Dhammapada

The sight of the elect (Arya) is good, to live with them is always happiness; if a man does not see fools, he will be truly happy.

He who walks in the company of fools suffers a long way; company with fools, as with an enemy, is always painful; company with the wise is pleasure, like meeting with kinsfolk.

Therefore, one ought to follow the wise, the intelligent, the learned, the much enduring, the dutiful, the elect; one ought to follow a good and wise man, as the moon follows the path of the stars.

Plain English · paraphraseTherefore, one should follow the wise, the intelligent, the learned, the patient, the dutiful, the chosen; one should follow a good and wise man, as the moon follows the path of the stars.

From pleasure comes grief, from pleasure comes fear; he who is free from pleasure knows neither grief nor fear.

Plain English · paraphraseFrom pleasure comes sorrow, from pleasure comes fear. The one who is free from pleasure knows neither sorrow nor fear.

From affection comes grief, from affection comes fear; he who is free from affection knows neither grief nor fear.

From love comes grief, from love comes fear; he who is free from love knows neither grief nor fear.

He who possesses virtue and intelligence, who is just, speaks the truth, and does what is his own business, him the world will hold dear.

He in whom a desire for the Ineffable (Nirvana) has sprung up, who is satisfied in his mind, and whose thoughts are not bewildered by love, he is called urdhvamsrotas (carried upwards by the stream).

Kinsmen, friends, and lovers salute a man who has been long away, and returns safe from afar.

Plain English · paraphraseRelatives, friends, and lovers greet a man who has been away for a long time and has returned safely from a distant place.

In like manner his good works receive him who has done good, and has gone from this world to the other; - as kinsmen receive a friend on his return.

Let a man leave anger, let him forsake pride, let him overcome all bondage! No sufferings befall the man who is not attached to name and form, and who calls nothing his own.

Plain English · paraphraseLet a person give up anger, let them put aside pride, let them break free from all bondage! No suffering comes to the person who is not attached to name and form, and who does not claim anything as their own.

He who holds back rising anger like a rolling chariot, him I call a real driver; other people are but holding the reins.

Let a man overcome anger by love, let him overcome evil by good; let him overcome the greedy by liberality, the liar by truth!

Plain English · paraphraseLet a person overcome anger with love, overcome evil with good; let them overcome the greedy with generosity, the liar with truth!

Speak the truth, do not yield to anger; give, if thou art asked for little; by these three steps thou wilt go near the gods.

Plain English · paraphraseSpeak the truth. Do not give in to anger. Give, if you are asked for a little. By these three steps you will come near the gods.

The sages who injure nobody, and who always control their body, they will go to the unchangeable place (Nirvana), where, if they have gone, they will suffer no more.

Plain English · paraphraseThe sages who harm no one and always control their body will go to the unchangeable place (Nirvana). Once they have gone there, they will suffer no more.

Those who are ever watchful, who study day and night, and who strive after Nirvana, their passions will come to an end.

This is an old saying, O Atula, this is not only of to-day: `They blame him who sits silent, they blame him who speaks much, they also blame him who says little; there is no one on earth who is not blamed.'

There never was, there never will be, nor is there now, a man who is always blamed, or a man who is always praised.

But he whom those who discriminate praise continually day after day, as without blemish, wise, rich in knowledge and virtue, who would dare to blame him, like a coin made of gold from the Gambu river? Even the gods praise him, he is praised even by Brahman.

Beware of bodily anger, and control thy body! Leave the sins of the body, and with thy body practise virtue!

Plain English · paraphraseBeware of anger in your body, and control your body! Give up the sins of the body, and use your body to practice virtue!

Beware of the anger of the tongue, and control thy tongue! Leave the sins of the tongue, and practise virtue with thy tongue!

Beware of the anger of the mind, and control thy mind! Leave the sins of the mind, and practise virtue with thy mind!

Plain English · paraphraseBeware of anger in your mind, and control your mind! Give up the sins of the mind, and practice virtue with your mind!

The wise who control their body, who control their tongue, the wise who control their mind, are indeed well controlled.

