Switch theme

Warning! 
Translations, dictionaries and commentaries
were not made by the Blessed One. 
Cross-check with Pali in 4 main nikayas. 

Pāḷi MS Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato

  • Theragāthā 2.16  Verses of the Senior Monks 2.16
  • Dukanipāta  The Book of the Twos
  • Dutiyavagga  Chapter Two

Mahākāḷattheragāthā  Mahākāḷa

“Kāḷī itthī brahatī dhaṅkarūpā,  There’s a big black woman who looks like a crow.
Satthiñca bhetvā aparañca satthiṁ;  She broke off thigh-bones, first one then another;
Bāhañca bhetvā aparañca bāhaṁ, 
bāhaṁ → bāhuṁ (bj, sya1ed, sya2ed, pts2ed)
she broke off arm-bones, first one then another;
Sīsañca bhetvā dadhithālakaṁva;  she broke off a skull like a curd-bowl, and then
Esā nisinnā abhisandahitvā. 
abhisandahitvā → abhisaddahitvā (bj, pts1ed)
arranged them and sat nearby.

Yo ve avidvā upadhiṁ karoti,  When an ignorant person builds up attachments,
Punappunaṁ dukkhamupeti mando;  that dullard returns to suffering again and again.
Tasmā pajānaṁ upadhiṁ na kayirā,  So let one who understands not build up attachments:
Māhaṁ puna bhinnasiro sayissan”ti. 
sayissan”ti → passissanti (mr)
may I never again lie with a broken skull!

… Mahākāḷo thero …. 
Mahākāḷo → mahākālo (sya1ed, sya2ed, pts1ed, pts2ed)

Pāḷi MS Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato

Warning! 
Translations, dictionaries and commentaries
were not made by the Blessed One. 
Cross-check with Pali in 4 main nikayas. 


Copyright Info © Dhamma.gift 2022-2025
💡 Hint: To copy a link to a specific location, click at the end of the Pali line — there’s an invisible link there.