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Dhammapada 21–32

Appamādavagga

2. Diligence · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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Appamādo amatapadaṁ,
pamādo maccuno padaṁ;
Appamattā na mīyanti,
ye pamattā yathā matā.

Heedfulness is the state free of death; heedlessness is the state of death. The heedful do not die, while the heedless are like the dead.

Evaṁ visesato ñatvā,
appamādamhi paṇḍitā;
Appamāde pamodanti,
ariyānaṁ gocare ratā.

Understanding this distinction when it comes to heedfulness, the astute rejoice in heedfulness, happy in the noble ones’ domain.

Te jhāyino sātatikā,
niccaṁ daḷhaparakkamā;
Phusanti dhīrā nibbānaṁ,
yogakkhemaṁ anuttaraṁ.

They who regularly meditate, always staunchly vigorous; the attentive realize extinguishment, the supreme sanctuary from the yoke.

Uṭṭhānavato satīmato,
Sucikammassa nisammakārino;
Saññatassa dhammajīvino,
Appamattassa yasobhivaḍḍhati.

For the hard-working and mindful, pure of deed and attentive, restrained, living righteously, and diligent, their reputation only grows.

Uṭṭhānenappamādena,
saṁyamena damena ca;
Dīpaṁ kayirātha medhāvī,
yaṁ ogho nābhikīrati.

By hard work and diligence, by restraint and by self-control, a smart person would build an island that the floods cannot overflow.

Pamādamanuyuñjanti,
bālā dummedhino janā;
Appamādañca medhāvī,
dhanaṁ seṭṭhaṁva rakkhati.

Fools and simpletons devote themselves to negligence. But the wise protect diligence as their best treasure.

Mā pamādamanuyuñjetha,
mā kāmaratisanthavaṁ;
Appamatto hi jhāyanto,
pappoti vipulaṁ sukhaṁ.

Don’t devote yourself to negligence, or delight in erotic intimacy. For if you’re diligent and meditate, you’ll attain abundant happiness.

Pamādaṁ appamādena,
yadā nudati paṇḍito;
Paññāpāsādamāruyha,
asoko sokiniṁ pajaṁ;
Pabbataṭṭhova bhūmaṭṭhe,
dhīro bāle avekkhati.

When the astute dispel negligence by means of diligence, ascending the palace of wisdom, sorrowless, they behold this generation of sorrow, as an attentive one on a mountain top beholds the fools below.

Appamatto pamattesu,
suttesu bahujāgaro;
Abalassaṁva sīghasso,
hitvā yāti sumedhaso.

Heedful among the heedless, wide awake while others sleep— a true sage leaves them behind, like a swift horse passing a feeble.

Appamādena maghavā,
devānaṁ seṭṭhataṁ gato;
Appamādaṁ pasaṁsanti,
pamādo garahito sadā.

Maghavā became chief of the gods by means of diligence. People praise diligence, while negligence is always deplored.

Appamādarato bhikkhu,
pamāde bhayadassi vā;
Saṁyojanaṁ aṇuṁ thūlaṁ,
ḍahaṁ aggīva gacchati.

A mendicant who loves diligence, seeing fear in negligence— advances like fire, burning up fetters big and small.

Appamādarato bhikkhu,
pamāde bhayadassi vā;
Abhabbo parihānāya,
nibbānasseva santike.
Appamādavaggo dutiyo.

A mendicant who loves diligence, seeing fear in negligence— such a one can’t decline, and has drawn near to extinguishment.

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