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TO H.S.O.
TO H.S.O.
CONTENTS Foreword Translator's Preface I. The Pairs II. Heedfulness III. The Mind IV. Flowers V. Fools VI. The Wise VII. The Arahat—The Worthy VIII. The Thousands IX. Evil X. Punishment XI. Old Age XII. The Self XIII. The World XIV. The Awakened One XV. Happiness XVI. Affections XVII. Anger XVIII. Impurity XIX. The Just XX. The Path XXI. Divers Verses XXII. The Evil Way XXIII. The Elephant XXIV. Craving XXV. The Mendicant XXVI. The Brahmana...
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FOREWORD
FOREWORD
The Dhammapada, of which a metrical translation by Mr. Woodward is here presented, is a precious Buddhist Scripture which deserves to be widely known. The Theosophical Society is to be congratulated on securing so competent and sympathetic a translator and on publishing it in a popular form. The Dhammapada is a part of the Khuddaka Nikāya of the Buddhistic Canon and consists of about 420 stanzas in the sloka metre. Every fully ordained bhikkhu [1] is expected to know the book by heart, and its v
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TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE
TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE
I made this translation of the Dhammapada , intending it to be a simple memorial text-book for my pupils, at intervals some seven or eight years ago, when reading the Pāli as a lesson in religion with my senior class in Ceylon. Its publication has been held up for several years owing to various causes, and, having left Ceylon in 1919, I was unable owing to distance to correct the proofs. My thanks are due to Mr. Fritz Kunz, B.A., of Adyar, Madras, for seeing the book through the press. The rathe
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CHAPTER ONE. THE PAIRS.
CHAPTER ONE. THE PAIRS.
1. All states arising have mind for their causing, Mind for their master, of mind are the offspring. He who with foul mind speaks or does action— Him pain pursues as the wheel dogs the ox-hoof. 2. All states arising have mind for their causing, Mind for their master, of mind are the offspring. He who with pure mind speaks or does action— Him bliss pursues, to him clings like his shadow. 3. "This man abused me: he beat me and conquered, Conquered and plundered." Cherishing in such thoughts, Never
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CHAPTER TWO. HEEDFULNESS.
CHAPTER TWO. HEEDFULNESS.
21. Heedfulness leads to the Deathless; [1] heedlessness leads unto Death! Heedful men live on for ever; they who heed not are as dead. 22. Knowing this full surely, wise men take delight in heedfulness; Heedfully they range with joy the pastures [2] of the Worthy Ones. 23. Meditative, persevering, ever with strong might endowed, Wise men reach the Blissful Haven, reach Security Supreme. [3] 24. Heedful men's good name increaseth, if they strive with mind subdued Pure in deed, with thoughts well
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CHAPTER THREE. THE MIND.
CHAPTER THREE. THE MIND.
33. The fugitive, flickering mind, Hard to guard and hard to bind, The wise men train as they choose, As a fletcher fashions a shaft to his use. 34. Like a fish flung out on the bank; Drawn from its watery home in a tank, [1] Flutters this fugitive mind To leave the realm of Māra behind. [2] 35. Impalpable, hard to seize, Eagerly rushing wherever it please, Good is the taming of mind; A mind well-tamed is a treasure to find. 36. Invisible, subtle indeed, Eagerly rushing its passions to feed, Let
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CHAPTER FOUR. FLOWERS.
CHAPTER FOUR. FLOWERS.
44. Who shall discern this earth aright And the Realm of Death and the World of Light? Who shall choose out the Way Of righteousness well displayed, As a skilled hand chooseth a flower gay? 45. The disciple [1] discerneth this earth aright And the Realm of Death and the World of Light; The disciple chooseth the Way Of Righteousness well displayed, As a skilled hand chooseth a flower gay. 46. Seeing this body as like unto foam, Illusive, by insight of wisdom alone, Scattering Death's flower-tipp'
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CHAPTER FIVE. FOOLS.
CHAPTER FIVE. FOOLS.
