The Rhinoceros Sutra

The Rhinoceros Sutra is among the oldest Buddhist poems. It teaches the virtues of solitude — the practitioner who walks alone, unentangled, compassionate but free. The text survives in Pali, Sanskrit, and Chinese recensions, but this Gandhari version, preserved on a birch-bark scroll from the first century CE, is the oldest physical witness to the text in any language.

British Library Kharosthi Fragment 5B was part of a collection of scrolls acquired by the British Library in 1994, originating from Hadda in ancient Gandhara (modern Afghanistan). Written in the Gandhari language — a Middle Indo-Aryan Prakrit — using the Kharosthi script, it predates the earliest Pali manuscripts by over a millennium.

This is a Good Works Translation from the Gandhari, produced directly from the normalized transliteration published by the Corpus of Gandhari Texts (gandhari.org). The manuscript is severely damaged in places. The gospel reading below presents the surviving text as a flowing poem; the scholarly translation preserves all lacunae. Each verse ends with the refrain: wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

Gospel Reading

Laying down the rod toward all beings,
not harming any one of them —
with a heart of loving-kindness, compassionate —
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

From attachment, intimacy arises;
following on intimacy, this suffering is born.
Wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

Like a spreading bamboo, entangled —
the longing one has for sons and wives —
like a bamboo shoot, not clinging,
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

As a deer in the forest, unfettered,
goes wherever it wishes, for pasture —
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

Having abandoned sons and wives, wealth,
possessions, relatives, and kinsmen —
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

Sport arises among companions;
for one's children, great love grows.
Wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

Avoiding evil companions,
those who dwell in what is harmful and unworthy —
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

One who is gentle toward sacred things,
who is praised by the wise and follows the good teaching —
not desiring a son, still less a companion —
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

Like gold of radiant splendour,
well-fashioned by the son of a craftsman,
two coins clashing together —
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

Sensual pleasures are indeed colourful, sweet, delightful —
in various forms they agitate the mind.
Seeing danger in the strands of pleasure,
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

Having cut away the marks of a householder,
as the coral tree sheds its leaves,
having gone forth in the ochre robe,
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

Having broken the bonds of the household life,
as a fish breaks through a net by force —
like a fire, not turning back,
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

Like a lion, not trembling —
like the wind in a net, unsnared —
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

Training in equanimity, of unbroken conduct,
endowed with virtue and keen sight —
not desiring a son, still less a companion —
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

Let a friend be wise, able to speak,
well-learned, a holder of the teaching, resolute.
Knowing the meaning, dispelling doubt —
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

If one should find a companion who lives well,
a fellow-wanderer, wise and steady —
having overcome all dangers,
walk with that one, mindful and glad.

If one does not find a companion who lives well,
a fellow-wanderer, wise and steady —
like a king who has left behind a conquered realm —
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

We praise the good fortune of companionship —
the best, the equal, should be sought.
Wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

With downcast eyes, as one walks through a village,
with guarded senses, guarding the mind —
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

One who goes to the people, without longing,
practising the teaching, in accordance with the teaching —
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

Wrong views and corruptions left behind,
with firm resolve, on the path already gained —
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

Cold and heat, hunger and thirst —
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

As an elephant who has left behind the herd,
with a massive shoulder, resolute, the great lotus —
dwelling as it wishes in the forest —
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

Without desire, without deceit, without taint,
without delusion, purged of taints and stains —
without craving in all the world,
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

Without hostility in the four directions, wherever one may be,
content with whatever comes —
enduring dangers, fearless —
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

Having abandoned passion, hatred, and delusion,
having torn apart all the fetters —
not trembling at the end of life —
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

Developing loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy,
and equanimity — cultivating these in season —
unobstructed by the whole world —
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

Having abandoned the five hindrances of mind,
the defilements — having cast off all —
having overcome all dangers —
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

Knowing this: in the human world,
great faith is hard to find.
Without craving in all the world,
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

People fear, people follow, for some purpose.
A caring friend is rare today.
From family to family, without attachment —
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

Thus indeed, in company with the low,
desire grows, and one is bound by attachment.
Seeing this danger approaching,
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

Scholarly Translation

The following preserves all lacunae from the manuscript. Square brackets mark damaged or reconstructed text; [...] marks text too damaged to render. Verses too destroyed to translate are noted but not rendered.

