- Theragatha
The Theragatha (-gth), often translated as "Verses of the Elder Monks" (Pāli: "thera" elder (masculine) + "gatha" verse), is a Buddhist scripture, a collection of short poems supposedly recited by early members of the
Buddhist sangha . In thePali Canon , the Theragatha is classified as part of theKhuddaka Nikaya , the collection of short books in theSutta Pitaka . Many of the verses of the Theragatha concern the attempts of monks to overcome the temptations ofMara . It consists of 264 poems, organized into 21 chapters. Notable texts from the Theragatha include the eighth poem of chapter sixteen, consisting of verses recited by the reformed killerAngulimala , and the third poem of chapter seventeen, in which the Buddha's cousin and retainerAnanda mourns the passing of his master. The natural companion to the Theragatha is theTherigatha , the Verses of the Elder Nuns.Translations
* "Psalms of the Brethren", tr C. A. F. Rhys Davids, 1913; reprinted in "Psalms of the Early Buddhists",
Pali Text Society [http://www.palitext.com] , Bristol
* "Elders' Verses", volume I, trK. R. Norman , 1969, Pali Text Society, Bristol; the PTS's preferred translation; also available in paperback as "Poems of Early Buddhist Monks", without the translator's notesExternal links
* [http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/sutta/khuddaka/theragatha/index.html The Theragatha] (
Access to Insight )
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