāyaṁ puriso, ages like an ox— balibaddova jīrati; their flesh grows, Maṁsāni tassa vaḍḍhanti, but not their wisdom. paññā tassa na vaḍḍhati. A learned person who, on account of their learning, Bahussuto appassutaṁ, looks down on someone of little learning, yo sutenātimaññati; seems to me like Andho padīpadhārova, a blind man holding a lamp. tatheva paṭibhāti maṁ. You should stay close to a learned person— Bahussutaṁ upāseyya, don’t lose what you’ve learned. sutañca na vināsaye; It is the root of the spiritual life, Taṁ mūlaṁ brahmacariyassa, which is why you should memorize the teaching. tasmā dhammadharo siyā. Knowing the sequence and meaning of the teaching, Pubbāparaññū atthaññū, expert in the interpretation of terms, niruttipadakovido; they make sure it is well memorized, Suggahītañca gaṇhāti, and then examine the meaning. atthañcopaparikkhati. Accepting the teachings, they become enthusiastic; Khantyā chandikato hoti, Variant: Khantyā chandikato → khantiyā chandito (?) making an effort, they weigh up the teaching. ussahitvā tuleti taṁ; When it’s time, they strive Samaye so padahati, serene inside themselves. ajjhattaṁ susamāhito. If you want to understand the teaching, Bahussutaṁ dhammadharaṁ, you should befriend the sort of person sappaññaṁ buddhasāvakaṁ; who is learned and has memorized the teachings, Dhammaviññāṇamākaṅkhaṁ, a wise disciple of the Buddha. taṁ bhajetha tathāvidhaṁ. One who is learned and has memorized the teaching, Bahussuto dhammadharo, a keeper of the great seer’s treasury, kosārakkho mahesino; is a visionary for the whole world, Cakkhu sabbassa lokassa, learned and honorable. pūjanīyo bahussuto. Delighting in the teaching, enjoying the teaching, Dhammārāmo dhammarato, contemplating the teaching, dhammaṁ anuvicintayaṁ; a mendicant who recollects the teaching Dhammaṁ anussaraṁ bhikkhu, doesn’t decline in the true teaching.” saddhammā na parihāyati. “When your body is pampered and heavy, Kāyamaccheragaruno, Variant: Kāyamaccheragaruno → … garuko (bj) while your remaining time is running out, hiyyamāne anuṭṭhahe; Variant: hiyyamāne → hiyyamāno (bj) greedy for physical pleasure, Sarīrasukhagiddhassa, how can you be comfortable as an ascetic?” kuto samaṇaphāsutā. “I’m completely disorientated! Na pakkhanti disā sabbā, The teachings don’t spring to mind! dhammā na paṭibhanti maṁ; With the passing of our good friend, Gate kalyāṇamittamhi, everything seems dark. andhakāraṁva khāyati. When your friend has passed away, Abbhatītasahāyassa, and your Teacher is past and gone, atītagatasatthuno; there’s no friend like Natthi etādisaṁ mittaṁ, mindfulness of the body. yathā kāyagatā sati. The old have passed away, Ye purāṇā atītā te, and I don’t agree with the new. navehi na sameti me; Today I meditate alone Svajja ekova jhāyāmi, like a bird snug in its nest.” vassupetova pakkhimā”. “Many international visitors “Dassanāya abhikkante, Variant: abhikkante → atikkante (sya1ed, sya2ed, pts1ed) have come to visit. nānāverajjake bahū; Don’t block the audience, Mā vārayittha sotāro, let the congregation see me.” passantu samayo mamaṁ”. “Lots of international visitors “Dassanāya abhikkante, Variant: abhikkante → atikkante (sya1ed, sya2ed, pts1ed) have come to visit. nānāverajjake puthu; The teacher grants them the opportunity, Karoti satthā okāsaṁ, the Clear-eyed One doesn’t turn them away.” na nivāreti cakkhumā. “In the twenty five years that have passed Paṇṇavīsativassāni, since I became a trainee, sekhabhūtassa me sato; no sensual perception has arisen in me: Na kāmasaññā uppajji, see the excellence of the teaching! passa dhammasudhammataṁ. In the twenty-five years Paṇṇavīsativassāni, since I became a trainee, sekhabhūtassa me sato; no malicious perception has arisen in me: Na dosasaññā uppajji, see the excellence of the teaching!” passa dhammasudhammataṁ. 'For 25 years Paṇṇavīsativassāni, I attended on the Buddha bhagavantaṁ upaṭṭhahiṁ; with loving deeds, Mettena kāyakammena, like a shadow that never left. chāyāva anapāyinī. Variant: anapāyinī → anupāyinī (sya1ed, sya2ed, mr) For 25 years Paṇṇavīsativassāni, I attended on the Buddha bhagavantaṁ upaṭṭhahiṁ; with loving words, Mettena vacīkammena, like a shadow that never left. chāyāva anapāyinī. For 25 years Paṇṇavīsativassāni, I attended on the Buddha bhagavantaṁ upaṭṭhahiṁ; with loving thoughts, Mettena manokammena, like a shadow that never left. chāyāva anapāyinī. While the Buddha was walking mindfully, Buddhassa caṅkamantassa, I walked behind him. piṭṭhito anucaṅkamiṁ; As he taught the Dhamma, Dhamme desiyamānamhi, knowledge arose in me.” ñāṇaṁ me udapajjatha. “I’m a trainee, who has more to do; Ahaṁ sakaraṇīyomhi, my heart’s desire is still unfulfilled. sekho appattamānaso; Yet the Teacher, who was so compassionate to me, Satthu ca parinibbānaṁ, has become completely quenched. yo amhaṁ anukampako. Then there was terror! Tadāsi yaṁ bhiṁsanakaṁ, Then they had goosebumps! tadāsi lomahaṁsanaṁ; When the Buddha, endowed with all fine qualities, Sabbākāravarūpete, became fully extinguished.” sambuddhe parinibbute”. “Ānanda, who was learned and had memorized the teaching, “Bahussuto dhammadharo, a keeper of the great seer’s treasury, kosārakkho mahesino; a visionary for the entire world, Cakkhu sabbassa lokassa, has become fully quenched. ānando parinibbuto. He was learned and had memorized the teaching, Bahussuto dhammadharo, a keeper of the great seer’s treasury, kosārakkho mahesino; a visionary for the entire world, Cakkhu sabbassa lokassa, in thick of night he dispelled the dark. andhakāre tamonudo. He is the seer who remembered the teachings, Gatimanto satimanto, and mastered their sequence, holding them firm. dhitimanto ca yo isi; The senior monk who memorized the teaching, Saddhammadhārako thero, Ānanda was a mine of gems.” ānando ratanākaro”. “I’ve served the teacher “Pariciṇṇo mayā satthā, and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions. kataṁ buddhassa sāsanaṁ; The heavy burden is laid down, Ohito garuko bhāro, now there are no more future lives.” natthi dāni punabbhavo”ti. … Ānando thero …