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Dhammapada 1–20

Yamakavagga

1. Pairs · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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Manopubbaṅgamā dhammā,
manoseṭṭhā manomayā;
Manasā ce paduṭṭhena,
bhāsati vā karoti vā;
Tato naṁ dukkhamanveti,
cakkaṁva vahato padaṁ.

Intention is the leader of things; intention is first, they’re made by intention. If with corrupt intent you speak or act, suffering follows you, like a wheel, the ox’s foot.

Manopubbaṅgamā dhammā,
manoseṭṭhā manomayā;
Manasā ce pasannena,
bhāsati vā karoti vā;
Tato naṁ sukhamanveti,
chāyāva anapāyinī.

Intention is the leader of things; intention is first, they’re made by intention. If with pure intent you speak or act, happiness follows you like a shadow that never leaves.

Akkocchi maṁ avadhi maṁ,
ajini maṁ ahāsi me;
Ye ca taṁ upanayhanti,
veraṁ tesaṁ na sammati.

“They abused me, they hit me! They beat me, they robbed me!” For those who bear such a grudge, hatred is never laid to rest.

Akkocchi maṁ avadhi maṁ,
ajini maṁ ahāsi me;
Ye ca taṁ nupanayhanti,
veraṁ tesūpasammati.

“They abused me, they hit me! They beat me, they robbed me!” For those who bear no such grudge, hatred is laid to rest.

Na hi verena verāni,
sammantīdha kudācanaṁ;
Averena ca sammanti,
esa dhammo sanantano.

For never is hatred laid to rest by hate, it’s laid to rest by love: this is an ancient teaching.

Pare ca na vijānanti,
mayamettha yamāmase;
Ye ca tattha vijānanti,
tato sammanti medhagā.

When others do not understand, let us, who do understand this, restrain ourselves in this regard; for that is how conflicts are laid to rest.

Subhānupassiṁ viharantaṁ,
indriyesu asaṁvutaṁ;
Bhojanamhi cāmattaññuṁ,
kusītaṁ hīnavīriyaṁ;
Taṁ ve pasahati māro,
vāto rukkhaṁva dubbalaṁ.

Those who contemplate the beautiful, their faculties unrestrained, immoderate in eating, lazy, lacking energy: Māra strikes them down like the wind, a feeble tree.

Asubhānupassiṁ viharantaṁ,
Indriyesu susaṁvutaṁ;
Bhojanamhi ca mattaññuṁ,
Saddhaṁ āraddhavīriyaṁ;
Taṁ ve nappasahati māro,
Vāto selaṁva pabbataṁ.

Those who contemplate the ugly, their faculties well-restrained, eating in moderation, faithful and energetic: Māra cannot strike them down, like the wind, a rocky mountain.

Anikkasāvo kāsāvaṁ,
yo vatthaṁ paridahissati;
Apeto damasaccena,
na so kāsāvamarahati.

One who, not free of stains themselves, would wear the robe stained in ocher, bereft of self-control and truth: they are not worthy of the ocher robe.

Yo ca vantakasāvassa,
sīlesu susamāhito;
Upeto damasaccena,
sa ve kāsāvamarahati.

One who’s purged all their stains, steady in ethics, possessed of self-control and of truth, they are truly worthy of the ocher robe.

Asāre sāramatino,
sāre cāsāradassino;
Te sāraṁ nādhigacchanti,
micchāsaṅkappagocarā.

Thinking the inessential is essential, seeing the essential as inessential; they don’t realize the essential, for wrong thoughts are their habitat.

Sārañca sārato ñatvā,
asārañca asārato;
Te sāraṁ adhigacchanti,
sammāsaṅkappagocarā.

Having known the essential as essential, and the inessential as inessential; they realize the essential, for right thoughts are their habitat.

Yathā agāraṁ ducchannaṁ,
vuṭṭhī samativijjhati;
Evaṁ abhāvitaṁ cittaṁ,
rāgo samativijjhati.

Just as rain seeps into a poorly roofed house, lust seeps into an undeveloped mind.

Yathā agāraṁ suchannaṁ,
vuṭṭhī na samativijjhati;
Evaṁ subhāvitaṁ cittaṁ,
rāgo na samativijjhati.

Just as rain doesn’t seep into a well roofed house, lust doesn’t seep into a well developed mind.

Idha socati pecca socati,
Pāpakārī ubhayattha socati;
So socati so vihaññati,
Disvā kammakiliṭṭhamattano.

Here they grieve, hereafter they grieve, an evildoer grieves in both places. They grieve and fret, seeing their own corrupt deeds.

Idha modati pecca modati,
Katapuñño ubhayattha modati;
So modati so pamodati,
Disvā kammavisuddhimattano.

Here they rejoice, hereafter they rejoice, one who does good rejoices in both places. They rejoice and celebrate, seeing their own pure deeds.

Idha tappati pecca tappati,
Pāpakārī ubhayattha tappati;
“Pāpaṁ me katan”ti tappati,
Bhiyyo tappati duggatiṁ gato.

Here they’re tormented, hereafter they’re tormented, an evildoer is tormented in both places. They’re tormented thinking of bad things they’ve done; when gone to a bad place, they’re tormented all the more.

Idha nandati pecca nandati,
Katapuñño ubhayattha nandati;
“Puññaṁ me katan”ti nandati,
Bhiyyo nandati suggatiṁ gato.

Here they delight, hereafter they delight, one who does good delights in both places. They delight thinking of good things they’ve done; when gone to a good place, they delight all the more.

Bahumpi ce saṁhita bhāsamāno,
Na takkaro hoti naro pamatto;
Gopova gāvo gaṇayaṁ paresaṁ,
Na bhāgavā sāmaññassa hoti.

Much though they may recite scripture, if a negligent person does not apply them, then, like a cowherd who counts the cattle of others, they miss out on the blessings of the ascetic life.

Appampi ce saṁhita bhāsamāno,
Dhammassa hoti anudhammacārī;
Rāgañca dosañca pahāya mohaṁ,
Sammappajāno suvimuttacitto;
Anupādiyāno idha vā huraṁ vā,
Sa bhāgavā sāmaññassa hoti.
Yamakavaggo paṭhamo.

Little though they may recite scripture, if they live in line with the teaching, having given up greed, hate, and delusion, with deep understanding and heart well freed, not grasping to this life or the next, they share in the blessings of the ascetic life.

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