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Dhammapada 320–333

Nāgavagga

23. Elephants · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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IAhaṁ elephant + likenāgova in battlesaṅgāme,
from a bowcāpato fallenpatitaṁ arrowsaraṁ;
over·speechAtivākyaṁ I will enduretitikkhissaṁ,
bad·conductdussīlo 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 + abuseyotivākyaṁ endurestitikkhati.

better + muleVaramassatarā tameddantā,
thoroughbredsājānīyā andca from Sindhsindhavā;
tuskersKuñjarā andca great·elephantmahānāgā,
self·tamedattadanto than thattato bettervaraṁ.

notNa indeedhi by theseetehi mountsyānehi,
one would gogaccheyya un-·goneagataṁ placedisaṁ;
whereasYathāttanā well·tamedsudantena,
tameddanto by the tameddantena he goesgacchati.

DhanapālaDhanapālo namednāma elephantkuñjaro,
pungent·rut-fluidKaṭukabhedano hard·restraindunnivārayo;
boundBaddho a morselkabaḷaṁ notna eatsbhuñjati,
well·rememberSumarati elephant·forestnāgavanassa elephantkuñjaro.

drowsyMiddhī whenyadā ishoti overeatingmahagghaso andca,
fond of sleepNiddāyitā rolling round the bedsamparivattasāyī;
great·hog + likeMahāvarāhova stuffed with grainnivāpapuṭṭho,
again and againPunappunaṁ returns to the wombgabbhamupeti dullardmando.

thisIdaṁ formerlypure mind·wanderedcittamacāri wanderingcārikaṁ,
where·wishedYenicchakaṁ where·likedyatthakāmaṁ as it pleasedyathāsukhaṁ;
that·now·ITadajjahaṁ will guideniggahessāmi carefullyyoniso,
elephant·ruttingHatthippabhinnaṁ likeviya trainer with a hookaṅkusaggaho.

non-·diligence·delightingAppamādaratā behotha,
own·mind·guardsacittamanurakkhatha;
from the pitDuggā pull-out + selfuddharathattānaṁ,
in a bogpaṅke sunk + likesannova an elephantkuñjaro.

ifSace you findlabhetha an alertnipakaṁ companionsahāyaṁ,
togetherSaddhiṁ wanderingcaraṁ well·living·steadysādhuvihāridhīraṁ;
overcomingAbhibhuyya allsabbāni adversitiesparissayāni,
you should wanderCareyya with them, joyfultenattamano and mindfulsatīmā.

notNo ifce you findlabhetha alertnipakaṁ companionsahāyaṁ,
togetherSaddhiṁ livingcaraṁ happily·living·attentive friendsādhuvihāridhīraṁ;
like a kingRājāva realmraṭṭhaṁ conqueredvijitaṁ having abandonedpahāya,
aloneEko wandercare tusker·wildsmātaṅgaraññeva elephantnāgo.

aloneEkassa wanderingcaritaṁ betterseyyo,
not·isNatthi with foolsbāle fellowshipsahāyatā;
aloneEko wandercare notna andca wrongspāpāni dokayirā,
at easeAppossukko tusker + likemātaṅgaraññeva 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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