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Dhammapada 320–333

Nāgavagga

23. Elephants · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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IAhaṁ like an elephantnāgova in battlesaṅgāme,
from a bowcāpato fallenpatitaṁ arrowsaraṁ;
abusive speechAtivākyaṁ I will enduretitikkhissaṁ,
badly behaveddussīlo forhi many peoplebahujjano.

the tamed oneDantaṁ they leadnayanti to the crowdsamitiṁ,
the tamed onedantaṁ the king mountsrājābhirūhati;
the tamed oneDanto is the bestseṭṭho among human beingsmanussesu,
who endures abuseyotivākyaṁ endurestitikkhati.

better than mulesVaramassatarā tameddantā,
thoroughbredsājānīyā andca from Sindhsindhavā;
tuskersKuñjarā andca giant tuskersmahānāgā,
one who has tamed himselfattadanto than thattato bettervaraṁ.

notNa indeedhi by theseetehi mountsyānehi,
one would gogaccheyya untroddenagataṁ placedisaṁ;
whereasYathāttanā with well-tamed selfsudantena,
tameddanto by the tameddantena he goesgacchati.

DhanapālaDhanapālo namednāma elephantkuñjaro,
musky in rutKaṭukabhedano hard to controldunnivārayo;
boundBaddho a morselkabaḷaṁ notna eatsbhuñjati,
remembersSumarati of the elephant forestnāgavanassa elephantkuñjaro.

drowsyMiddhī whenyadā ishoti overeatingmahagghaso andca,
fond of sleepNiddāyitā rolling round the bedsamparivattasāyī;
like a great hogMahāvarāhova stuffed with grainnivāpapuṭṭho,
again and againPunappunaṁ returns to the wombgabbhamupeti dullardmando.

thisIdaṁ formerlypure mind wanderedcittamacāri wanderingcārikaṁ,
where it wishedYenicchakaṁ where it likedyatthakāmaṁ as it pleasedyathāsukhaṁ;
now I thatTadajjahaṁ will guideniggahessāmi carefullyyoniso,
rutting elephantHatthippabhinnaṁ likeviya trainer with a hookaṅkusaggaho.

delighting in diligenceAppamādaratā behotha,
take good care of your own mindsacittamanurakkhatha;
from the pitDuggā pull yourself outuddharathattānaṁ,
in a bogpaṅke like one sunksannova an elephantkuñjaro.

ifSace you findlabhetha an alertnipakaṁ companionsahāyaṁ,
togetherSaddhiṁ wanderingcaraṁ attentive friend to live happilysādhuvihāridhīraṁ;
overcomingAbhibhuyya allsabbāni adversitiesparissayāni,
you should wanderCareyya with them, joyfultenattamano and mindfulsatīmā.

notNo ifce you findlabhetha alertnipakaṁ companionsahāyaṁ,
togetherSaddhiṁ livingcaraṁ attentive friend living happilysādhuvihāridhīraṁ;
like a kingRājāva realmraṭṭhaṁ conqueredvijitaṁ having abandonedpahāya,
aloneEko wandercare like a tusker in the wildsmātaṅgaraññeva elephantnāgo.

aloneEkassa wanderingcaritaṁ betterseyyo,
there is notNatthi with foolsbāle fellowshipsahāyatā;
aloneEko wandercare notna andca wrongspāpāni dokayirā,
at easeAppossukko like a tuskermātaṅgaraññeva elephantnāgo.

in needAtthamhi when arisenjātamhi blessingsukhā friendssahāyā,
contentmentTuṭṭhī blessingsukhā whichyā with whateveritarītarena;
good deedsPuññaṁ blessingsukhaṁ at the end of lifejīvitasaṅkhayamhi,
of allSabbassa sufferingdukkhassa blessingsukhaṁ giving uppahānaṁ.

a blessingSukhā service to one's mothermatteyyatā in the worldloke,
andatho service to one's fatherpetteyyatā a blessingsukhā;
a blessingSukhā service to asceticssāmaññatā in the worldloke,
andatho service to brahminsbrahmaññatā a blessingsukhā.

blessingSukhaṁ untilyāva old agejarā preceptssīlaṁ,
blessingsukhā faithsaddhā groundedpatiṭṭhitā;
blessingSukho of wisdompaññāya gettingpaṭilābho,
of wrongspāpānaṁ avoidingakaraṇaṁ blessingsukhaṁ.
Elephants chapterNāgavaggo twenty-thirdtevīsatimo.

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