Taking Up Arms · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral
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“Attadaṇḍā bhayaṁ jātaṁ, janaṁ passatha medhagaṁ; Saṁvegaṁ kittayissāmi, yathā saṁvijitaṁ mayā.
Peril stems from those who take up arms— just look how people conflict! I shall extol how I came to be stirred with a sense of urgency.
Phandamānaṁ pajaṁ disvā, macche appodake yathā; Aññamaññehi byāruddhe, disvā maṁ bhayamāvisi.
I saw this population flounder, like a fish in a little puddle. Seeing them at odds with each other, fear came upon me.
Samantamasāro loko, disā sabbā sameritā; Icchaṁ bhavanamattano, nāddasāsiṁ anositaṁ.
The world around was volatile, all directions were in turmoil. Wanting a home for myself, I saw nowhere unsettled.
Osāne tveva byāruddhe, Disvā me aratī ahu; Athettha sallamaddakkhiṁ, Duddasaṁ hadayanissitaṁ.
Yet even in their settlement they were at odds— seeing that, I grew uneasy. Then I saw a dart there, so hard to see, stuck in the heart.
Yena sallena otiṇṇo, disā sabbā vidhāvati; Tameva sallamabbuyha, na dhāvati na sīdati.
When struck by that dart, you run around in all directions. But when that same dart has been plucked out, you neither run around nor sink down.
Tattha sikkhānugīyanti, yāni loke gadhitāni; Na tesu pasuto siyā, nibbijjha sabbaso kāme; Sikkhe nibbānamattano.
(On that topic, the trainings are recited.) Whatever attachments there are in the world, don’t pursue them. Having pierced through sensual pleasures in every way, train yourself for extinguishment.
Sacco siyā appagabbho, amāyo rittapesuṇo; Akkodhano lobhapāpaṁ, vevicchaṁ vitare muni.
Be truthful, not rude, free of deceit, and rid of slander; without anger, a sage would cross over the evils of greed and avarice.
Niddaṁ tandiṁ sahe thīnaṁ, pamādena na saṁvase; Atimāne na tiṭṭheyya, nibbānamanaso naro.
Prevail over sleepiness, sloth, and drowsiness, don’t abide in negligence, A person intent on quenching would not stand for arrogance.
Mosavajje na nīyetha, rūpe snehaṁ na kubbaye; Mānañca parijāneyya, sāhasā virato care.
Don’t be led into lying, or get caught up in affection for form. Completely understand conceit, and desist from hasty conduct.
Purāṇaṁ nābhinandeyya, Nave khantiṁ na kubbaye; Hiyyamāne na soceyya, Ākāsaṁ na sito siyā.
Don’t relish the old, or welcome the new. Don’t grieve for what is running out, or get attached to things that pull you in.
Gedhaṁ brūmi mahoghoti, Ājavaṁ brūmi jappanaṁ; Ārammaṇaṁ pakappanaṁ, Kāmapaṅko duraccayo.
Greed, I say, is the great flood, and longing is the current— the basis, the compulsion, the swamp of sensuality so hard to get past.
Saccā avokkamma muni, Thale tiṭṭhati brāhmaṇo; Sabbaṁ so paṭinissajja, Sa ve santoti vuccati.
The sage never strays from the truth; the brahmin stands on solid ground. Having given up everything, they are said to be at peace.
Sa ve vidvā sa vedagū, Ñatvā dhammaṁ anissito; Sammā so loke iriyāno, Na pihetīdha kassaci.
They have truly known, they’re a knowledge master, understanding the teaching, they are independent. They rightly proceed in the world, not coveting anything here.
Yodha kāme accatari, Saṅgaṁ loke duraccayaṁ; Na so socati nājjheti, Chinnasoto abandhano.
One who has crossed over sensuality here, the chain in the world so hard to get past, grieves not, nor hopes; they’ve cut the strings, they’re no longer bound.
Yaṁ pubbe taṁ visosehi, Pacchā te māhu kiñcanaṁ; Majjhe ce no gahessasi, Upasanto carissasi.
What came before, let wither away, and after, let there be nothing. If you don’t grasp at the middle, you will live at peace.
Sabbaso nāmarūpasmiṁ, Yassa natthi mamāyitaṁ; Asatā ca na socati, Sa ve loke na jīyati.
One who has no sense of ownership in the whole realm of name and form, does not grieve for that which is not, they suffer no loss in the world.
Yassa natthi idaṁ meti, Paresaṁ vāpi kiñcanaṁ; Mamattaṁ so asaṁvindaṁ, Natthi meti na socati.
If you don’t think of anything as belonging to yourself or others, not finding any possessiveness, you won’t grieve, thinking “I don’t have it”.
Aniṭṭhurī ananugiddho, Anejo sabbadhī samo; Tamānisaṁsaṁ pabrūmi, Pucchito avikampinaṁ.
Not bitter, not fawning, unstirred, everywhere even; when asked about one who is unwavering, I declare that that is the benefit.
Anejassa vijānato, Natthi kāci nisaṅkhati; Virato so viyārabbhā, Khemaṁ passati sabbadhi.
For the unstirred who understand, there’s no performance of deeds. Desisting from instigation, they see sanctuary everywhere.
Na samesu na omesu, Na ussesu vadate muni; Santo so vītamaccharo, Nādeti na nirassatī”ti. Attadaṇḍasuttaṁ pannarasamaṁ.
A sage doesn’t speak of themselves as being among superiors, inferiors, or equals. Peaceful, rid of stinginess, they are neither ditching nor taking up.
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