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Dhammapada 129–145

Daṇḍavagga

10. The Rod · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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allSabbe trembletasanti at the roddaṇḍassa,
allsabbe fearbhāyanti deathmaccuno;
oneselfAttānaṁ as an exampleupamaṁ having madekatvā,
notna should killhaneyya notna should incite to killghātaye.

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

allSabbe trembletasanti at the roddaṇḍassa,
of allsabbesaṁ lifejīvitaṁ is dearpiyaṁ;
oneselfAttānaṁ as the exampleupamaṁ having madekatvā,
notna one should killhaneyya notna one should incite to killghātaye.

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

desiring happinessSukhakāmāni creaturesbhūtāni,
whoeveryo with a stickdaṇḍena harmsvihiṁsati;
one's ownAttano seeking happinesssukhamesāno,
after deathpecca heso notna obtainslabhate happinesssukhaṁ.

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

desiring happinessSukhakāmāni creaturesbhūtāni,
whoeveryo with a stickdaṇḍena notna harmshiṁsati;
one's ownAttano seeking happinesssukhamesāno,
after deathpecca heso obtainslabhate happinesssukhaṁ.

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.

do not speakMāvoca harshlypharusaṁ to anyonekañci,
spoken tovuttā they may speak backpaṭivadeyyu to youtaṁ;
painfulDukkhā forhi aggressive speechsārambhakathā,
rodpaṭidaṇḍā may springphuseyyu on youtaṁ.

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

ifSace you stillneresi yourselfattānaṁ,
like a gongkaṁso brokenupahato asyathā;
this oneEsa you have reachedpattosi extinguishmentnibbānaṁ,
conflictsārambho for youte notna existsvijjati.

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

asYathā with a roddaṇḍena cowherdgopālo,
cowsgāvo drivespājeti to pasturegocaraṁ;
so tooEvaṁ old agejarā andca deathmaccu andca,
lifeāyuṁ drivepājenti of living beingspāṇinaṁ.

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

butAtha evilpāpāni deedskammāni,
doingkaraṁ the foolbālo notna understandsbujjhati;
because of thoseSehi deedskammehi the simpletondummedho,
as if burnt by fireaggidaḍḍhova is tormentedtappati.

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

whoYo with a roddaṇḍena toward the un-roddedadaṇḍesu,
toward the innocentappaduṭṭhesu attacksdussati;
one of tenDasannamaññataraṁ stateṭhānaṁ,
swiftly indeedkhippameva falls intonigacchati.

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

painVedanaṁ harshpharusaṁ lossjāniṁ,
of the bodysarīrassa orva the breakupbhedanaṁ;
seriousGarukaṁ or evenvāpi illnessābādhaṁ,
mental distresscittakkhepaṁ orva may he undergopāpuṇe.

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

from a kingRājato orvā hazardupasaggaṁ,
slanderAbbhakkhānaṁ orva viciousdāruṇaṁ;
lossParikkhayaṁ orva of kinñātīnaṁ,
of wealthBhogānaṁ orva destructionpabhaṅguraṁ.

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

thenAtha or hisvāssa homesagārāni,
fireaggi consumesḍahati blazingpāvako;
of the bodyKāyassa by breaking upbhedā witless personduppañño,
in hellnirayaṁ he is rebornsopapajjati.

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

notNa nuditynaggacariyā norna matted hairjaṭā norna mudpaṅkā,
fastingNānāsakā lying on bare groundthaṇḍilasāyikā orvā;
wearing dust and dirtRajojallaṁ squatting on the heelsukkuṭikappadhānaṁ,
will cleanseSodhenti a mortalmaccaṁ not free of doubtavitiṇṇakaṅkhaṁ.

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.

adornedAlaṅkato even ifcepi rightlysamaṁ should livecareyya,
peacefulSanto tameddanto committedniyato living the spiritual lifebrahmacārī;
toward allSabbesu creaturesbhūtesu having laid asidenidhāya violencedaṇḍaṁ,
heSo a brahminbrāhmaṇo heso an asceticsamaṇo hesa a mendicantbhikkhu.

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.

restrained by conscienceHirīnisedho a personpuriso,
anykoci in the worldlokasmi is foundvijjati;
whoYo blameniddaṁ shies away fromapabodheti,
horseasso finebhadro from the whipkasāmiva.

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

a horseAsso likeyathā finebhadro under the whipkasāniviṭṭho,
keenĀtāpino full of urgencysaṁvegino bebhavātha;
with faithSaddhāya ethicssīlena andca energyvīriyena andca,
immersionSamādhinā investigation of principlesdhammavinicchayena andca;
accomplished in knowledge and conductSampannavijjācaraṇā mindfulpatissatā,
give upJahissatha this sufferingdukkhamidaṁ vastanappakaṁ.

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.

water indeedUdakañhi they guidenayanti irrigatorsnettikā,
fletchersUsukārā they bend straightnamayanti arrowtejanaṁ;
timberDāruṁ they bend straightnamayanti carpenterstacchakā,
themselvesAttānaṁ they tamedamayanti those true to their vowssubbatā.
the chapter on the rodDaṇḍavaggo tenthdasamo.

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

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