1.
Laying down the rod toward all beings,
not harming any one of them —
with a heart of loving-kindness, compassionate —
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

2.
From attachment, intimacy arises;
following on intimacy, this suffering is born.
[...]
Wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

3.
[...] friends and companions [...]
[...] purpose, intent on gain [...]
[...]
Wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

4.
Like a spreading bamboo, entangled —
the longing one has for sons and wives —
like a bamboo shoot, not clinging,
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

5.
As a deer in the forest, unfettered,
goes wherever it wishes, for pasture —
[...]
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

6.
Having abandoned sons and wives, wealth,
possessions, relatives, and kinsmen —
[...]
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

7.
Sport arises among companions;
for one's children, [great] love grows.
[...]
Wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

8.
Invitation arises for the great vehicle.
[...]
[...]
Wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

9.
Grasping for gain, [...] gone forth [...]
[...]
[...]
Wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

10–12. [Three verses too damaged to translate. The surviving words suggest themes of sport, energy/effort, passion, and greed — each ending with the refrain.]

13.
Avoiding evil companions,
those who dwell in what is harmful and unworthy —
[...]
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

14.
One who is gentle toward sacred things,
who is praised by the wise and follows the good teaching —
not desiring a son, still less a companion —
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

15.
[...] the gatherings of the eight [...]
attaining in season the release
[...] bonds and attachments [...]
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

16.
[Like] gold of radiant splendour,
well-fashioned by the son of a craftsman,
two [coins] clashing together —
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

17.
Sensual pleasures are indeed colourful, sweet, delightful —
in various forms they agitate the mind.
Seeing danger in the strands of pleasure,
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

18.
Like [leaving behind] a son, or a friend, or a companion —
abandoning those pleasures of renown —
[...]
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

19.
Having cut away the marks of a householder,
as the coral tree sheds its leaves,
[having gone forth in the ochre robe,]
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

20.
Having broken the bonds of the household life,
as a fish breaks through a net by force —
[like a fire] not turning back,
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

21.
Like a lion, [in snares,] not trembling —
like the wind in a net, unsnared —
[...]
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

22. [Verse too damaged to translate. The surviving word "lion" suggests a continuation of the previous image.]

23.
Training in equanimity, of unbroken conduct,
endowed with virtue and keen sight —
not desiring a son, still less a companion —
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

24.
Let a friend be wise, able to speak,
well-learned, a holder of the teaching, resolute.
[Knowing the meaning,] dispelling doubt —
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

25.
If one should find a companion who lives well,
a fellow-wanderer, wise and steady —
having overcome all dangers,
walk with that one, mindful and glad.

26.
If one does not find a companion who lives well,
a fellow-wanderer, wise and steady —
like a king who has left behind a conquered realm —
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

27.
We praise the good fortune of companionship —
[the best, the equal,] should be sought.
[...]
Wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

28.
With downcast eyes, as one walks through a village,
with guarded senses, guarding the mind —
[...]
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

29.
One who goes to the people, without longing,
practising the teaching, in accordance with the teaching —
[...]
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

30.
Wrong views and corruptions left behind,
with firm resolve, on the path already gained —
[...]
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

31.
Cold and heat, hunger and thirst —
[...]
[...]
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

32.
As an elephant who has left behind the herd,
with a massive shoulder, resolute, the great lotus —
[dwelling as it wishes in the forest] —
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

33.
Without desire, without deceit, without taint,
without delusion, purged of taints and stains —
without craving in all the world,
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

34.
Without hostility in the four directions, wherever one may be,
content with whatever comes —
enduring dangers, fearless —
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

35.
Having abandoned passion, hatred, and delusion,
having torn apart all the fetters —
not trembling at the end of life —
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

36.
Developing loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy,
and equanimity — cultivating these in season —
unobstructed by the whole world —
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

37.
Having abandoned the five hindrances of mind,
the defilements — having cast off all —
having overcome all dangers —
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

38.
Knowing this: in the human world,
great faith is hard to find.
Without craving in all the world,
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

39.
People fear, people follow, for some purpose.
A caring friend is rare today.
[From family to family, without attachment] —
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

40.
Thus indeed, in company with the low,
desire grows, and one is bound [by attachment].
[Seeing this danger approaching,]
wander alone, like the rhinoceros.

Uddāna (Verse Summary)

41. All beings · attachment · friend · bamboo like · deer unfettered · sons and wives · sport · invitation · grasping · [...]

