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Dhammapada 179–196

Buddhavagga

14. The Buddhas · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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whoseYassa victoryjitaṁ is not undonenāvajīyati,
victoryJitaṁ whoseyassa does not gonoyāti anyonekoci in the worldloke;
thatTaṁ Buddha, whose range is endlessbuddhamanantagocaraṁ,
tracklessApadaṁ by whatkena trackpadena would you tracenessatha.

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?

of whomYassa weaverjālinī clingervisattikā,
cravingTaṇhā there is notnatthi anywherekuhiñci to leadnetave;
himTaṁ the Buddha of infinite rangebuddhamanantagocaraṁ,
tracklessApadaṁ by whatkena trackpadena you will leadnessatha.

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?

whoYe intent on absorptionjhānapasutā wise onesdhīrā,
in the peace of renunciationnekkhammūpasame delightingratā;
even the godsDevāpi themtesaṁ envypihayanti,
the fully awakened onessambuddhānaṁ the mindful onessatīmataṁ.

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

hardKiccho human birthmanussapaṭilābho,
hardkicchaṁ of mortalsmaccāna lifejīvitaṁ;
hardKicchaṁ hearing the true teachingsaddhammassavanaṁ,
hardkiccho arising of Buddhasbuddhānamuppādo.

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.

of all evilSabbapāpassa not doingakaraṇaṁ,
of the goodkusalassa undertakingupasampadā;
purification of one's own mindSacittapariyodapanaṁ,
thisetaṁ of the Buddhasbuddhāna instructionsāsanaṁ.

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

patient acceptanceKhantī ultimateparamaṁ fervortapo patient acceptancetitikkhā,
extinguishmentNibbānaṁ ultimateparamaṁ sayvadanti Buddhasbuddhā;
noNa indeedhi renunciatepabbajito injures anotherparūpaghātī,
norNa asceticsamaṇo ishoti anotherparaṁ hurtingviheṭhayanto.

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

not speaking illAnūpavādo nor doing harmanūpaghāto,
in the monastic codePātimokkhe andca restraintsaṁvaro;
moderationMattaññutā andca in eatingbhattasmiṁ,
and staying in remotePantañca lodgingssayanāsanaṁ;
in the higher mindAdhicitte andca commitmentāyogo,
thisEtaṁ of the Buddhasbuddhāna instructionsāsanaṁ.

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.

notNa by a rain of coinskahāpaṇavassena,
satisfactiontitti in sensual pleasureskāmesu is foundvijjati;
of little gratificationAppassādā sufferingdukhā sensual pleasureskāmā,
thusiti having understoodviññāya an astute personpaṇḍito.

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.

evenApi in celestialdibbesu in pleasureskāmesu,
delightratiṁ theyso do not attainnādhigacchati;
delighting in the ending of cravingTaṇhakkhayarato ishoti,
a disciple of the fully awakened Buddhasammāsambuddhasāvako.

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

manyBahuṁ indeedve refugesaraṇaṁ they goyanti,
mountainspabbatāni forest grovesvanāni andca;
to shrines in tended parksĀrāmarukkhacetyāni,
those peoplemanussā driven by fearbhayatajjitā.

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

that is notNetaṁ indeedkho refugesaraṇaṁ sanctuarykhemaṁ,
that is notnetaṁ supreme refugesaraṇamuttamaṁ;
that is notNetaṁ having gone to that refugesaraṇamāgamma,
from all sufferingsabbadukkhā is releasedpamuccati.

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

whoYo andca to the Buddhabuddhañca to the teachingdhammañca,
and to the Saṅghasaṅghañca refugesaraṇaṁ gonegato;
fourCattāri noble truthsariyasaccāni,
with right understandingsammappaññāya seespassati.

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

sufferingDukkhaṁ suffering's origindukkhasamuppādaṁ,
of sufferingdukkhassa andca transcendenceatikkamaṁ;
nobleAriyaṁ eightfoldcaṭṭhaṅgikaṁ pathmaggaṁ,
that leads to the stilling of sufferingdukkhūpasamagāminaṁ.

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

suchEtaṁ indeedkho refugesaraṇaṁ sanctuarykhemaṁ,
itetaṁ supreme refugesaraṇamuttamaṁ;
suchEtaṁ having gone to refugesaraṇamāgamma,
from all sufferingsabbadukkhā is releasedpamuccati.

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

hard to findDullabho a thoroughbred manpurisājañño,
notna heso everywheresabbattha is bornjāyati;
whereYattha heso is bornjāyati attentive onedhīro,
thattaṁ familykulaṁ prospers in happinesssukhamedhati.

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.

happySukho the arising of Buddhasbuddhānamuppādo,
happysukhā the teaching of Dhammasaddhammadesanā;
happySukhā of the Saṅghasaṅghassa harmonysāmaggī,
of the harmonioussamaggānaṁ strivingtapo happysukho.

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.

worthy of venerationPūjārahe to one veneratingpūjayato,
Buddhasbuddhe oryadi orva disciplessāvake;
who have transcended proliferationPapañcasamatikkante,
who have left behind grief and lamentationtiṇṇasokapariddave.

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

thoseTe such as thesetādise veneratingpūjayato,
quenchednibbute fearing nothing from any quarterakutobhaye;
notNa can besakkā meritpuññaṁ calculatedsaṅkhātuṁ,
just this muchimettamapi by anyonekenaci.
the Buddha chapterBuddhavaggo the fourteenthcuddasamo.
the first recitation sectionPaṭhamabhāṇavāraṁ.

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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