5.
The Book of the Fives
1.
Verses of the Elder Rājadatta
315.
Thrown aside in the cemetery, being eaten, pervaded with worms.
316.
Sensual lust appeared, like a blind man I was flowing.
317.
Mindful and fully aware, I sat down to one side.
318.
Danger became manifest, disenchantment was established.
319.
The three true knowledges have been attained, the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled."
... The Elder Rājadatta...
2.
Verses of the Elder Subhūta
320.
If while practising he would not attain, 'that is my mark of misfortune'.
321.
If one should give up all, one would be like a blind man, from not seeing what is even and uneven.
322.
One not doing but speaking - the wise fully understand him.
323.
So well-spoken words are fruitless for one who does not practise them.
324.
So well-spoken words are fruitful for one who practises them.
... The Elder Subhūta...
3.
Verses of the Elder Girimānanda
325.
Therein I dwell at peace, so if you wish, rain, O sky.
326.
Therein I dwell with peaceful mind, so if you wish, rain, O sky.
327.
328.
329.
so if you wish, rain, O sky."
... The Elder Girimānanda...
4.
Verses of the Elder Sumana
330.
Longing for the Deathless, what was to be done has been done by me.
331.
With purified knowledge, without uncertainty, I declare in your presence.
332.
My own welfare has been attained, the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled.
333.
All my mental corruptions are eliminated, there is now no more rebirth.
334.
Your exhortation was not futile, I am a pupil who has been trained."
... The Elder Sumana...
5.
Verses of the Elder Vaḍḍha
335.
Having heard whose word, admonished by my mother;
Putting forth strenuous energy, resolute, I attained the highest enlightenment.
336.
Having conquered the army of the Destroyer, I dwell without mental corruptions.
337.
All without remainder have been cut off, and they will not arise again.
338.
'Surely without longing even towards me, craving is not found in you.'
339.
The cycle of birth and death, there is now no more rebirth."
... The Elder Vaḍḍha...
6.
Verses of the Elder Nadīkassapa
340.
Having heard whose Teaching, I abandoned wrong view.
341.
Thinking 'This is purification,' a mentally blind worldling.
342.
I imagined impurity to be purity, mentally blind, a fool.
343.
I dedicate to the fire worthy of offerings, I pay homage to the Truth-finder.
344.
The cycle of birth and wandering is eliminated, there is now no more rebirth."
... The Elder Nadīkassapa...
7.
Verses of the Elder Gayākassapa
345.
Descended into the water, at Gayā during the Gayā-Phaggu festival.
346.
That I now wash away here" - such was my view before.
347.
I wisely reviewed the meaning that is true and exact;
348.
Pure, heir of the Pure One, son of the Buddha, legitimate.
349.
I attained the three true knowledges, the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled."
... The Elder Gayākassapa...
8.
Verses of the Elder Vakkali
350.
In a miserable place with scarce alms-resort, monk, what will you do?"
351.
Even enduring rough conditions, I will dwell in the forest.
352.
And developing the factors of enlightenment, I will dwell in the forest.
353.
United, together, I will dwell in the forest.
354.
Not lazy, night and day, I will dwell in the forest."
... The Elder Vakkali...
9.
Verses of the Elder Vijitasena
355.
I will not urge you towards evil, O net of sensuality, born of the body.
356.
And you, wretched mind, again and again, having striven, will not behave delighting in evil.
357.
A strong man turns it back against its will, so I shall turn you back.
358.
So I shall tame you, established in the five powers.
359.
Restrained by the yoke of energy, you shall not go far from here, O mind."
... The Elder Vijitasena...
10.
Verses of the Elder Yasadatta
360.
He is far from the Good Teaching, as the earth from the sky.
361.
He falls away from the Good Teaching, like the moon in the dark fortnight.
362.
He dries up in the Good Teaching, like a fish in little water.
363.
He does not grow in the Good Teaching, like a rotten seed in a field.
364.
Having exhausted all mental corruptions, having realised the unshakable;
Having attained the supreme peace, attains final nibbāna without mental corruptions."
... The Elder Yasadatta...
11.
Verses of the Elder Soṇakuṭikaṇṇa
365.
And that Blessed One was seen by me, and I dwelt together with him in the dwelling-place.
366.
The Teacher, skilled in dwelling, then entered the dwelling.
367.
Like a lion in a rocky cave, fear and dread abandoned.
368.
Soṇa spoke the Good Teaching, in the presence of the Buddha, the foremost.
369.
Having attained the supreme peace, he will attain final nibbāna, free from mental corruptions."
... The Elder Soṇa Kuṭikaṇṇa...
12.
Verses of the Elder Kosiya
370.
He is called devoted and wise, and having known, he would be distinguished in teachings.
371.
He is called steadfast and wise, and having known, he would be distinguished in teachings.
372.
He is called immovable and wise, and having known, he would be distinguished in teachings.
373.
Such a one is called wise, and having known, he would be distinguished in teachings.
374.
He is called one with the meaning within, a wise one, and having known, he would be distinguished in teachings."
... The Elder Kosiya...
The Book of Fives is concluded.
The summary therein:
Vaḍḍha and Kassapa the Elder, Gayākassapa and Vakkalī.
Sixty and five verses, and twelve elders herein.