This reading guide does not assert a specific matching text for this poem in other Buddhist literatures.
Difficulty
★★☆☆☆ — compact doctrinal vocabulary in a short space
Why this text
This verse moves in three tight steps — seeing correctly, then not wishing for rebirth, then peace — addressed to a nun named Sumanā. A second, different nun of the same name appears later in this same book, distinguished there by the description ‘who went forth late in life’.
Reading guide
Seeing as the first step, not merely believing
The verse opens with perception, not doctrine stated abstractly: ‘having seen the elements as suffering’ — a direct seeing is presented as the foundation the rest of the verse builds on.
An instruction phrased as a consequence, not a command
‘Don't get reborn again’ follows the seeing described in the first line almost as a natural consequence — once the elements are truly seen as suffering, wanting further rebirth becomes the thing that no longer makes sense.
Peace as an outcome, not a starting condition
The verse's closing promise, ‘you will live at peace’, is conditional on what comes before it: discarding desire for rebirth first, arriving at peace only afterward, not the reverse order.
A name shared later in this same book
Thig 1.16, later in this book, is addressed to another nun also named Sumanā, there identified by the description ‘who went forth late in life’ — a second instance of this book pairing two different women under one shared name, as it does with Tissā and Muttā.
Key terms
Sumanā — a nun's name shared by a second, different woman addressed later in this book, in Thig 1.16.
khandha — “elements” or “aggregates” — the components of experience this verse instructs seeing as suffering.
dukkha — “suffering” — the quality Sumanā is instructed to see the elements as having.
bhavataṇhā — “desire for rebirth” or “craving for existence” — what the verse says must be discarded before peace follows.
santi — “peace” — the verse's closing promise, conditional on the steps that come before it.
The text
The text in full: a single four-line verse, with no attribution. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
§1Having seen the elements as suffering, don’t get reborn again. When you’ve discarded desire for rebirth, you will live at peace.
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Self-check quiz
Ten questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.
Question 1 of 10
What does the verse instruct seeing the elements as?
Correct: B. Presented as the foundation the rest of the verse builds on.
Question 2 of 10
How does the instruction 'don't get reborn again' relate to the first line?
Correct: B. Once the elements are truly seen this way, wanting rebirth stops making sense.
Question 3 of 10
In what order does the verse present discarding desire and finding peace?
Correct: B. Peace is conditional on what comes before it, not a starting condition.
Question 4 of 10
What other poem in this book addresses a different nun of the same name?
Correct: B. Another instance of this book pairing two different women under one name.
Question 5 of 10
What does 'khandha' mean?
Correct: A. What this verse instructs seeing as suffering.
Question 6 of 10
What does 'bhavataṇhā' mean?
Correct: B. Named as what must be discarded before peace follows.
Question 7 of 10
What position does this poem hold in the Book of the Ones?
Correct: B. Following Visākhā's practical instruction.
Question 8 of 10
Does this poem have a closing attribution?
Correct: B. Continuing the bare, unattributed pattern of several poems in this book.
Question 9 of 10
What does 'dukkha' mean?
Correct: A. Named directly in the verse's opening line.
Question 10 of 10
What structure does this verse follow?
Correct: B. Each step building on the one before it.
