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Dhammapada 273–289

Maggavagga

20. The Path · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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of paths, the eightfoldMaggānaṭṭhaṅgiko is the bestseṭṭho,
truthsaccānaṁ fourcaturo statementspadā;
dispassionVirāgo is the bestseṭṭho of thingsdhammānaṁ,
of humansdvipadānañca the Clear-eyed Onecakkhumā.

Of paths, the eightfold is the best; of truths, the four statements; dispassion is the best of things, and the Clear-eyed One is the best of humans.

this very oneEseva pathmaggo there is no othernatthañño,
of seeingDassanassa for purificationvisuddhiyā;
this indeedEtañhi you alltumhe must practicepaṭipajjatha,
this is the way to baffle MāraMārassetaṁ the bafflingpamohanaṁ.

This is the path, there is no other for the purification of vision. You all must practice this, it is the way to baffle Māra.

this indeedEtañhi you alltumhe practicingpaṭipannā,
end of sufferingdukkhassantaṁ you all will makekarissatha;
explainedAkkhāto to youvo by memayā the pathmaggo,
with wisdomaññāya for extracting the thornsallakantanaṁ.

When you all are practicing this, you’ll make an end of suffering. I have explained the path to you for extracting the thorn with wisdom.

by youTumhehi the work, the effortkiccamātappaṁ,
proclaimersakkhātāro the Realized Onestathāgatā;
practicingPaṭipannā are releasedpamokkhanti,
meditatorsjhāyino from Māra’s bondsmārabandhanā.

You yourselves must do the work, the Realized Ones just show the way. Meditators practicing absorption are released from Māra’s bonds.

all“Sabbe conditionssaṅkhārā are impermanent; quotation markeraniccā”ti,
whenyadā with wisdompaññāya one seespassati;
thenAtha one grows disillusionednibbindati with sufferingdukkhe,
thisesa pathmaggo to purityvisuddhiyā.

All conditions are impermanent— when this is seen with wisdom, one grows disillusioned with suffering: this is the path to purity.

“all“Sabbe conditionssaṅkhārā suffering” thusdukkhā”ti,
whenyadā with wisdompaññāya one seespassati;
thenAtha grows disillusionednibbindati with sufferingdukkhe,
thisesa pathmaggo to purityvisuddhiyā.

All conditions are suffering— when this is seen with wisdom, one grows disillusioned with suffering: this is the path to purity.

"All“Sabbe thingsdhammā are not-self,"anattā”ti,
whenyadā with wisdompaññāya one seespassati;
thenAtha grows disillusioned withnibbindati sufferingdukkhe,
thisesa pathmaggo to purity.visuddhiyā.

All things are not-self— when this is seen with wisdom, one grows disillusioned with suffering: this is the path to purity.

when it is time to startUṭṭhānakālamhi not getting goinganuṭṭhahāno,
youngYuvā strongbalī to slothālasiyaṁ givenupeto;
mind depressed in sunken thoughtSaṁsannasaṅkappamano lazykusīto,
by wisdomPaññāya the pathmaggaṁ slothfulalaso notna discernsvindati.

They don’t get going when it’s time to start; they’re young and strong, but given to sloth. Their mind depressed in sunken thought, lazy and slothful, they can’t discern the path.

guarded in speechVācānurakkhī with mindmanasā restrainedsusaṁvuto,
by bodyKāyena andca no unskillful deednākusalaṁ you should dokayirā;
theseEte threetayo ways of performing deedskammapathe you should purifyvisodhaye,
you should winĀrādhaye path known to seersmaggamisippaveditaṁ.

Guarded in speech, restrained in mind, doing no unskillful bodily deed. Purify these three ways of performing deeds, and win the path known to seers.

from meditationYogā indeedve is bornjāyatī wisdombhūri,
without meditationayogā wisdom endsbhūrisaṅkhayo;
thisEtaṁ two pathsdvedhāpathaṁ having knownñatvā,
for progressbhavāya for declinevibhavāya andca;
oneself thusTathāttānaṁ should establishniveseyya,
so thatyathā wisdombhūri increasespavaḍḍhati.

From meditation springs wisdom, without meditation, wisdom ends. Knowing these two paths— of progress and decline— you should conduct yourself so that wisdom grows.

the jungleVanaṁ cut downchindatha not a treerukkhaṁ,
from the junglevanato springsjāyate fearbhayaṁ;
having cut downChetvā and the junglevanañca and the snarlvanathañca,
free of junglesnibbanā behotha mendicantsbhikkhavo.

Cut down the jungle, not just a tree; from the jungle springs fear. Having cut down jungle and snarl, be free of jungles, mendicants!

so long asYāva indeedhi the vinevanatho notna is cutchijjati,
no matter how smallAṇumattopi of a mannarassa to womennārisu;
with mind boundPaṭibaddhamanova so longtāva heso,
like a calfVaccho like one suckling milkkhīrapakova on its mothermātari.

So long as the vine, no matter how small, that ties a man to women is not cut, his mind remains trapped, like a calf suckling its mother.

cut outUcchinda affection for oneselfsinehamattano,
lotusKumudaṁ like an autumn onesāradikaṁva with the handpāṇinā;
only the path to peaceSantimaggameva fosterbrūhaya,
extinguishmentNibbānaṁ by the Holy Onesugatena taughtdesitaṁ.

Cut out affection for oneself, like plucking an autumn lotus. Foster only the path to peace, the extinguishment the Holy One taught.

hereIdha for the rainsvassaṁ I will stayvasissāmi,
hereidha in winter and summerhemantagimhisu;
thusIti the foolbālo thinksvicinteti,
the dangerantarāyaṁ notna realizesbujjhati.

“Here I will stay for the rains; here for winter, here the summer”; thus the fool thinks, not realizing the danger.

himTaṁ devoted to children and cattleputtapasusammattaṁ,
with mind attachedbyāsattamanasaṁ mannaraṁ;
sleepingSuttaṁ villagegāmaṁ like a great floodmahoghova,
deathmaccu takingādāya goesgacchati.

As a mighty flood sweeps away a sleeping village, death steals away a man who dotes on children and cattle, his mind caught up in them.

notNa there aresanti childrenputtā for sheltertāṇāya,
notna fatherpitā nor evennāpi relativesbandhavā;
for one seized by the terminatorAntakenādhipannassa,
there is notnatthi among relativesñātīsu sheltertāṇatā.

Children provide you no shelter, nor does father, nor relatives. When you’re seized by the terminator, there’s no shelter in family.

this reasonEtamatthavasaṁ having knownñatvā,
astute onepaṇḍito ethically restrainedsīlasaṁvuto;
leading to extinguishmentNibbānagamanaṁ pathmaggaṁ,
quickly indeedkhippameva one would clearvisodhaye.
the path chapterMaggavaggo twentiethvīsatimo.

Knowing the reason for this, astute, and ethically restrained, one would quickly clear the path that leads to extinguishment.

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