Thag 3.14 — Gotama (2nd)

English translation by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu.

Translation

Text

Thag 3:14 Gotama

While wandering on
I went to hell;
    went again & again
to the world of the hungry ghosts;
    stayed countless times, long,
in the pain of the animal womb;
    enjoyed
the human state;
went to heaven
    from time to time;
settled in the elements of form,
the elements of formlessness,
neither perception, perception-less.

Ways of taking birth
are now known:
    devoid of essence,
    unstable,
    conditioned,
    always blown along.
Knowing them
as born from my self,
mindful
I went right to peace.