Dhammapada Verse 50

Discussion
1

Hi!

I’ve been reading Dhammapada recently with the aid of several resources, including word by word meaning and commentaries on Dhammapada, and have recently come across verse 50

na paresaṃ vilomāni
na paresaṃ katākataṃ
attano va avekkheyya
katāni akatāni ca

My question is, is there a specific reason this verse was included in the Pupphavagga? I can’t seem to find any relation to flowers or plants from this verse. Please enlighten, thank you!

David

2

I reckon these verses are part of a wider set of verses - 50 - 51 - 52.

Verse 50 reminds one’s occupation should be his/her own practice.
Verse 51 adds to that warning that saying beautiful words / teachings but not practicing them is pointless.
Verse 52 says that one should only consider teaching once he has practiced and confirmed or himself/herself.

  1. Let none find fault with others; let none see the omissions and commissions of others. But let one see one’s own acts, done and undone.
  1. Like a beautiful flower full of color but without fragrance, even so, fruitless are the fair words of one who does not practice them.
  1. Like a beautiful flower full of color and also fragrant, even so, fruitful are the fair words of one who practices them.

https://suttacentral.net/en/dhp/54

A high level picture of the origin stories behind such verses can be found in those links:

http://www.tipitaka.net/tipitaka/dhp/verseload.php?verse=050

http://www.tipitaka.net/tipitaka/dhp/verseload.php?verse=051

Note that they do not support my interpretation aforementioned! The origin story for verse 50 is not related to the one behind verses 51 and 52.