Song: Beyond Māra’s Snare Inspired by The Khuddaka Nikaya, Theragatha Vagga, Catukka Nipāta https://siampongsnews.blogspot.com/2026/10/song-beyond-maras-snare-inspired-by.html
[Verse 1]
When beauty shines before the eyes,
Do not be caught by worldly lies.
Look with wisdom, see what lies beneath,
And free the heart from craving’s teeth.
When sleep and weakness cloud the mind,
Rise with courage, leave them behind.
Fall if you must, then rise again,
Walk the path beyond all pain.
[Chorus]
Walk on, O heart, do not be afraid,
Let wisdom shine where darkness stayed.
See craving clearly, let attachment go,
Walk with the Dhamma and freedom will grow.
[Verse 2]
When anger rises and people fight,
Remember death and seek what is right.
No victory gained through hatred can last,
Wisdom can heal the wounds of the past.
Do not hurry when patience is wise,
Do not delay when action must rise.
The wise know the moment, the place, and the way,
And walk with awareness through each passing day.
[Chorus]
Walk on, O heart, do not be afraid,
Let wisdom shine where darkness stayed.
See craving clearly, let attachment go,
Walk with the Dhamma and freedom will grow.
[Verse 3]
Do not seek suffering for suffering’s sake,
Let wisdom guide every step you take.
Right view can turn the darkness to light,
And guide the heart toward what is right.
A noble birth is not enough alone,
True greatness comes through practice shown.
The Dhamma protects those who live by its way,
And leads the heart from suffering away.
[Bridge]
Rivers may flow and forests may sway,
Nature can teach the mind how to stay.
When grasping fades and desire is released,
The quiet heart discovers peace.
[Final Chorus]
Twelve elders speak through the years,
Their wisdom still reaches our ears.
With mindful effort, compassion, and truth,
We walk beyond suffering, renewed.
Let craving fall, let wisdom arise,
Let truth become the light in our eyes.
With courage and faith, steadfast and free,
Walk beyond Māra toward liberty.
The Four-Verse Chapter of the Theragāthā: Twelve Elders Teach the Path from Sense Desire to Liberation
Volume 26 of the Sutta Piṭaka, Khuddaka Nikāya, Theragāthā, presents the Catukka-nipāta, the Four-Verse Chapter. The section contains the verses of twelve elder monks: Nāgasamāla, Bhagu, Sabhiya, Nandaka, Jambuka, Senaka, Sambhūta, Rāhula, Candana, Dhammika, Sappaka, and Mudita. Each elder speaks four verses, making fifty-two verses in total according to the closing statement of the collection.
Nāgasamāla: Seeing Sense Desire as a Snare of Death
Nāgasamāla describes encountering a dancer while going for alms. Instead of allowing his mind to become fascinated by beauty, he contemplated the situation wisely and saw it as a snare laid by death. Seeing the danger clearly, disenchantment arose and his mind was liberated from defilements. He realized the three knowledges and completed the Buddha’s work.
The central teaching is the power of wise attention: an attractive object can become an opportunity for insight when the mind sees its true nature.
Bhagu: Turning Weariness into Insight
Bhagu was overcome by drowsiness, so he left the monastery and practiced walking meditation. Even after falling near the staircase, he continued his practice. Through wise attention, he saw the danger clearly, developed disenchantment, and attained liberation.
His story teaches that physical difficulty does not have to become spiritual defeat. Mindfulness, perseverance, and wise reflection can transform an obstacle into an opportunity for awakening.
Sabhiya: Ending Conflict Through Understanding
Sabhiya warns about quarrelling and conflict. Those who understand that all beings are approaching death can see the futility of hostility and bring disputes to an end. He also emphasizes respect for fellow practitioners, since disrespect toward spiritual companions leads one away from the true Dhamma.
The teaching remains relevant today: conflicts can be reduced when people recognize their shared vulnerability and seek truth rather than victory.
Nandaka: Breaking the Snare of Māra
Nandaka reflects on the body in order to weaken attachment to sensual pleasure. Those who abandon lust, anger, and ignorance cut the craving that binds them to continued existence. They no longer delight in the snares of Māra.
The teaching is not simply about rejecting the body. It is about seeing reality clearly enough to overcome delusion and attachment.
Jambuka: The Limits of Self-Mortification
Jambuka recalls years of severe ascetic practices, including extreme fasting and physical hardship. Yet such practices did not lead him to liberation. After taking refuge in the Buddha and following the Dhamma, he attained the three knowledges and completed the spiritual task.
His story emphasizes that effort must be guided by wisdom. Mere suffering is not itself a guarantee of liberation.
Senaka: From Wrong View to Right View
Senaka praises the Buddha as the Fully Awakened One and the supreme teacher who released him from the bonds of defilement. His previous condition was marked by wrong view; contact with the Buddha and the Dhamma transformed his understanding.
The central lesson is the importance of right view as a foundation for spiritual transformation.
Sambhūta: Knowing When to Act
Sambhūta distinguishes the foolish person from the wise person by their sense of timing. The foolish person hurries when patience is needed and delays when action is necessary. The wise person knows when to move slowly and when to act quickly, thereby preserving both welfare and good relationships.
This teaching highlights mindfulness, discernment, and appropriate action.
Rāhula: Good Birth and Good Practice
Rāhula speaks of two forms of excellence: excellence of birth and excellence of practice. Yet his verses place the greater emphasis on direct realization, the ending of the defilements, and freedom from future existence. He describes craving and heedlessness as bonds that trap beings in suffering, and declares that he has uprooted craving and broken Māra’s bonds.
The message is clear: a good background becomes meaningful when it is transformed into good practice.
Candana: Seeing the Danger in Conditioned Things
Candana describes seeing his wife adorned in beautiful clothing. Through wise attention, he contemplated the danger inherent in conditioned phenomena. Disenchantment arose, and his mind was freed from defilements.
The teaching demonstrates how ordinary experiences can become objects of insight when viewed through wisdom rather than attachment.
Dhammika: Dhamma Protects Those Who Practice It
Dhammika teaches that Dhamma protects the person who lives according to Dhamma. Wholesome conduct brings wholesome results, while unwholesome conduct brings suffering. One who establishes oneself in Dhamma can gradually escape suffering, and one who uproots craving can end the cycle of wandering-on.
Dhamma, therefore, is not merely something to know. It must be embodied in conduct.
Sappaka: Nature as a Teacher
Sappaka describes the peaceful surroundings of the Aciravatī River, birds, frogs, trees, and the natural landscape. For one living a contemplative life, nature becomes a source of delight, safety, and tranquility.
His verses reveal the connection between solitude, nature, and the cultivation of a peaceful mind.
Mudita: Genuine Effort Brings Genuine Results
Mudita concludes the section with a powerful statement of determination. After ordaining and developing faith, he resolved not to abandon his effort until he had removed the “arrow of craving.” He persisted with unwavering determination and eventually realized the three knowledges and completed the Buddha’s work.
Conclusion
The Catukka-nipāta presents a coherent path:
wise attention, recognition of danger, right view, appropriate action, ethical conduct, renunciation, perseverance, and the uprooting of craving.
The twelve elders demonstrate that liberation is not achieved merely by intellectual understanding. It requires seeing clearly, practicing consistently, and transforming wisdom into direct experience.
The final message is therefore simple and powerful:
See clearly. Practice sincerely. Abandon craving. Walk toward freedom.
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