“The trees are now crimson, venerable sir, they’ve shed their foliage, and are ready to fruit. They shine as if aflame; great hero, this season is full of flavor.
The blossoming trees are delightful, wafting their scent all around, in all directions. They’ve shed their leaves and wish to fruit, hero, it is time to leave here.
It is neither too hot nor too cold, venerable sir, it’s a pleasant season for traveling. Let the Sākiyans and Koliyans see you, heading west across the Rohiṇī river.
In hope, the field is plowed; the seed is sown in hope; in hope, merchants travel the seas, carrying rich cargoes. The hope that I stand for: may it succeed!
Again and again, they sow the seed; again and again, the king of the heavens sends rain; again and again, farmers plow the field; again and again, grain is produced for the nation.
Again and again, the beggars wander, again and again, the donors give. Again and again, when the donors have given, again and again, they take their place in heaven.
A hero of vast wisdom purifies seven generations of the family in which they’re born. Sakya, I believe you’re the king of kings, since you fathered the one who is truly named a sage.
The father of the great seer is named Suddhodana; and the Buddha’s mother is named Māyā. Having borne the Bodhisatta in her belly, she rejoices in the Third Heaven.
When she died and passed away from here, she was blessed with heavenly sensual pleasures; enjoying the five kinds of sensual stimulation. Gotamī is surrounded by those hosts of gods.”
“I’m the son of the Buddha, the incomparable Aṅgīrasa, the unaffected, the bearer of the unbearable. You, Sakya, are my father’s father; Gotama, you are my grandfather in the Dhamma.”
Kāḷudāyī
Thag 10.1 · Kāḷudāyittheragāthā

Connections
Collection & context
- TheragāthāThe collection containing this text
- The Pāli canonCanonical collection in which this edition is preserved
- Theravāda traditionsTransmission and study context
- The early Buddhist communityHistorical and traditional setting
Books
- Handful of Leaves: an Anthology from the Sutta PiṭakaEarly Buddhist discourses; Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu (translator and compiler) · Included in anthology
About this edition
Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato and Jessica Walton · SuttaCentral · CC0
This translation is an expression of an ancient spiritual text that has been passed down by the Buddhist tradition for the benefit of all sentient beings. It is dedicated to the public domain via Creative Commons Zero (CC0). You are encouraged to copy, reproduce, adapt, alter, or otherwise make use of this translation. The translator respectfully requests that any use be in accordance with the values and principles of the Buddhist community. In particular, please do not use this work in AI training datasets, for the development of any AI model or algorithm, or in any AI-derived technologies.
Published source. Translation wording and order are preserved; source headings and notes are retained, with navigation and formatting adapted for this reader.
The opening image is AI-generated nature artwork for Buddhist Atlas, an evocative companion rather than a historical depiction.