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Dhammapada 129–145

Daṇḍavagga

10. The Rod · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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Sabbe tasanti daṇḍassa,
sabbe bhāyanti maccuno;
Attānaṁ upamaṁ katvā,
na haneyya na ghātaye.

All tremble at the rod, all fear death. Treating others like oneself, neither kill nor incite to kill.

Sabbe tasanti daṇḍassa,
sabbesaṁ jīvitaṁ piyaṁ;
Attānaṁ upamaṁ katvā,
na haneyya na ghātaye.

All tremble at the rod, all love life. Treating others like oneself, neither kill nor incite to kill.

Sukhakāmāni bhūtāni,
yo daṇḍena vihiṁsati;
Attano sukhamesāno,
pecca so na labhate sukhaṁ.

Creatures love happiness, so if you harm them with a stick in search of your own happiness, after death you won’t find happiness.

Sukhakāmāni bhūtāni,
yo daṇḍena na hiṁsati;
Attano sukhamesāno,
pecca so labhate sukhaṁ.

Creatures love happiness, so if you don’t harm them with a stick in search of your own happiness, after death you will find happiness.

Māvoca pharusaṁ kañci,
vuttā paṭivadeyyu taṁ;
Dukkhā hi sārambhakathā,
paṭidaṇḍā phuseyyu taṁ.

Don’t speak harshly, they may speak harshly back. For aggressive speech is painful, and the rod may spring back on you.

Sace neresi attānaṁ,
kaṁso upahato yathā;
Esa pattosi nibbānaṁ,
sārambho te na vijjati.

If you still yourself like a broken gong, you reach extinguishment and know no conflict.

Yathā daṇḍena gopālo,
gāvo pājeti gocaraṁ;
Evaṁ jarā ca maccu ca,
āyuṁ pājenti pāṇinaṁ.

As a cowherd drives the cows to pasture with the rod, so too old age and death drive life from living beings.

Atha pāpāni kammāni,
karaṁ bālo na bujjhati;
Sehi kammehi dummedho,
aggidaḍḍhova tappati.

The fool does not understand the evil that they do. But because of those deeds, that simpleton is tormented as if burnt by fire.

Yo daṇḍena adaṇḍesu,
appaduṭṭhesu dussati;
Dasannamaññataraṁ ṭhānaṁ,
khippameva nigacchati.

One who violently attacks the peaceful and the innocent swiftly falls to one of ten bad states:

Vedanaṁ pharusaṁ jāniṁ,
sarīrassa va bhedanaṁ;
Garukaṁ vāpi ābādhaṁ,
cittakkhepaṁ va pāpuṇe.

harsh pain; loss; the breakup of the body; serious illness; mental distress;

Rājato vā upasaggaṁ,
Abbhakkhānaṁ va dāruṇaṁ;
Parikkhayaṁ va ñātīnaṁ,
Bhogānaṁ va pabhaṅguraṁ.

hazards from rulers; vicious slander; loss of kin; destruction of wealth;

Atha vāssa agārāni,
aggi ḍahati pāvako;
Kāyassa bhedā duppañño,
nirayaṁ sopapajjati.

or else their home is consumed by fire. When their body breaks up, that witless person is reborn in hell.

Na naggacariyā na jaṭā na paṅkā,
Nānāsakā thaṇḍilasāyikā vā;
Rajojallaṁ ukkuṭikappadhānaṁ,
Sodhenti maccaṁ avitiṇṇakaṅkhaṁ.

Not nudity, nor matted hair, nor mud, nor fasting, nor lying on bare ground, nor wearing dust and dirt, or squatting on the heels, will cleanse a mortal not free of doubt.

Alaṅkato cepi samaṁ careyya,
Santo danto niyato brahmacārī;
Sabbesu bhūtesu nidhāya daṇḍaṁ,
So brāhmaṇo so samaṇo sa bhikkhu.

Dressed up they may be, but if they live well— peaceful, tamed, committed to the spiritual path, having laid aside violence toward all creatures— they are a brahmin, an ascetic, a mendicant.

Hirīnisedho puriso,
koci lokasmi vijjati;
Yo niddaṁ apabodheti,
asso bhadro kasāmiva.

Can a person constrained by conscience be found in the world? Who shies away from blame, like a fine horse from the whip?

Asso yathā bhadro kasāniviṭṭho,
Ātāpino saṁvegino bhavātha;
Saddhāya sīlena ca vīriyena ca,
Samādhinā dhammavinicchayena ca;
Sampannavijjācaraṇā patissatā,
Jahissatha dukkhamidaṁ anappakaṁ.

Like a fine horse under the whip, be keen and full of urgency. With faith, ethics, and energy, immersion, and investigation of principles, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, mindful, give up this vast suffering.

Udakañhi nayanti nettikā,
Usukārā namayanti tejanaṁ;
Dāruṁ namayanti tacchakā,
Attānaṁ damayanti subbatā.
Daṇḍavaggo dasamo.

While irrigators guide water, fletchers bend arrows straight, and carpenters bend timber straight, those true to their vows tame themselves.

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