60. Long is the night to him that is waking, Long is a league to the traveller worn, Long is the coil of births For fools that know not the truth of the Norm. 61. If one find not a comrade to join him in travel. Either like unto self or better than self, It is safer to push on alone; What fellowship can there be with a fool? 62. "I am father of sons! I am owner of wealth!" Thinks the fool in his folly and thereat is troubled. He himself is not owner of self; Much less is he owner of sons and of
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CHAPTER SIX. THE WISE.
CHAPTER SIX. THE WISE.
76. If thou see a man of wisdom, Like a guide to treasure-trove, Pointing out thy faults and failings, Follow him; such company Brings prosperity, not woe. 77. He who gives advice and teaching, And restrains thy feet from wrong, By the righteous is beloved, But the wicked love him not. 78. Have no fellowship with evil; Make no friends among the vile; Make the virtuous thy companions; Follow thou the Perfect Men. 79. They who drink the Good Norm's nectar Live in bliss with tranquil mind; In the N
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CHAPTER SEVEN. THE ARAHAT—THE WORTHY.
CHAPTER SEVEN. THE ARAHAT—THE WORTHY.
90. He for whom life's journey's over, free from sorrow, free from pain Who has all the knots unfastened, suffering knows not again. 91. Household life for them no joys hath; striving and intent in mind As the swan deserts the marshes, every home they leave behind. 92. They who gather up no treasure, feeding on the food that's known, [1] They who range in mind the Void, the unconditioned formless Space, As the bird's path in the ether, so their ways are hard to trace. 93. They whose taints are a
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CHAPTER EIGHT. THE THOUSANDS.
CHAPTER EIGHT. THE THOUSANDS.
100. Tho' one's speech be a thousand words, Vain words all strung together, Better a single phrase Which calms the one that hears. 101. Tho' a song have a thousand words, Vain words all strung together, Better a single verse Which calms the one that hears. 102. Tho' one utter a hundred songs, Vain words all strung together, Better one verse of the Norm Which brings peace to the hearer. 103. Tho' one conquer a thousand times A thousand men in battle, Who conquers self alone Is the best of conquer
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CHAPTER NINE. EVIL.
CHAPTER NINE. EVIL.
116. Haste to do good; thy thoughts from ill restrain; Sloth in good deeds makes one for evil fain. 117. If thou do ill, cease, and thy sin forgo; Take not delight therein; ill deeds bring woe. 118. If thou do good, thy life in good employ; Take thou delight therein; good deeds bring joy. 119. Sinners see bliss while their ill deeds are green; When the sin ripens, sorrow then is seen. 120. Good men see ill while their good deeds are green; When the good ripens, happiness is seen. 121. Think not
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CHAPTER TEN. PUNISHMENT.
CHAPTER TEN. PUNISHMENT.
129. All beings fear the rod, all fear to die; Regard them as thyself; strike not nor slay. 130. All beings fear the rod; all love their life; Regard them as thyself; strike not nor slay. 131. Whoso treats pleasure-loving creatures ill, When he seeks bliss for self he shall not find it. 132. Whoso treats pleasure-loving creatures well, When he seeks happiness for self shall find it. 133. Use not harsh speech; when harshly spoken to Men may retort; painful are quarrellings, And punishment may fol
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CHAPTER ELEVEN. OLD AGE.
CHAPTER ELEVEN. OLD AGE.
146. Laugh ye, rejoice ye, when this world is burning? O wrapped in darkness, will ye not seek light? 147. Behold this body decked, a mass of sores, Sickly and swayed by multitudinous thoughts. Impermanent, unstable, uncomposed! 148. Poor worn-out carcase, home of sicknesses, Fragile, corrupting mass, mere life in death! 149. What joy to look upon these bleached bones, Like useless gourds in autumn thrown aside!— 150. A township built of bones and plastered o'er With flesh and blood, the home an
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CHAPTER TWELVE. The Self.
CHAPTER TWELVE. The Self.
