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Dhammapada 179–196

Buddhavagga

14. The Buddhas · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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Yassa jitaṁ nāvajīyati,
Jitaṁ yassa noyāti koci loke;
Taṁ buddhamanantagocaraṁ,
Apadaṁ kena padena nessatha.

He whose victory may not be undone, a victory unrivaled in all the world; by what track would you trace that Buddha, who leaves no track in his infinite range?

Yassa jālinī visattikā,
Taṇhā natthi kuhiñci netave;
Taṁ buddhamanantagocaraṁ,
Apadaṁ kena padena nessatha.

Of craving, the weaver, the clinger, he has none: so where can he be traced? By what track would you trace that Buddha, who leaves no track in his infinite range?

Ye jhānapasutā dhīrā,
nekkhammūpasame ratā;
Devāpi tesaṁ pihayanti,
sambuddhānaṁ satīmataṁ.

The attentive intent on absorption, who love the peace of renunciation, the Buddhas, ever mindful, are envied by even the gods.

Kiccho manussapaṭilābho,
kicchaṁ maccāna jīvitaṁ;
Kicchaṁ saddhammassavanaṁ,
kiccho buddhānamuppādo.

It’s hard to gain a human birth; the life of mortals is hard; it’s hard to hear the true teaching; the arising of Buddhas is hard.

Sabbapāpassa akaraṇaṁ,
kusalassa upasampadā;
Sacittapariyodapanaṁ,
etaṁ buddhāna sāsanaṁ.

Not to do any evil; to embrace the good; to purify one’s mind: this is the instruction of the Buddhas.

Khantī paramaṁ tapo titikkhā,
Nibbānaṁ paramaṁ vadanti buddhā;
Na hi pabbajito parūpaghātī,
Na samaṇo hoti paraṁ viheṭhayanto.

Patient acceptance is the ultimate fervor. Extinguishment is the ultimate, say the Buddhas. No true renunciate injures another, nor does an ascetic hurt another.

Anūpavādo anūpaghāto,
Pātimokkhe ca saṁvaro;
Mattaññutā ca bhattasmiṁ,
Pantañca sayanāsanaṁ;
Adhicitte ca āyogo,
Etaṁ buddhāna sāsanaṁ.

Not speaking ill nor doing harm; restraint in the monastic code; moderation in eating; staying in remote lodgings; commitment to the higher mind— this is the instruction of the Buddhas.

Na kahāpaṇavassena,
titti kāmesu vijjati;
Appassādā dukhā kāmā,
iti viññāya paṇḍito.

Even if it were raining money, you’d not be sated in sensual pleasures. An astute person understands that sensual pleasures offer little gratification and much suffering.

Api dibbesu kāmesu,
ratiṁ so nādhigacchati;
Taṇhakkhayarato hoti,
sammāsambuddhasāvako.

Thus they find no delight even in celestial pleasures. A disciple of the fully awakened Buddha delights in the ending of craving.

Bahuṁ ve saraṇaṁ yanti,
pabbatāni vanāni ca;
Ārāmarukkhacetyāni,
manussā bhayatajjitā.

So many go for refuge to mountains and forest groves, to shrines in tended parks; those people are driven by fear.

Netaṁ kho saraṇaṁ khemaṁ,
netaṁ saraṇamuttamaṁ;
Netaṁ saraṇamāgamma,
sabbadukkhā pamuccati.

But such refuge is no sanctuary, it is no supreme refuge. By going to that refuge, you’re not released from all suffering.

Yo ca buddhañca dhammañca,
saṅghañca saraṇaṁ gato;
Cattāri ariyasaccāni,
sammappaññāya passati.

One gone for refuge to the Buddha, to his teaching and to the Saṅgha, sees the four noble truths with right understanding:

Dukkhaṁ dukkhasamuppādaṁ,
dukkhassa ca atikkamaṁ;
Ariyaṁ caṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ,
dukkhūpasamagāminaṁ.

suffering, suffering’s origin, suffering’s transcendence, and the noble eightfold path that leads to the stilling of suffering.

Etaṁ kho saraṇaṁ khemaṁ,
etaṁ saraṇamuttamaṁ;
Etaṁ saraṇamāgamma,
sabbadukkhā pamuccati.

Such refuge is a sanctuary, it is the supreme refuge. By going to that refuge, you’re released from all suffering.

Dullabho purisājañño,
na so sabbattha jāyati;
Yattha so jāyati dhīro,
taṁ kulaṁ sukhamedhati.

It’s hard to find a thoroughbred man: they’re not born just anywhere. A family where that attentive one is born prospers in happiness.

Sukho buddhānamuppādo,
sukhā saddhammadesanā;
Sukhā saṅghassa sāmaggī,
samaggānaṁ tapo sukho.

Happy, the arising of Buddhas! Happy, the teaching of Dhamma! Happy is the harmony of the Saṅgha, and the striving of the harmonious is happy.

Pūjārahe pūjayato,
buddhe yadi va sāvake;
Papañcasamatikkante,
tiṇṇasokapariddave.

When a person venerates the worthy— the Buddha or his disciple, who have transcended proliferation, and have left behind grief and lamentation,

Te tādise pūjayato,
nibbute akutobhaye;
Na sakkā puññaṁ saṅkhātuṁ,
imettamapi kenaci.
Buddhavaggo cuddasamo.
Paṭhamabhāṇavāraṁ.

quenched, fearing nothing from any quarter— the merit of one venerating such as these, cannot be calculated by anyone, saying it is just this much.

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