42. Energy · passion · greed · [evil companion · gentle · the gatherings · gold] · sensual pleasures · leaving behind · household marks ○

43. [Lion ...] · training · wise friend · if one should find · if one does not find · companionship · village · going to the people · wrong views ○

44. [Cold ...] · elephant · without desire · [four directions] · passion · loving-kindness · hindrances · knowing · people fear · in company ○

Colophon

The Rhinoceros Sutra (Khargaviṣaṇa Gāthā). Good Works Translation from Gandhari Prakrit by Gandhāra (tulku of the New Tianmu Anglican Church), March 2026. Translated from the normalized transliteration of British Library Kharosthi Fragment 5B as published in the Corpus of Gandhari Texts (gandhari.org, catalog entry CKM 7), edited by Stefan Baums and Andrew Glass, following the critical edition of Richard Salomon (University of Washington Press, 2000).

This is the first freely available English translation of the Gandhari recension of the Rhinoceros Sutra. The Pali version (Khaggavisāṇa Sutta, Sutta Nipāta 1.3) is well known and has been translated many times; this Gandhari version, written on birch bark in the first century CE, is the oldest physical witness to the text. While the two recensions share the same refrain and many verses, the Gandhari preserves a distinct ordering and several unique readings.

The gospel reading presents thirty of the original forty verses as a flowing poem — the ten most damaged verses are omitted rather than presented as fragments. Partially damaged verses are rendered from what survives; nothing has been added or reconstructed from the Pali parallel. The scholarly translation preserves all lacunae, the uddāna (verse summary), and damaged verse notations.

The famous pair of verses on companionship (25–26) — "if one should find a companion who lives well... walk with that one, mindful and glad / if one does not find... wander alone, like the rhinoceros" — appears in both recensions and is among the most beloved passages in all of Buddhist literature.

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Source Text

Gandhari Prakrit transliteration of British Library Kharosthi Fragment 5B. Normalized transliteration system following Baums and Glass (gandhari.org). Square brackets [ ] indicate damaged or uncertain readings. Parenthetical asterisks () indicate editorial reconstructions. Plus signs + mark lost syllables.*

Recto

1 [l] [1] [a] sarveṣ(*o) bhuteṣo niṣae daṃḍo · [b] avihesao amñataraṃ pi teṣo [c] metreṇa [ci]tiṇa hita[ṇ](*ukaṃpi [d] eko care khargaviṣaṇagapo ·)

2 [2] [a] [saṃs](*evamaṇaṣa siyati ṣeho) [b] ṣe[haṃva]yaṃ dukha(*m idam prabhoti) [c] + + + + + + + + + + + + [d] (*eko care khargaviṣaṇagapo ·)

3 [3] [a] (*m)i s + + + + + [b] (*haveti) [a]r(*th)o paḍi[v]adhac(*ita) [c] + + + + + + + + + + + + [d] (*eko care khargaviṣaṇagapo ·)

4 [4] [a] vaṃśo viśalo va yasa [viṣat]o [b] putreṣo dareṣo ya ya avekh(*o [c] vaṃsakaḍiro va aṣajamaṇo [d] eko care khargaviṣaṇagapo ·)

5 [5] [a] mrigo abadho vi yaṣa araṃñe [b] yeṇichati gachati goyarae [c] + + + + + + + + + + + [d] (*eko care khargaviṣaṇagapo ·)

6 [6] [a] putra ya dara yaṃ dhaṇo jahitva [b] parigrahe ñati a baṃdhava ya [c] + + + + + + + + + + + [d] (*eko care khargaviṣaṇagapo ·)

7 [7] [a] saṃkriḍaṇa bho[ti] sahayamaje [b] [putr]eṣ(*o) [ya viul](*a bhoti prema) [c] + + + + + + + + + + + [d] (*eko care khargaviṣaṇagapo ·)

8 [8] [a] amamtraṇa bho[t]i mahayaṇaṣa [b] + + + + + + + + + + + [c] + + + + + + + + + + + + [d] (*eko care khargaviṣaṇagapo ·)

9 [9] [a] d[o]saṃ[graha] p[r]av(*ra)[yida vi] ege [b] + + + + + + + + + + + [c] + + + + + + + + + + + + [d] (*eko care khargaviṣaṇagapo ·)

10 [10] [a] (*kriḍa) + + + + + + + + [b] + + + + + + + + + + + [c] + + + + + + + + + + + + [d] (*eko care khargaviṣaṇagapo ·)

11 [11] [a] (*aradhavirya) + + + + + [b] + + + + + + + + + + + + [c] + + + + + + + + + + + + [d] (*eko care khargaviṣaṇagapo ·)

12 [12] [a] (*raṣe agridhaṃ) + + + + [b] + + + + + + + + + + + + [c] + + + + + + + + + + + + [d] (*eko care khargaviṣaṇagapo ·)