157. Hast thou regard for self? Then keep thyself well guarded. Be wise and keep good watch for one of the three watches. [1] 158. First ground thyself in fitness; next, another teach. Thus shalt thou wisdom gain and suffer no reproach. 159. First carry out thyself whate'er thou teachest others. Self-tamed, thou'lt tame another; but self is hard to tame. 160. Self is the lord of self; who else could be the lord? By taming self one gains a lord most hard to gain. 161. The evil done by self, self-
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CHAPTER THIRTEEN. THE WORLD.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN. THE WORLD.
167. Follow not the way unworthy; Live not thou in slothfulness; Let not doctrines false allure thee; Turn thy thoughts from worldliness. 168-9. Stand! Arise! Throw sloth away; Follow the path of righteousness; Happy he who walks aright, Here and in the world to come. 170. As a bubble on the water, As a phantom of the sands, Him who thus the world despiseth, Death the king [1] cannot behold. 171. Lo! this world in all its splendour, Like a royal car adorned, Wherein many a fool is seated, [2] Ha
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CHAPTER FOURTEEN. THE AWAKENED ONE.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN. THE AWAKENED ONE.
179. The Awakened One, unconquered Conqueror, Whose conquest naught in this world can undo. Who ranges o'er His boundless sphere untraced. By what tracks can ye lead Him to rebirth? [1] 180. Free from the snares of passion's outspread net, The Awakened One, whom longing cannot draw, Who ranges o'er His boundless sphere untraced. By what tracks can ye lead Him to rebirth? 181. Those sages who, to meditation given, Delight in freedom's bliss, with mind controlled, Gods envy Them, Those All-Awakene
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CHAPTER FIFTEEN. Happiness.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN. Happiness.
[1] 197. O happily we live Angerless amid the angry! O happily we spend our days Amid the angry angerless! 198. O happily we live In health amid the sickly ones! O happily we spend our days Amid the sickly ones in health! 199. O happily we live Free from greed amid the greedy! O happily we spend our days Amid the greedy free from greed! 200. O happily we live Who have not anything at all! Like ever-radiant gods above, Our food immortal joys shall be. 201. Hate follows victory; Conquered ones sit
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CHAPTER SIXTEEN. AFFECTIONS.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN. AFFECTIONS.
209. He who applies his mind unworthily, Neglecting discipline, Forsakes the goal and clings to things beloved, Then envies those to meditation given. 210. Join not thyself to things beloved or loathed. To lack dear company, To be with those we loathe, brings misery. 211. Seek not for love; things loved when lost bring woe; Both are impermanent. They have no bonds who dwell indifferent. 212. Sorrow and fear are born of things beloved. From things beloved set free, How canst thou sorrow? fearful
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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. ANGER.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. ANGER.
221. Conquer anger, banish pride; Every fetter cast aside; [1] Clinging not to Name and Form, [2] Him who calleth nought his own Sorrow never shall betide. 222. He who rising wrath restrains, As one checks a whirling team, Him a driver true I deem; Others only hold the reins. 223. Wrath with kindliness allay, To the stingy freely give; Conquer lying words with truth; Evil deeds with good repay. 224. Speak the truth nor vexed be; Give, however scantily. Following these maxims three, Thou the bles
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CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. IMPURITY.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. IMPURITY.
235. Lo! Thou art now a pale and withered leaf; Death's messengers are close at hand; Thou in the very gate of Death dost stand, And yet hast no provision for the way. 236. Then make thyself an island of defence; Strive quick; be wise; when all the taints Of dirt and dust are blown away, the saints Shall greet thee entering the Happy Land. 237. Thy life has run its course; thou art come nigh The King of Death; [1] for thine abode Thou hast no resting-place upon the road, And yet hast no provisio
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CHAPTER NINETEEN. THE JUST.
CHAPTER NINETEEN. THE JUST.
256. He is not just who arbitrates by will. He who by weighing right and wrong decides. He is a just man called. 257. Not by his will, but with impartial mind Keeping the Norm, thoughtful, who others guides, He is a just man called. 258. One is not wise because his speech is long. Long-suffering and harmless, free from fear, He is a wise man called. 259. Not by much talk doth one uphold the Norm. Who sees the Norm in action, [1] tho' he be Of little learning, strenuous in the Norm, 'Tis he uphol
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CHAPTER TWENTY. THE PATH.
