I’ll cage you, mind, like an elephant in a stockade. Born of the flesh, that net of the senses, I won’t urge you to do bad.
Caged, you won’t go anywhere, like an elephant who can’t find an open gate. Loser mind, you won’t wander again and again, bullying, in love with wickedness.
Just as a strong trainer with a hook takes a wild, newly captured elephant and wins it over against its will, so I’ll win you over.
Just as a fine charioteer, skilled in the taming of fine horses, tames a thoroughbred, so I’ll tame you, firmly established in the five powers.
I’ll bind you with mindfulness; devout, I shall tame you; kept in check by harnessed energy, mind, you won’t go far from here.
Vijitasena
Thag 5.9 · Vijitasenattheragāthā
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.