13 [13] [a] pava sahaya parivajaea [b] aṇarthasevi viṣame niviṭha [c] + + + + + + + + + + (*t)o [d] (*eko care khargaviṣaṇagapo ·)

14 [14] [a] anucha[t]io ahiacae to [b] vimñupraśastaṃ ca su[ho] ya dhaṃm(*o [c] ṇa putraṃ i)[chea k]uto sahayo [d] + + (*ca)[r](*e khargaviṣaṇagapo ·)

15 [15] [a] (*aṭha)[ṇa] to] s(*aṃ)gaṇiaradaṣa [b] yaṃ phaṣae samaïa vimuti [c] [adica]ba[m]dh[uṣa] va[y]o [niśa]ma [d] eko care khargaviṣa[ṇaga](*po ·)

16 [16] [a] (*dispa suvarṇaṣa prabha)[svaraṇi] [b] kamaraputre[ṇa] s(*u)ṇithidaṇi [c] (*saṃghaṭamaṇaṇi d)ue bhuyasi[m] [d] eko care khargaviṣaṇagap(*o ·)

17 [17] [a] kama hi citra maṣora manorama [b] virparv[h](*i maṣeṃti cita) [c] [a]d(*i)ṇ[ava] (*kamaguṇeṣo di)[spa] [d] eko care khargaviṣaṇagapo ·

18 [18] [a] p(*u)t[r]aṃ va [mitra] m(*a)ritaṃ va m eva [b] hitvaṇ(*u) kamaṇi yaṣotoaṇi [c] + + + + + + + + + + + [d] e[k](*o car)e kha(r)gaviṣaṇagapo (·)

19 [19] [a] oṣadaïta gihiviṃjaṇaṇi [b] [o]śiṇapatro yaṣa koviraḍo [c] ka[ṣa](*yavastro abhinikhaṃitva [d] eko care khargaviṣaṇagapo ·)

20 [20] [a] saṃdalaïta gihibaṃdhaṇaṇi [b] jalaṃ yaṣa bh[itva] balaṃ śaüto [c] (*agiva dadha) aṇi[vart](*amaṇa [d] eko care khargaviṣaṇagapo ·)

21 [21] [a] [sih](*o va chadeṣo) [asaṃ]tra[saṃ]t(*a) [b] vato va jalasi[m] as(*a)i(*a)maṇ(*a) [c] + + + + + + + + + + + + [d] (*eko care khargaviṣaṇagapo ·)

22 [22] [a] sih + + + + + + + + [b] + + + + + + + + + + + + [c] + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + [d] (*eko care khargaviṣaṇagapo ·)

23 [23] [a] śikṣa samadae achidravurti [b] kalaṇaśilaṃ bha[yava]ja[daśi] [c] (*ichea ṇa p)utr(*a k)u[to] (*sahayo [d] eko care khargaviṣaṇagapo ·)

24 [24] [a] bhayea mitra padibhaṇavaṃta [b] bah(*o)ṣuda dhaṃmadhara uraḍa [c] (*amñae dhaṃmaṃ vi)yigitsa praha(*e) [d] [ek](*o care khargaviṣaṇagapo ·)

25 [25] [a] sayi labhea ṇivago sahayo [b] sardhacare saṣovihari dhiro [c] (*abhibhuya) sarvaṇi pariṣeaṇi [d] carea teṇatamaṇa svad(*ima ·)

26 [26] [a] ṇo ya labhea [ṇ]ivag(*o) sahayo [b] sa[rdha]care saṣovi[ha]ri dh[iro] [c] (*raya va raṭha) [v]iyidaṃ prahae [d] eko care khargaviṣaṇaga[p](*o ·)

27 [27] [a] [ar]dha prahiśati sahayasaṃ[pata [b] śreṭh](*a sama se)[v](*itava sahaya) [c] + + + + + + + + + [a]. [d] eko care khargaviṣaṇagapo ·

28 [28] [a] [o]kṣitacakhu yaṣacari gramo [b] gutiṃdrio [ra]kṣati [maṇa]ṣaṇo [c] + + + + + + + + + + + + [d] (*eko care khargaviṣaṇagapo ·)

29 [29] [a] salaṇa to jaṇo aricamaṇa [b] dhaṃmeṣo ṇico anudhamma[ya]ri [c] [a] + + + + + + + + + + + [d] (*eko care khargaviṣaṇagapo ·)

30 [30] [a] driṭhiviṣoaṇi uvativuto [b] prata ṇiamo padila[dha]mago [c] + + + + + + + + + + + + [d] (*eko care khargaviṣaṇagapo ·)

