An Opinionated Dhammapada

An Opinionated Dhammapada.
Excerpted from Ānandajoti Bhikkhu’s ancient-buddhist-texts.net

Accompianing notes (to come)
by Joseph Zizys

Being the (most of the) Tuṭṭhubha, Jagati, Vetālīya and Opacchandasaka verses from the Dhp that have parallels in the Gāndhārī and/or Udānavarga.


Idha socati, pecca socati,
Here he laments, after death he laments,

pāpakārī ubhayattha socati,
the wicked one laments in both places,

so socati, so vihaññati,
he laments, he suffers vexation,

disvā kammakiliṭṭham-attano.
seeing the defilement of his own deeds.
Dhp14

Idha modati, pecca modati,
Here he rejoices, after death he rejoices,

katapuñño ubhayattha modati,
the meritorious one rejoices in both places,

so modati, so pamodati,
he rejoices, he greatly rejoices,

disvā kammavisuddhim-attano.
seeing the purity of his own deeds.
Dhp15


Bahum-pi ce sahitaṁ bhāsamāno,
Even though reciting abundant scriptures,

na takkaro hoti naro pamatto,
the heedless fellow, who does not do (what they say),

gopo va gāvo gaṇayaṁ paresaṁ,
like a cowboy counting other’s cattle,

na bhāgavā sāmaññassa hoti.
does not partake of the ascetic life.
Dhp18

Appam-pi ce sahitaṁ bhāsamāno,
Even though reciting but few scriptures,

Dhammassa hoti anudhammacārī,
but living righteously in accordance with Dhamma,

rāgañ-ca dosañ-ca pahāya mohaṁ,
abandoning greed, hate and delusion,

sammappajāno suvimuttacitto,
understanding aright, with mind well-released,

anupādiyāno idha vā huraṁ vā,
that one, unattached here and hereafter,

sa bhāgavā sāmaññassa hoti.
(surely) partakes of the ascetic life.
Dhp19


Uṭṭhānavato satīmato,
For he who is active, mindful,

sucikammassa nisammakārino,
pure in deeds, considerate,

saññatassa ca Dhammajīvino,
self-controlled, living by Dhamma,

appamattassa yasobhivaḍḍhati.
heedful, fame greatly increases.
Dhp24


Kumbhūpamaṁ kāyam-imaṁ viditvā,
Knowing this body is (frail) like a jar,

nagarūpamaṁ cittam-idaṁ ṭhapetvā,
establishing the mind like a fortress,

yodhetha Māraṁ paññāvudhena,
fight Māra with the weapon of wisdom,

jitañ-ca rakkhe, anivesano siyā.
guard your success, and do not be attached.
Dhp40


Sekho paṭhaviṁ vicessati
The trainee will know this earth

yamalokañ-ca imaṁ sadevakaṁ.
and the lower realm, together with the gods.

Sekho dhammapadaṁ sudesitaṁ
The trainee (will reflect) on the well-taught verse of Dhamma

kusalo puppham-ivappacessati.
as a good man reflects on a flower.
Dhp45

Pheṇūpamaṁ kāyam-imaṁ viditvā,
Knowing that this body is just like froth,

marīcidhammaṁ abhisambudhāno,
understanding it has the nature of a mirage,

chetvāna Mārassa papupphakāni,
cutting off Māra’s flower-tipped (arrows),

adassanaṁ Maccurājassa gacche.
one should go beyond the King of Death’s sight.
Dhp46

Na pupphagandho paṭivātam-eti,
The fragrance of flowers goes not against the wind,

na candanaṁ tagaramallikā vā,
nor does sandalwood or pinwheel or white jasmine,

satañ-ca gandho paṭivātam-eti,
but the fragrance of the good goes against the wind,

sabbā disā sappuriso pavāyati.
the true person’s (fragrance) permeates all directions.
Dhp54 AN3.80


Udakaṁ hi nayanti nettikā,
Course-makers lead water,

usukārā namayanti tejanaṁ,
fletchers straighten arrows,

dāruṁ namayanti tacchakā,
carpenters straighten wood,

attānaṁ damayanti paṇḍitā.
the wise master themselves.
Dhp80 Dhp145 MN86 (no Gāndhārī)


Sabbattha ve sappurisā cajanti,
True people surely everywhere renounce,

na kāmakāmā lapayanti santo;
the good do not talk of desiring sense-pleasures;

sukhena phuṭṭhā atha vā dukhena,
when touched by pleasure or by suffering,

noccāvacaṁ paṇḍitā dassayanti.
the wise show neither elation or depression.
Dhp83

Na attahetu na parassa hetu,
Not for one’s own sake and not for another’s sake,

na puttam-icche na dhanaṁ na raṭṭhaṁ –
not desiring a child, riches, or a kingdom –

na iccheyya adhammena samiddhim-attano;
he should not desire his success through corruption;

sa sīlavā paññavā dhammiko siyā.
he should be both virtuous and wise and righteous.
Dhp84


