3. The Mind · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral
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quiveringPhandanaṁ
unsteadycapalaṁ
mind,cittaṁ,
hard·guarddūrakkhaṁ
hard·curbdunnivārayaṁ;
straightUjuṁ
makeskaroti
the discerning one,medhāvī,
fletcher + likeusukārova
an arrow.tejanaṁ.
The mind quivers and quakes, hard to guard, hard to curb. The discerning straighten it out, like a fletcher an arrow.
like a fishVārijova
on the shorethale
castkhitto,
pulled from the seaokamokataubbhato;
flounders + thisPariphandatidaṁ
mindcittaṁ,
Māra·dominionmāradheyyaṁ
to throw offpahātave.
Like a fish pulled from the sea and cast upon the shore, this mind flounders about, trying to throw off Māra’s dominion.
hard·hold backDunniggahassa
flightylahuno,
where·will·alightingyatthakāmanipātino;
of the mindCittassa
tamingdamatho
goodsādhu,
a mindcittaṁ
tameddantaṁ
bliss·leadssukhāvahaṁ.
Hard to hold back, flighty, alighting where it will; it’s good to tame the mind; a tamed mind leads to bliss.
so hard to seeSududdasaṁ
well·subtlesunipuṇaṁ,
where·will·alightingyatthakāmanipātinaṁ;
mindCittaṁ
protectrakkhetha
the discerningmedhāvī,
mindcittaṁ
guardedguttaṁ
leads to blisssukhāvahaṁ.
So hard to see, so subtle, alighting where it will; the discerning protect the mind, a guarded mind leads to bliss.
far·goDūraṅgamaṁ
one·wanderekacaraṁ,
not·bodyasarīraṁ
cave·lieguhāsayaṁ;
those whoYe
mindcittaṁ
will restrainsaṁyamissanti,
are freedmokkhanti
from Māra's bondsmārabandhanā.
The mind travels far, wandering alone; incorporeal, it lies hidden in the heart. Those who will restrain the mind are freed from Māra’s bonds.
un-·steady·mindAnavaṭṭhitacittassa,
true·teachingsaddhammaṁ
not·understandingavijānato;
around·wavering·confidencePariplavapasādassa,
wisdompaññā
notna
fully·fillparipūrati.
Those of unsteady mind, who don’t understand the true teaching, and whose confidence wavers, do not perfect their wisdom.
not·festering·mindAnavassutacittassa,
not·damaged·heartananvāhatacetaso;
merit·evil·given upPuññapāpapahīnassa,
there is notnatthi
for one who is alertjāgarato
fearbhayaṁ.
One whose mind is not festering, whose heart is undamaged, who’s given up right and wrong, alert, has nothing to fear.
pot·likeKumbhūpamaṁ
body·thiskāyamimaṁ
having knownviditvā,
citadel·likeNagarūpamaṁ
mind·thiscittamidaṁ
having fortifiedṭhapetvā;
you should attackYodhetha
Māramāraṁ
with the sword of wisdompaññāvudhena,
conquest·andJitañca
you should guardrakkhe
not·settlinganivesano
you should besiyā.
Knowing this body breaks like a pot, and fortifying the mind like a citadel, attack Māra with the sword of wisdom, guard your conquest, and never settle.
soonAciraṁ
indeed thisvatayaṁ
bodykāyo,
upon the earthpathaviṁ
will lieadhisessati;
discardedChuddho
bereft of consciousnessapetaviññāṇo,
worthless asniratthaṁva
a logkaliṅgaraṁ.
All too soon this body will lie upon the earth, bereft of consciousness, tossed aside like a worthless log.
a haterDiso
to the hateddisaṁ
whateveryaṁ
thattaṁ
would dokayirā,
an enemyverī
orvā
indeedpana
to their foeverinaṁ;
wrong·directedMicchāpaṇihitaṁ
mindcittaṁ,
more harmpāpiyo
younaṁ
than thattato
would dokare.
A wrongly directed mind would do you more harm than a hater to the hated, or an enemy to their foe.
notNa
thattaṁ
mothermātā
fatherpitā
would dokayirā,
otheraññe
orvāpi
andca
relativesñātakā;
rightly·directedSammāpaṇihitaṁ
mindcittaṁ,
more goodseyyaso
younaṁ
than thattato
would dokare.
mind·chapterCittavaggo
thirdtatiyo.
A rightly directed mind would do you more good than your mother or father or any other relative.
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