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Dhammapada 209–220

Piyavagga

16. The Beloved · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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not·applicationAyoge applying·selfyuñjamattānaṁ,
application·andyogasmiñca not·engagingayojayaṁ;
the goalAtthaṁ having abandonedhitvā dear·graspingpiyaggāhī,
jealous of the devoted to their heart’s goalpihetattānuyoginaṁ.

Applying yourself where you ought not, neglecting what you should be doing, forgetting your goal, you cling to what you hold dear, jealous of those devoted to their heart’s goal.

do notMā with the dearpiyehi associatesamāgañchi,
not·dearappiyehi everkudācanaṁ;
of the dearPiyānaṁ not·seeingadassanaṁ sufferingdukkhaṁ,
not·dear·andappiyānañca seeingdassanaṁ.

Don’t ever get too close to those you like or dislike. For not seeing the liked is suffering, and so is seeing the disliked.

thereforeTasmā dearpiyaṁ notna should holdkayirātha,
dear·losspiyāpāyo forhi badpāpako;
tiesGanthā of themtesaṁ notna are foundvijjanti,
of thoseyesaṁ not·isnatthi loved or loathedpiyāppiyaṁ.

Therefore don’t hold anything dear, for it’s bad to lose those you love. No ties are found in they who hold nothing loved or loathed.

from what is dearPiyato is bornjāyatī sorrowsoko,
from what is dearpiyato is bornjāyatī fearbhayaṁ;
from what is dearPiyato of one freedvippamuttassa,
there is notnatthi sorrowsoko from wherekuto fearbhayaṁ.

Sorrow springs from what we hold dear, fear springs from what we hold dear; one free from holding anything dear has no sorrow, let alone fear.

from attachmentPemato springsjāyatī sorrowsoko,
from attachmentpemato springsjāyatī fearbhayaṁ;
from attachmentPemato one freevippamuttassa,
there is notnatthi sorrowsoko whencekuto fearbhayaṁ.

Sorrow springs from attachment, fear springs from attachment; one free from attachment has no sorrow, let alone fear.

from relishingRatiyā springsjāyatī sorrowsoko,
from relishingratiyā springsjāyatī fearbhayaṁ;
from relishingRatiyā for one freevippamuttassa,
there is notnatthi sorrowsoko let alonekuto fearbhayaṁ.

Sorrow springs from relishing, fear springs from relishing; one free from relishing has no sorrow, let alone fear.

from desireKāmato springsjāyatī sorrowsoko,
from desirekāmato springsjāyatī fearbhayaṁ;
from desireKāmato of one freedvippamuttassa,
there is notnatthi sorrowsoko whencekuto fearbhayaṁ.

Sorrow springs from desire, fear springs from desire; one free from desire has no sorrow, let alone fear.

from cravingTaṇhāya springsjāyatī sorrowsoko,
from cravingtaṇhāya springsjāyatī fearbhayaṁ;
from cravingTaṇhāya for one freevippamuttassa,
there is notnatthi sorrowsoko whencekuto fearbhayaṁ.

Sorrow springs from craving, fear springs from craving; one free from craving has no sorrow, let alone fear.

virtue·vision·accomplishedSīladassanasampannaṁ,
principle·standingdhammaṭṭhaṁ truth·knowingsaccavedinaṁ;
oneselfAttano what ought be donekamma doingkubbānaṁ,
thattaṁ the peoplejano lovekurute dearpiyaṁ.

One accomplished in virtue and vision, firmly principled, and truthful, doing oneself what ought be done: that’s who the people love.

desire·bornChandajāto not·declaredanakkhāte,
with mindManasā andca filledphuṭo would besiyā;
in sensual pleasuresKāmesu andca not-bound·mindappaṭibaddhacitto,
upstream + quotation-markerUddhaṁsototi is saidvuccati.

One eager to realize the ineffable would be filled with awareness. Their mind not bound to pleasures of sense, they’re said to be heading upstream.

long·absentCirappavāsiṁ personpurisaṁ,
from afardūrato safety·comesotthimāgataṁ;
relatives and friendsÑātimittā loved onessuhajjā andca,
towards·rejoiceabhinandanti the one arrivedāgataṁ.

When a man returns safely after a long time spent abroad, family, friends, and loved ones celebrate his return.

just soTatheva one who has done goodkatapuññampi,
from thisasmā worldlokā to the nextparaṁ gonegataṁ;
good deedsPuññāni receivepaṭigaṇhanti,
dearpiyaṁ as familyñātīva come homeāgataṁ.
The BelovedPiyavaggo sixteenthsoḷasamo.

Just so, when one who has done good goes from this world to the next, their good deeds receive them there, as family welcomes home one they love.

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