3. The Mind · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral
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quiveringPhandanaṁ
unsteadycapalaṁ
mind,cittaṁ,
hard to guarddūrakkhaṁ
hard to curb;dunnivārayaṁ;
straightUjuṁ
makeskaroti
the discerning one,medhāvī,
like a fletcherusukārova
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;
this mind floundersPariphandatidaṁ
mindcittaṁ,
Māra's 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 to hold backDunniggahassa
flightylahuno,
alighting where it willyatthakāmanipātino;
of the mindCittassa
tamingdamatho
goodsādhu,
a mindcittaṁ
tameddantaṁ
leads to blisssukhāvahaṁ.
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
so subtlesunipuṇaṁ,
alighting where it willyatthakāmanipātinaṁ;
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-goingDūraṅgamaṁ
wandering aloneekacaraṁ,
incorporealasarīraṁ
lying hidden in a caveguhāsayaṁ;
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.
for one of unsteady mindAnavaṭṭhitacittassa,
the true teachingsaddhammaṁ
for one not understandingavijānato;
for one of wavering confidencePariplavapasādassa,
wisdompaññā
notna
is perfectedparipūrati.
Those of unsteady mind, who don’t understand the true teaching, and whose confidence wavers, do not perfect their wisdom.
of a mind not festeringAnavassutacittassa,
whose heart is undamagedananvāhatacetaso;
of one who has given up right and wrongPuññapāpapahīnassa,
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.
like a potKumbhūpamaṁ
this bodykāyamimaṁ
having knownviditvā,
like a citadelNagarūpamaṁ
this mindcittamidaṁ
having fortifiedṭhapetvā;
you should attackYodhetha
Māramāraṁ
with the sword of wisdompaññāvudhena,
and the conquestJitañca
you should guardrakkhe
never 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;
wrongly 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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