Attavagga - The Self

(verses 157-166)

If one holds oneself dear, one should protect oneself well. During every one of the three watches the wise man should keep vigil.

---

Let one first establish oneself in what is proper, and then instruct others. Such a wise man will not be defiled.

---

As he instructs others so should he himself act. Himself fully controlled, he should control (others); for oneself, indeed, is difficult to control.

---

Oneself, indeed, is one's saviour, for what other saviour would there be? With oneself well controlled one obtains a saviour difficult to find.

---

By oneself alone is evil done; it is self-born, it is self-caused. Evil grinds the unwise as a diamond grinds a hard gem.

---

Just as the creeper overspreads a Sal-tree and destroys it, the man who allows his wickedness to overcome him, suffers as much as his enemy would have him suffer.

---

Easy to do are things that are hard and not beneficial to oneself, but very, very difficult, indeed, to do is that which is beneficial and good.

---

Whosoever rejects the words of the noble, righteous Arahants, such a fool, because of his false views, brings forth on his head ruin and destruction, like the banana-tree which dies when it has borne fruit.

---

By oneself, indeed, is evil done; by oneself is one defiled. By oneself is evil left undone; by oneself, indeed, is one purified. Purity and impurity depend on oneself. No one purifies another.

---

For the sake of others' welfare, however, great, let not one neglect one's own welfare. Clearly perceiving one's own welfare, let one be intent on one's own goal.

---

Return to The Dhammapada

Jaravagga - Old Age

(verses 146-156)

What is laughter, what is joy, when the world is ever burning? Shrouded by darkness, would you not seek the light?

---

Behold this beautiful body, a mass of sores, a heaped-up (lump), diseased, much thought of, in which nothing lasts, nothing persists.

---

Thoroughly worn out is this body, a nest of diseases, perishable. This putrid mass breaks up. Truly, life ends in death.

---

Life gourds cast away in autumn are these dove-hued bones. What pleasure is there in looking at them?

---

Of bones is (this) city made, plastered with flesh and blood. Herein are stored decay, death, conceit, and detraction.

---

Even ornamented royal chariots wear out. So too the body reaches old age. But the Dhamma of the Good grows not old. Thus do the Good reveal it among the Good.

---

The man of little learning grows old like the ox. His muscles grow; his wisdom grows not.

---

Through many a birth in samsara, wandered I, seeking, but not finding, the builder of this house. Sorrowful is it to be born again and again.

---

O house-builder! Thou art seen. Thou shalt build no house again. All thy rafters are broken. Thy ridge-pole is shattered. My mind has attained the unconditioned. Achieved is the end of craving.

---

They who have not led the Holy Life, who in youth had not acquired wealth, pine away like old herons at a pond without fish.

---

They who have not led the Holy Life, who in youth had not acquired wealth, he like worn out bows, sighing after the past.

---

Return to The Dhammapada

Dandavagga - Violence

(verses 129-145)

All tremble at the rod. All fear death. Comparing others with oneself, one should neither strike nor cause to strike.

---

All tremble at the rod. Life is dear to all. Comparing others with oneself, one should neither strike nor cause to strike.

---

Whoever tries to seek happiness through hurting others, cannot find happiness.

---

Whoever tries to seek happiness without hurting others, can find happiness.

---

Speak not harshly to anyone. Those thus addressed will retort. Painful, indeed, is vindictive speech. Blows in exchange may bruise you.

---

If, like a cracked gong, you silence yourself, you have already attained Nibbana: no vindictiveness will be found in you.

---

As with a staff the heardsman drives his cattle to pasture, even so do old age and death drive out the lives of beings.

---

So, when a fool does wrong deeds, he does not realize (their evil nature); by his own deeds the stupid man is tormented, like one burnt by fire.

---

Whosoever causes pain to the innocent ones will himself suffer quickly from one of the following ten states.

He will get sharp pain or injury of the body, or get serious illness or become mad.

Or punishment by the kind, or being accused of doing wrong or death of relatives or loss of treasures.

Or his house will be struck by lightning or after death, he will be reborn in Hell.

---

Neither wandering naked, nor matted locks, nor filth, nor fasting, nor lying on the ground, nor dust, nor ashes, nor striving squatting on the heels, can purify a mortal who has not overcome doubts.

---

Though gaily decked, if he should live in peace, (with passions) subdued, (and senses) controlled, certain (of the four Paths of Sainthood), perfectly pure, laying aside the rod (in his relations) towards all living beings a Brahmana indeed is he, and ascetic is he, a Bhikkhu is he.