Thou art now like a sear leaf, the messengers of death (Yama) have come near to thee; thou standest at the door of thy departure, and thou hast no provision for thy journey.

Plain English · paraphraseYou are now like a dried leaf. The messengers of death (Yama) have come near to you. You stand at the door of your departure, and you have no provision for your journey.

Make thyself an island, work hard, be wise! When thy impurities are blown away, and thou art free from guilt, thou wilt enter into the heavenly world of the elect (Ariya).

Plain English · paraphraseMake yourself an island. Work hard. Be wise! When your impurities are blown away and you are free from guilt, you will enter the heavenly world of the elect (Ariya).

Thy life has come to an end, thou art come near to death (Yama), there is no resting-place for thee on the road, and thou hast no provision for thy journey.

Plain English · paraphraseYour life has come to an end. You are close to death (Yama). There is no resting place for you on the road, and you have no supplies for your journey.

Make thyself an island, work hard, be wise! When thy impurities are blown away, and thou art free from guilt, thou wilt not enter again into birth and decay.

Plain English · paraphraseMake yourself an island. Work hard. Be wise! When your impurities are blown away and you are free from guilt, you will not enter again into birth and decay.

Let a wise man blow off the impurities of his self, as a smith blows off the impurities of silver one by one, little by little, and from time to time.

Plain English · paraphraseLet a wise person remove the impurities of their self, as a blacksmith removes the impurities of silver one by one, little by little, and from time to time.

As the impurity which springs from the iron, when it springs from it, destroys it; thus do a transgressor's own works lead him to the evil path.

Plain English · paraphraseLike the rust that comes from iron, which destroys the iron, so a sinner's own actions lead him to the bad path.

Bad conduct is the taint of woman, greediness the taint of a benefactor; tainted are all evil ways in this world and in the next.

Plain English · paraphraseBad behavior is the stain of a woman. Greed is the stain of a benefactor. All bad paths are stained in this world and in the next.

But there is a taint worse than all taints, - ignorance is the greatest taint. O mendicants! throw off that taint, and become taintless!

Life is easy to live for a man who is without shame, a crow hero, a mischief-maker, an insulting, bold, and wretched fellow.

Plain English · paraphraseLife is easy to live for a man who has no shame, a crow hero, a troublemaker, a rude, bold, and wretched man.

He who destroys life, who speaks untruth, who in this world takes what is not given him, who goes to another man's wife;

And the man who gives himself to drinking intoxicating liquors, he, even in this world, digs up his own root.

O man, know this, that the unrestrained are in a bad state; take care that greediness and vice do not bring thee to grief for a long time!

Plain English · paraphraseO man, know this: those without restraint are in a bad state. Be careful that greed and vice do not bring you sorrow for a long time!

The world gives according to their faith or according to their pleasure: if a man frets about the food and the drink given to others, he will find no rest either by day or by night.

He in whom that feeling is destroyed, and taken out with the very root, finds rest by day and by night.

There is no fire like passion, there is no shark like hatred, there is no snare like folly, there is no torrent like greed.

The fault of others is easily perceived, but that of oneself is difficult to perceive; a man winnows his neighbour's faults like chaff, but his own fault he hides, as a cheat hides the bad die from the gambler.

Plain English · paraphraseIt is easy to see the faults of others, but hard to see one's own. A man sorts out his neighbor's faults like chaff, but hides his own faults, as a cheat hides a bad die from a gambler.

If a man looks after the faults of others, and is always inclined to be offended, his own passions will grow, and he is far from the destruction of passions.

Plain English · paraphraseIf a man watches for faults in others and is always ready to take offense, his own emotions will increase, and he is far from being free from emotions.

There is no path through the air, a man is not a Samana by outward acts. The world delights in vanity, the Tathagatas (the Buddhas) are free from vanity.

There is no path through the air, a man is not a Samana by outward acts. No creatures are eternal; but the awakened (Buddha) are never shaken.

