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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.

Like an elephant struck with arrows in battle, I shall endure abuse, for so many folk are badly behaved.

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.

The well-tamed beast is the one led to the crowd; the tamed elephant’s the one the king mounts; the tamed person who endures abuse is the best of human beings.

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

Those who have tamed themselves are better than fine tamed mules, thoroughbreds from Sindh, or giant tuskers.

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

For not on those mounts would you go to the untrodden place, whereas, with the help of one whose self is well tamed, you go there, tamed by the tamed.

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

The tusker named Dhanapāla is musky in rut, hard to control. Bound, he eats not a morsel, for he misses the elephant forest.

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.

One who gets drowsy from overeating, fond of sleep, rolling round the bed like a great hog stuffed with grain: that dullard returns to the womb again and again.

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.

In the past my mind wandered how it wished, where it liked, as it pleased. Now I’ll carefully guide it, as a trainer with a hook guides a rutting elephant.

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.

Delight in diligence! Take good care of your mind! Pull yourself out of this pit, like an elephant sunk in a bog.

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

If you find an alert companion, an attentive friend to live happily together, then, overcoming all adversities, wander with them, joyful and mindful.

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.

If you find no alert companion, no attentive friend to live happily together, then, like a king who flees his conquered realm, wander alone like a tusker in the wilds.

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

It’s better to wander alone, there’s no fellowship with fools. Wander alone and do no wrong, at ease like a tusker in the wilds.

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 friend in need is a blessing; it’s a blessing to be content with whatever; good deeds are a blessing at the end of life, and giving up all suffering is a blessing.

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.

In this world it’s a blessing to serve one’s mother and one’s father. And it’s a blessing also to serve ascetics and brahmins.

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

It’s a blessing to keep precepts until you grow old; a blessing to be grounded in faith; the getting of wisdom’s a blessing; and it’s a blessing to avoid doing wrong.

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