---

Those, who are ashamed to do shameful things, are rare. Such men can be compared to a thoroughbred horse who does not get whipped.

---

A man, who practises virtue, who has confidence in what he does, who meditates and who understands the Law, such a man will get rid of suffering as a thoroughbred horse gets rid of being whipped.

---

Irrigators lead the waters. Fletchers bend the shafts. Carpenters fashion the wood. The virtuous control themselves.

---

Return to The Dhammapada

Papavagga - Evil

(verses 116-128)

Make haste in doing good; check your mind from evil; for the mind of him who is slow in doing meritorious actions delights in evil.

---

Should a person commit evil, he should not do it again and again; he should not find pleasure therein: painful is the accumulation of evil.

---

Should a person perform a meritorious action, he should do it again and again; he should find pleasure therein: blissful is the accumulation of merit.

---

Even an evil-doer sees good as long as evil ripens not; but when it bears fruits, then he sees the evil results.

---

Even a good person sees evil so long as good ripens not; but when it bears fruits then the good one sees the good results.

---

Do not disregard evil, saying, ``It will not come nigh unto me'', by the falling of drops even a water-jar is filled, likewise the fool, gathering little by little, fills himself with evil.

---

Do not disregard merit, saying, ``It will not come nigh unto me''; by the falling of drops even a water-jar is filled, likewise the wise man, gathering little by little, fills himself with good.

---

Just as a merchant, with a small escort and great wealth, avoids a perilous route, just as one desiring to live avoids poison, even so should one shun evil things.

---

If no wound there be in one's hand, one may carry poison in it. Poison does not affect one who has no wound. There is no ill for him who does no wrong.

---

Whoever harms a harmless person, one pure and guiltless, upon that very fool the evil recoils like fine dust thrown against the wind.

---

Some are born in a womb; evildoers (are born) in woeful states; the well-conducted go to blissful states; the Undefiled Ones pass away into Nibbana.

---

Not in the sky, nor in the mid-ocean, nor in a mountain cave, is found that place on earth where abiding one may escape from (the consequences) of one's evil deed.

---

Not in the sky, nor in mid-ocean, nor in a mountain cave, is found that place one earth where abiding one will not be overcome by death.

---

Return to The Dhammapada

Sahassavagga - The Thousands

(verses 100-115)

Better than a thousand utterances, comprising useless words, is one single beneficial word, by hearing which, one attains peace.

---

Better than a thousand verses, comprising useless words, is one beneficial single line, by hearing which one is pacified.

---

One sentence of the Doctrine, which brings happiness to a person who understands, is better than one hundred stanzas consisting of meaningless words.

---

Though one should conquer a thousand times a thousand men in battle, he who conquers his own self, is the greatest of all conquerers.

---

Self-conquest is, indeed, far greater than the conquest of all other folks.

---

Neither a god nor a Gandhabba, nor Mara with Brahma, can win back the victory of such a person who is self-subdued and ever lives in restraint.

---

Though month after month with a thousand coins, one should make an offering for a hundred years, yet, if, only for a moment, one should honour (a Saint) who has perfected himself, - that honour is, indeed, better than a century of sacrifice.

---

Though, for a century, a man should tend the (sacred) fire in the forest, yet, if, only for a moment, he should honour (a Saint) who has perfected himself, - that honour is, indeed, better than a century of fire-sacrifice.

---

In this world whatever gift or alms a person seeking merit should offer for a year, all that is not worth a single quarter of the reverence towards the Upright which is excellent.

---

For one who is in the habit of constantly honouring and respecting the elders, four blessings increase - age, beauty, bliss, and strength.

---

Though one should live a thousand years, immoral and uncontrolled, yet better, indeed, is a single day's life of one who is moral and meditative.

---

Though one should live a hundred years without wisdom and control, yet better, indeed, is a single day's life of one who is wise and meditative.

---

Though one should live a hundred years idle and inactive, yet better, indeed, is a single day's life of one who makes an intense effort.

---

Though one should live a hundred years without comprehending how all things rise and pass away, yet better, indeed, is a single day's life of one who comprehends how all things rise and pass away.

---

Though one should live a hundred years without seeing the Deathless State, yet better, indeed, is a single day's life of one who sees the Deathless State.

---

Though one should live a hundred years not seeing the Truth Sublime, yet better, indeed, is a single day's life of one who sees the Truth Sublime.

---

Return to The Dhammapada