For fifty-five years I wore dust and dirt. Eating one meal a month, I tore out my hair and beard.
I stood on one foot; I shunned seats; I ate dried-out dung; I didn’t accept food set aside for me.
I did many deeds of this kind, which lead to a bad destination. Swept away by a great flood, I went to the Buddha for refuge.
See the going for refuge! Behold the clear rightness of the teaching! I’ve attained the three knowledges and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.
Jambuka
Thag 4.5 · Jambukattheragāthā
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
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.