Yassindriyāni samathaṁ gatāni,
For the one whose senses are stilled,

assā yathā sārathinā sudantā,
like horses well-trained by their charioteer,

pahīnamānassa anāsavassa –
who has abandoned conceit, who is without pollutants –

devā pi tassa pihayanti tādino.
even the gods envy such a one.
Dhp94 (no Gāndhārī)


Yaṁ kiñci yiṭṭhaṁ ca hutaṁ ca loke
Whatever the alms or the sacrifice in the world

saṁvaccharaṁ yajetha puññapekkho,
the one seeking merit may give for a year,

sabbam-pi taṁ na catubhāgam-eti –
all that comes not to a quarter (of the merit) –

abhivādanā ujjugatesu seyyo.
better is the worship of the upright.
Dhp108


So appaduṭṭhassa narassa dussati,
One offends against the inoffensive one,

suddhassa posassa anaṅgaṇassa,
a purified and passionless person,

tam-eva bālaṁ pacceti pāpaṁ,
that wicked deed (then) returns to the fool,

*sukhumo rajo paṭivātaṁ va khitto. *
like fine dust that is thrown against the wind.
Dhp125 SN1.22 Snp3.10 Ja367 (No Gāndhārī)


Na naggacariyā na jaṭā na paṅkā,
Not going naked, nor matted hair, nor mud,

nānāsakā thaṇḍilasāyikā vā,
nor fasting or lying on stony ground,

rājo ca jallaṁ ukkuṭikappadhānaṁ,
dust and dirt, (or) striving while squatting,

sodhenti maccaṁ avitiṇṇakaṅkhaṁ.
can purify a mortal who has not removed uncertainty.
Dhp141 (No Gāndhārī)

Alaṅkato ce pi samaṁ careyya,
Even if he were to adorn himself,

santo danto niyato brahmacārī,
(but) is peaceful, trained, settled, spiritual,

sabbesu bhūtesu nidhāya daṇḍaṁ,
and has put aside the stick towards all beings,

so brāhmaṇo so samaṇo sa bhikkhu.
he is a brahmin, an ascetic, a monastic.
Dhp 142


Aṭṭhīnaṁ nagaraṁ kataṁ,
This fortress is made out of bones,

maṁsalohitalepanaṁ,
plastered over with flesh and blood,

yattha jarā ca maccu ca,
but hidden within lie old age,

māno makkho ca ohito.
death, also conceit and anger.
Dhp150

Jīranti ve rājarathā sucittā,
Decorated royal chariots decay,

atho sarīram-pi jaraṁ upeti,
and the body also decays,

satañ-ca Dhammo na jaraṁ upeti,
but the good Dhamma does not decay,

santo have sabbhi pavedayanti.
the good surely pass it on to the good.
Dhp151 SN3.114 Ja537

Na ve kadariyā devalokaṁ vajanti,
The miserly go not to the world of the gods,

bālā have nappasaṁsanti dānaṁ,
fools surely do not praise giving,

dhīro ca dānaṁ anumodamāno,
but the wise one rejoices in giving,

teneva so hoti sukhī parattha.
and through that he is happy hereafter.
Dhp177 (No Gāndhārī)

Khantī paramaṁ tapo titikkhā,
Enduring patience is the supreme austerity,

Nibbānaṁ paramaṁ vadanti Buddhā,
Nibbāna is supreme say the Buddhas,

na hi pabbajito parūpaghātī,
for one gone forth does not hurt another,

samaṇo hoti paraṁ viheṭhayanto.
(nor does) an ascetic harass another.
Dhp 184 DN15 (No Gāndhārī)

Kodhaṁ jahe, vippajaheyya mānaṁ,
One should abandon anger, one should abandon conceit,

saṁyojanaṁ sabbam-atikkameyya,
one should overcome every fetter,

taṁ nāmarūpasmiṁ asajjamānaṁ,
without clinging to mind and bodily form,

akiñcanaṁ nānupatanti dukkhā.
sufferings never do befall the one having no possessions.
Dhp221 SN1.34 SN1.36

Uṭṭhānakālamhi anuṭṭhahāno,
The one who has not energy at a time for energy,

yuvā balī, ālasiyaṁ upeto,
youthful, strong, (but) given to laziness,

saṁsannasaṅkappamano kusīto –
whose mind lacks (right) intention and is indolent –

paññāya maggaṁ alaso na vindati.
the lazy one does not find wisdom’s path.
Dhp280

Yāva hi vanatho na chijjati

  • For as long as an atom of desire

aṇumatto pi narassa nārisu,
of a man for a woman is not cut down,

paṭibaddhamano va tāva so,
for just so long is the mind in bondage,

vaccho khīrapako va mātari.
like a calf (in bondage) to mother’s milk.
Dhp284

Ucchinda sineham-attano,
Cut off (any) affection for one’s self,

kumudaṁ sāradikaṁ va pāṇinā,
like an autumn lotus (plucked) with the hand,

santimaggam-eva brūhaya
develop fully the path to peace and

Nibbānaṁ Sugatena desitaṁ.
Nibbāna taught by the Happy One.
Dhp285

Abhūtavādī nirayaṁ upeti,
The one who speaks falsely goes to the underworld,

yo vāpi katvā ‘Na karomī’ ti cāha,
and he who says: ‘I did not do’ what he has done,

ubho pi te pecca samā bhavanti
both of these are just the same when they have gone

nihīnakammā manujā parattha.
to the hereafter, (they are) humans who did base deeds.
Dhp306 Ud4.8 Iti48 SN3.10

