Wat Chulamanee
‹ Loka Nīti — Worldly Wisdom

Nigamana-gāthā — Closing Verse of the Treatise

Loka Nīti · 1 verse (gāthā) with translation and explanation

Nigamana-gāthā (Closing Verse)

ปณฺฑิโต สุชโน กณฺโฑ ทุชฺชโน มิตฺตอิตฺถิ จ ราชา ปกิณฺณโก ชาติ สตฺตกณฺฑวิภูสิตา มุทิเตน มหาธาตุ- มหาวิหารวาสินา สพฺพกุลานมตฺถาย วิโสธิตา ภวาภเว ฯ **โลกนีติ สมตฺตา ฯ** **(โลกนีติ จบบริบูรณ์)**

This treatise is adorned with seven sections (kaṇḍa), namely: the Section on the Wise, the Section on the Good, the Section on the Fool, the Section on Friends, the Section on Women, the Section on Kings, and the Miscellaneous Section. I, the Elder Mudita, dwelling in Wat Mahathat, which is a great monastery (mahāvihāra), have purified and edited this treatise of the Loka Nīti well, for the benefit of every family in the world, both in this life and in lives to come.

The nigamana-gāthā is the closing verse of a treatise, following the custom of the sages of old, in which the author names himself, states his dwelling place, the scope of the content, and his purpose in composing the work.

The author of this Loka Nīti gives his name as the Elder Mudita (Mudita Thera), who dwelt in Wat Mahathat (Mahādhātu Mahāvihāra). He gathered and selected the various nīti teachings, arranged them in the Pali language, and grouped them into seven sections (kaṇḍa) in the following order:

  1. Paṇḍita-kaṇḍa — the Section on the Wise (verses 2–40)

  2. Sujana-kaṇḍa — the Section on the Good (verses 41–67)

  3. Dujjana-kaṇḍa — the Section on the Fool (verses 68–78)

  4. Mitta-kaṇḍa — the Section on Friends (verses 79–93)

  5. Itthi-kaṇḍa — the Section on Women (verses 94–111)

  6. Rāja-kaṇḍa — the Section on Kings (verses 112–137)

  7. Pakiṇṇaka-kaṇḍa — the Miscellaneous Section (verses 138–167)

His intention in composing this treatise was for the benefit and support of all people of the world, every family, every class and station, both in this life and in lives to come — that they might use it as a guide for living life on a foundation of Dhamma, knowing how to distinguish good from evil and what is fitting from what is not, for their lasting happiness and prosperity.

The Loka Nīti is hereby complete