A man is not just if he carries a matter by violence; no, he who distinguishes both right and wrong, who is learned and leads others, not by violence, but by law and equity, and who is guarded by the law and intelligent, he is called just.

A man is not learned because he talks much; he who is patient, free from hatred and fear, he is called learned.

A man is not a supporter of the law because he talks much; even if a man has learnt little, but sees the law bodily, he is a supporter of the law, a man who never neglects the law.

A man is not an elder because his head is grey; his age may be ripe, but he is called `Old-in-vain.'

He in whom there is truth, virtue, love, restraint, moderation, he who is free from impurity and is wise, he is called an elder.

Plain English · paraphraseHe who has truth, virtue, love, self-control, and moderation, who is free from impurity and is wise, is called an elder.

An envious greedy, dishonest man does not become respectable by means of much talking only, or by the beauty of his complexion.

Plain English · paraphraseAn envious, greedy, dishonest man does not become respectable just by talking a lot or by having a handsome appearance.

He in whom all this is destroyed, and taken out with the very root, he, when freed from hatred and wise, is called respectable.

He who always quiets the evil, whether small or large, he is called a Samana (a quiet man), because he has quieted all evil.

A man is not a mendicant (Bhikshu) simply because he asks others for alms; he who adopts the whole law is a Bhikshu, not he who only begs.

He who is above good and evil, who is chaste, who with knowledge passes through the world, he indeed is called a Bhikshu.

A man is not a Muni because he observes silence (mona, i.e. mauna), if he is foolish and ignorant; but the wise who, taking the balance, chooses the good and avoids evil, he is a Muni, and is a Muni thereby; he who in this world weighs both sides is called a Muni.

A man is not an elect (Ariya) because he injures living creatures; because he has pity on all living creatures, therefore is a man called Ariya.

Not only by discipline and vows, not only by much learning, not by entering into a trance, not by sleeping alone, do I earn the happiness of release which no worldling can know. Bhikshu, be not confident as long as thou hast not attained the extinction of desires.

The best of ways is the eightfold; the best of truths the four words; the best of virtues passionlessness; the best of men he who has eyes to see.

If you go on this way, you will make an end of pain! The way was preached by me, when I had understood the removal of the thorns (in the flesh).

`All created things perish,' he who knows and sees this becomes passive in pain; this is the way to purity.

`All created things are grief and pain,' he who knows and sees this becomes passive in pain; this is the way that leads to purity.

`All forms are unreal,' he who knows and sees this becomes passive in pain; this is the way that leads to purity.

He who does not rouse himself when it is time to rise, who, though young and strong, is full of sloth, whose will and thought are weak, that lazy and idle man will never find the way to knowledge.

Watching his speech, well restrained in mind, let a man never commit any wrong with his body! Let a man but keep these three roads of action clear, and he will achieve the way which is taught by the wise.

Plain English · paraphraseWatch his speech, keep his mind under control, and let no one do wrong with their body. If a person keeps these three paths of action clear, they will reach the way that the wise teach.

Through zeal knowledge is gotten, through lack of zeal knowledge is lost; let a man who knows this double path of gain and loss thus place himself that knowledge may grow.

Plain English · paraphraseKnowledge is gained through eagerness, lost through laziness. A person who understands this two-way path of gaining and losing should position themselves so that knowledge increases.

Cut down the whole forest (of lust), not a tree only! Danger comes out of the forest (of lust). When you have cut down both the forest (of lust) and its undergrowth, then, Bhikshus, you will be rid of the forest and free!

So long as the love of man towards women, even the smallest, is not destroyed, so long is his mind in bondage, as the calf that drinks milk is to its mother.

Plain English · paraphraseAs long as a man's love for women, even the slightest, is not destroyed, his mind remains in bondage, like a calf that drinks milk is to its mother.

Cut out the love of self, like an autumn lotus, with thy hand! Cherish the road of peace. Nirvana has been shown by Sugata (Buddha).

Plain English · paraphraseCut out your love of self, like an autumn lotus, with your hand! Follow the path of peace. Sugata (Buddha) has shown the way to Nirvana.