31 [31] [a] [śita] c[a] u[ś]a ca kṣuṣa pivaṣa [b] + + + + + + + + + + + [c] + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + [d] (*eko care khargaviṣaṇagapo ·)

32 [32] [a] ṇago vi yuṣaṇi vivajaiṭa [b] saṃjadakaṃdho patumaṃ u[raḍo] [c] (*yaṣabhiraṃta) vi(*ha)[r](*e araṃñe) [d] [eko] (*care kharga)[v](*iṣaṇagapo ·)

33 [33] [a] ṇiloluo ṇikuho ṇikaṣayo [b] ṇimoho ṇidhaṃtokaṣa[yaṃra]kṣo [c] (*ṇiraṣayo sarvalo)g bhavitva [d] eko car(*e) [kha]rgaviṣa[ṇa](*gapo ·)

34 [34] [a] catud(*i)[śo a]paḍiho kuhi ca [b] saṃtuśamaṇa itaridare[ṇa] [c] (*pariṣeaṇa sa)hita achaṃbi [d] eko care khargaviṣaṇa[ga](*po ·)

35 [35] [a] raga ca doṣa ca prahae mokho [b] taṣa [ya] sarvaṣayoy[ṇi] [c] (*asaṃtrasaṃ jivitasaṃ)[śayas]i(*m) [d] ek care kha[r]ga(*v)i[ṣaṇa](*gapo ·)

36 [36] [a] metra uvekha karuṇa ya bhavae [b] asevamana mutita e kalo [c] (*sarveṇa loge)ṇa aṇ [d] eko care kharga[vi](*ṣaṇagapo ·)

37 [37] [a] prahaï paṃcavaraṇaṇi cedaso [b] uvakileśa vavaṇuja s(*ar)[v](*a [c] abhibhuya sa)r[va]ṇi [pari]ṣ(*e)aṇi [d] eko care khargavi[ṣa](*ṇagapo ·)

38 [38] [a] kitañata taṇi maṇuṣaloge [b] sudulabho baḍo śa[dha maṇuṣa] [c] (*ṇiraṣayo) sar[loge] bhavitva [d] eko care kharga[viṣaṇ](*agapo ·)

39 [39] [a] bhayaṃti sevaṃti ya karaṇa[r]thia [b] ṇigaraṇo dulabha aja mitra [c] (*kule kule apa)[d]i[vadha]cita [d] eko care khargavi[ṣa](*ṇagapo ·)

40 [40] [a] e(*va)ṃ khu (*ma)sa dutieṇa sadha [b] vayabh(*i)lavo ahiṣajaṇa (*va) [c] e(*to bhaya ayati) pr(*e)[kṣamaṇa [d] e]k(*o) care kha(*r)gaviṣa(*ṇagapo ·)

Verso

41 [ud] [d] [41] [a] sarveṣo · saṃsevaṇa · yaṃ ca mitra · [b] vaśa viśalo va [·] mriaṃ avadho · [c] [p]u(*t)[ra] (*ya dara ya · saṃkridaṇa ya ·) [d] amamtraṇa · saṃgrahaṇa ya · krida [o]

42 [42] [a] aradhavirya · raṣe agridha[m] · [b] [pa](*va sahaya ya · anucha)ti[i](*o · [c] aṭhaṇa to · prabha · ka](*ma [442] [d] putram) [va] · ohariṇa · yadvalana ○

43 [43] [a] siha d [·] śikṣa · bhayea mitra · [b] sayi labh(*e) [·] ṇo [ya la](*bhea · ardha [c] okṣitacakhu) [ya]ṣacari gramo · [d] salaṇa va · driṭhivi[ṣo](*a yava ○)

44 [44] [a] [śita ca] (*·) [ṇa]g(o) [vi] (·) ṇllo](*l)uo (*ya · [b] catudi)[ś](o ·) [raga] (· metra uvekha · [c] avaraṇaṇi ceda)i[ṣ](o ·) [kitañada] · [d] bhayaṃti [ya]va · dutieṇa sa[dha] (○)

Source

Transliteration from the Corpus of Gandhari Texts (gandhari.org), catalog entry CKM 7 — British Library 5B. Normalized transliteration system following Baums and Glass.

Critical edition: Richard Salomon, A Gandhari Version of the Rhinoceros Sutra: British Library Kharosthi Fragment 5B (Gandharan Buddhist Texts, Volume 1). Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2000.

Manuscript: British Library Kharosthi Fragment 5B. Birch bark scroll. Provenance: Hadda, Bihsud District, Nangarhar, Afghanistan. Date: 1st century CE.

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