991: 
In the village or the forest,
In the lowlands or the highlands;
Wherever the worthy ones dwell
— That terrain would be found pleasing.

991: 

Tại làng hay trong rừng,
Thung lũng hay đồi cao,
Chỗ nào La-hán trú,
Đất ấy thật khả ái.

 

992: 

So pleasing (they find) the forests,
Wherein most people are not pleased.
Rid of passion, they will be pleased
— They do not pursue mere pleasure!

992: 


Khả ái thay núi rừng,
Chỗ người phàm không ưa,
Vị ly tham sẽ thích,
Vì không tìm dục lạc.

 

998: 

Settled at the root of a tree,
With shaven head, clad in a robe,
The elder foremost in wisdom
— Upatissa just meditates.

998: 

 
Ngồi dưới một gốc cây,
Đầu trọc, đắp đại y,
Trưởng lão tuệ đệ nhất,
U-pa-tis tu thiền.

 

1006: 

He has become calm and at rest,
Wise in speech and not self-centered;
He's shaken off unwholesome states
— Like wind would leaves from a tree.

1006: 


Đạt tịch tịnh, chỉ tức,
Đọc chú, không cống cao,
Quét sạch các ác pháp,
Như gió quét lá cây.

 

1007: 

He has become calm and at rest,
Wise in speech and not self-centered;
He has plucked off unwholesome states
— Like wind would leaves from a tree.

1007: 

 
Đạt tịch tịnh, chỉ tức,
Đọc chú, không cống cao,
Gạt ngoài các ác pháp,
Như gió quét lá cây.

 

1013: 

The mighty ocean and the earth
A mountain, or even the wind
Are not adequate similes
— For the teacher's splendid release.

1013: 


Biển lớn và đất lớn,
Núi và các phương trời,
Không ví dụ sánh được,
Phật, giải thoát thù thắng.

 

1014: 

The elder keeps the wheel rolling,
Possessing great wisdom, composed;
And just like earth, water and fire,
— He's neither attached nor opposed.

1014: 


Trưởng lão chuyển pháp luân,
Bậc đại trí, thiền định,
Như đất, nước và lửa,
Không tham không ghét bỏ.

 

Translator's note

Sariputta (also known by the name Upatissa) was the Buddha's leading follower, particularly praised for his wisdom. These verses, containing eight syllables per line, have been extracted from a longer poem of thirty seven verses preserved in the Theragatha. They describe a man who continues to spend his time in solitary meditation in the forest, even after having attained the full awakening of the arahant. The elder keeps the dharma wheel of the Buddha's teaching rolling by such dedication to meditation practice, and by exemplifying the attitude of non-attachment in all that he does. The phrase may also refer to Sariputta's pivotal role in the development of the Abhidhamma tradition.