Cattāri ṭhānāni naro pamatto,
There are four states the man who is heedless,

āpajjatī paradārūpasevī:
the man who consorts with other man’s wives, undergoes:

apuññalābhaṁ, nanikāmaseyyaṁ,
he gains demerit, an uncomfortable bed,

nindaṁ tatīyaṁ, nirayaṁ catutthaṁ.
blame as third, and (rebirth in) the underworld as fourth.
Dhp309

Sace labhetha nipakaṁ sahāyaṁ
If you should find a prudent friend

saddhiṁcaraṁ sādhuvihāridhīraṁ,
or companion, one who lives well, a wise one,

abhibhuyya sabbāni parissayāni
overcoming all your troubles

careyya tenattamano satīmā.
you should live with that one, glad and mindful.
Dhp328

No ce labhetha nipakaṁ sahāyaṁ
If you do not find a prudent friend

saddhiṁcaraṁ sādhuvihāridhīraṁ,
or companion, one who lives well, a wise one,

rājā va raṭṭhaṁ vijitaṁ pahāya
like a king who abandons his conquered kingdom

eko care mātaṅgaraññe va nāgo.
one should live alone like a solitary elephant in the forest.
Dhp329 MN128 Ja428

Manujassa pamattacārino
For a human who lives life heedlessly

taṇhā vaḍḍhati māluvā viya,
craving increases like a clinging creeper,

so palavatī hurāhuraṁ
he rushes from one place to another

phalam-icchaṁ va vanasmi’ vānaro.
like a monkey desiring fruit in the forest.
Dhp334

Na taṁ daḷhaṁ bandhanam-āhu dhīrā,
That bondage is not so strong say the wise,

yad-āyasaṁ dārujaṁ pabbajañ-ca,
that is made of iron or wood or reeds,

sārattarattā maṇikuṇḍalesu

  • impassioned and excited they seek out

puttesu dāresu ca yā apekhā –
jewels and earrings and children and wives –
Dhp345

etaṁ daḷhaṁ bandhanam-āhu dhīrā,
that bondage is strong say the wise,

ohārinaṁ sithilaṁ, duppamuñcaṁ,
dragging down the lax, hard to get free from,

etam-pi chetvāna paribbajanti
having cut this down they wander about

anapekkhino, kāmasukhaṁ pahāya.
seeking nothing, abandoning the happiness in pleasure.
Dhp346 SN3.121 Ja201

Ye rāgarattānupatanti sotaṁ
Those who are impassioned by passion follow the stream

sayaṁkataṁ makkaṭako va jālaṁ,
like a spider a web made by itself,

etam-pi chetvāna vajanti dhīrā,
having cut this away the wise proceed,

anapekkhino sabbadukkhaṁ pahāya.
seeking nothing, abandoning all suffering.
Dhp347

Muñca pure, muñca pacchato,
Be free of the past, be free of the future,

majjhe muñca, bhavassa pāragū,
be free of the present, after crossing over (all) existence,

sabbattha vimuttamānaso,
with mind liberated in every way,

na punaṁ jātijaraṁ upehisi.
you will not return to birth and old age.
Dhp348

Hatthasaṁyatŏ pādasaṁyato,
One who controls his hands, controls his feet,

vācāya saṁyatŏ saṁyatuttamo,
controls his speech, controls the (mind) supreme,

ajjhattarato samāhito,
with inner delight and composure,

eko santusito: tam-āhu bhikkhuṁ.
solitary, content: that one is called a monastic.
Dhp362

Jhāya, bhikkhu, mā ca pāmado,
Meditate, monastic, do not be heedless,

mā te kāmaguṇe bhamassu cittaṁ,
do not let your mind swirl around in strands of desire,

mā lohaguḷaṁ gilī, pamatto,
do not, heedless, swallow a (hot) iron ball,

mā kandi: ‘Dukkham-idan’-ti ḍayhamāno.
do not, while burning, cry: ‘This is suffering.’
Dhp371

Bāhitapāpo ti brāhmaṇo,
Warding off wickedness one is called a brahmin,

samacariyā samaṇo ti vuccati,
one living austerely is said to be an ascetic,

pabbājayam-attano malaṁ
because of driving forth (all) stain from oneself

tasmā pabbajito ti vuccati.
one is said to be one who has gone forth.
Dhp388

Na brāhmaṇass’ etad-akiñci seyyo:
It is no little good for the brahmin:

yadā nisedho manaso piyehi,
when the mind is held back from what is dear,

yato yato hiṁsamano nivattati,
whenever his mind turns back from violence,

tato tato sammati-m-eva dukkhaṁ.
then there is a calming of suffering.
Dhp390

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