`Here I shall dwell in the rain, here in winter and summer,' thus the fool meditates, and does not think of his death.

Plain English · paraphrase"I will stay here in the rain, here in winter and summer," the fool thinks, not considering his death.

Death comes and carries off that man, praised for his children and flocks, his mind distracted, as a flood carries off a sleeping village.

Plain English · paraphraseDeath comes and takes that man, praised for his children and his flocks, his mind confused, as a flood takes a village asleep.

Sons are no help, nor a father, nor relations; there is no help from kinsfolk for one whom death has seized.

Plain English · paraphraseSons are no help, nor is a father, nor are relatives. There is no help from family for one whom death has seized.

A wise and good man who knows the meaning of this, should quickly clear the way that leads to Nirvana.

If by leaving a small pleasure one sees a great pleasure, let a wise man leave the small pleasure, and look to the great.

Plain English · paraphraseIf leaving a small pleasure leads to seeing a great pleasure, a wise person should leave the small pleasure and look for the great one.

He who, by causing pain to others, wishes to obtain pleasure for himself, he, entangled in the bonds of hatred, will never be free from hatred.

Plain English · paraphraseHe who causes pain to others to get pleasure for himself, tied in the bonds of hatred, will never be free from hatred.

What ought to be done is neglected, what ought not to be done is done; the desires of unruly, thoughtless people are always increasing.

Plain English · paraphraseWhat should be done is ignored, and what should not be done is carried out; the desires of reckless, thoughtless people keep growing.

A true Brahmana goes scatheless, though he have killed father and mother, and two valiant kings, though he has destroyed a kingdom with all its subjects.

A true Brahmana goes scatheless, though he have killed father and mother, and two holy kings, and an eminent man besides.

Plain English · paraphraseA true Brahmana goes scatheless, even if he has killed his father and mother, and two holy kings, and another important person.

The disciples of Gotama (Buddha) are always well awake, and their thoughts day and night are always set on Buddha.

The disciples of Gotama are always well awake, and their thoughts day and night are always set on the law.

The disciples of Gotama are always well awake, and their thoughts day and night are always set on the church.

The disciples of Gotama are always well awake, and their thoughts day and night are always set on their body.

The disciples of Gotama are always well awake, and their mind day and night always delights in compassion.

Plain English · paraphraseThe disciples of Gotama are always fully awake, and their minds, day and night, find joy in compassion.

The disciples of Gotama are always well awake, and their mind day and night always delights in meditation.

It is hard to leave the world (to become a friar), it is hard to enjoy the world; hard is the monastery, painful are the houses; painful it is to dwell with equals (to share everything in common) and the itinerant mendicant is beset with pain. Therefore let no man be an itinerant mendicant and he will not be beset with pain.

Plain English · paraphraseIt is hard to leave the world (to become a friar), it is hard to enjoy the world. The monastery is hard, the houses are painful. It is painful to live with equals (to share everything in common), and the itinerant mendicant is surrounded by pain. Therefore, let no man be an itinerant mendicant, and he will not be surrounded by pain.

Good people shine from afar, like the snowy mountains; bad people are not seen, like arrows shot by night.

He alone who, without ceasing, practises the duty of sitting alone and sleeping alone, he, subduing himself, will rejoice in the destruction of all desires alone, as if living in a forest.

Many men whose shoulders are covered with the yellow gown are ill-conditioned and unrestrained; such evil-doers by their evil deeds go to hell.

Better it would be to swallow a heated iron ball, like flaring fire, than that a bad unrestrained fellow should live on the charity of the land.

Plain English · paraphraseIt would be better to swallow a hot iron ball, burning like fire, than for a wicked, uncontrolled man to live off the charity of the land.

Four things does a wreckless man gain who covets his neighbour's wife, - a bad reputation, an uncomfortable bed, thirdly, punishment, and lastly, hell.

Plain English · paraphraseA reckless man who desires his neighbor’s wife gains four things: a bad reputation, an uneasy sleep, third, punishment, and last, hell.