CHAPTER TWENTY. THE PATH.
273. Best is the Eightfold Path: of truths, the four; [1] Dispassion in the best of states sublime. Blest is he of human beings, who hath eyes to see. 274. This is the way; no other way can lead ye To purify the mind and see the truth. Walk this Way and free yourselves from Māra's host of ills. 275. Tread ye this Path, and make an end of sorrow. Tread ye this Path for I myself have shown it. Shown it after learning how to pluck away the thorns. [2] 276. Strive ye yourselves; Buddha's but preach
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CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. DIVERS VERSES.
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. DIVERS VERSES.
290. If in giving up slight pleasure Thou a greater bliss discern, Leave the lesser gain and wisely To the greater profit turn. 291. He who causeth pain to others, Seeking his own selfish bliss, By the bonds of hate encumbered Hatred never can dismiss. 292. Those who disregard their duty, [1] Doing what should not be done, Insolent and negligent in evil-doing More and more corrupt become. 293. They who mounting guard on body, Ceaseless watch and ward preserve; They who others' things neglecting,
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CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. THE EVIL WAY.
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. THE EVIL WAY.
[1] 306. The liar reaches hell, and he who says He did not what he did; Both are the same hereafter, men of crooked ways. 307. And many a one the yellow gown who wears, Wicked and uncontrolled, By reason of his evil deeds in hell appears. 308. Better for him who lives unworthily A red-hot ball to swallow, Than eat the food the country gives in charity. 309. Four states of ill to reckless men I tell Who seek the wives of others— Ill-luck, a restless bed, an evil name and hell. 310. Ill-luck, the
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CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. THE ELEPHANT.
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. THE ELEPHANT.
320. As an elephant in battle bears the arrows at him hurled, I must bear men's bitter tongues, for very evil is the world. 321. Tamed, they lead him into battle; tamed, the king his back ascends; Tamed is he the best of beings, whom no bitter speech offends. 322. Good are well-tamed mules, and good are Scindian steeds of lineage famed; Good indeed the mighty tusker; best of all the man self-tamed. 323. Yet such mounts can nought avail us, cannot be Nibbāna's guide; We can only reach The Pathles
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CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. CRAVING.
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. CRAVING.
334. Even as a creeper groweth, Creatures that are indolent Find their craving ever grow; Like a monkey in the forest Seeking fruit from bough to bough, So they wander to and fro. [1] 335. He who yields to sordid craving That thro' all the world doth go, Like the gadding vine that spreadeth, That man's sorrows ever grow. 336. He who quiets sordid craving, Hard in this world to allay, Like the dewdrop from the lotus, All his sorrows fall away. 337. Lo! to all of ye assembled This the good advice
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CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE. THE MENDICANT.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE. THE MENDICANT.
360-1 Good is restraint of eye and ear, of nose and tongue, Of body, speech and mind; restraint is good In every way; the mendicant restrained All sorrow casts away. 362. In hand and foot and speech whoso is self restrained; Whoso to ponder inwardly delights, Who liveth lonely and is well-content, Him men call mendicant. 363. Whoso controls his lips, and words of wisdom speaks, Is not puffed up, who can elucidate The meaning and the essence of The Norm— Pleasant is he to hear. 364. Who dwelleth
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CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX. THE BRAHMANA.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX. THE BRAHMANA.
383. Cut off the stream, [1] O Brāhmana, right manfully; Repel desires; when thou hast known the end Of things conditioned, thou shalt be A knower of the Uncreate. [2] 384. When by the twofold law (restraint and ecstasy), By virtue of the knowledge he hath gained, The Brāhmana hath crossed the stream; Then every fetter falls away. 385. Whoso the stream hath crossed and from this shore hath passed, [3] Free from all cares, unfettered; one to whom This shore and that alike are naught; Him I deem a
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