Dhammapada · Chapter 15 of 26 · verses 197 to 208
Happiness found in friendliness, contentment, health and peace.
Sukhavagga
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In this chapter the Buddha speaks of a happiness that does not depend on winning, owning or pleasing the senses. He encourages living without hatred among the hostile and content among the greedy. The chapter names health, contentment and trust as the greatest blessings and calls nibbana, liberation from suffering, the highest happiness. It closes by praising the company of the wise, whom one should follow as the moon follows the path of the stars.
HappinessKindnessFriendshipNibbana
The commentary tells that the Sakyans and the Koliyans shared the Rohini river and dammed it to water their fields.
In a dry season the workers quarreled over the little water, insults grew, and both sides prepared for battle.
According to the commentary, the Buddha came and stood between them, asking which was worth more: water or human lives.
When they agreed lives mattered far more, he spoke verses 197 to 199 on living free of hatred among the hostile.
Susukhaṁ vata jīvāma,verinesu averino;Verinesu manussesu,viharāma averino.
सुसुखं वत जीवाम,वेरिनेसु अवेरिनो ।वेरिनेसु मनुस्सेसु,विहराम अवेरिनो ॥
Let us live so very happily, loving among the hostile. Among hostile humans, let us live with love.
Susukhaṁ vata jīvāma,āturesu anāturā;Āturesu manussesu,viharāma anāturā.
सुसुखं वत जीवाम,आतुरेसु अनातुरा ।आतुरेसु मनुस्सेसु,विहराम अनातुरा ॥
Let us live so very happily, healthy among the ailing. Among ailing humans let us live healthily.
Susukhaṁ vata jīvāma,ussukesu anussukā;Ussukesu manussesu,viharāma anussukā.
सुसुखं वत जीवाम,उस्सुकेसु अनुस्सुका ।उस्सुकेसु मनुस्सेसु,विहराम अनुस्सुका ॥
Let us live so very happily, content among the greedy. Among greedy humans, let us live content.
Susukhaṁ vata jīvāma,yesaṁ no natthi kiñcanaṁ;Pītibhakkhā bhavissāma,devā ābhassarā yathā.
सुसुखं वत जीवाम,येसं नो नत्थि किञ्चनं ।पीतिभक्खा भविस्साम,देवा आभस्सरा यथा ॥
Let us live so very happily, we who have nothing. We shall feed on rapture, like the gods of sublime luminosity.
Jayaṁ veraṁ pasavati,dukkhaṁ seti parājito;Upasanto sukhaṁ seti,hitvā jayaparājayaṁ.
जयं वेरं पसवति,दुक्खं सेति पराजितो ।उपसन्तो सुखं सेति,हित्वा जयपराजयं ॥
Victory breeds enmity; the defeated sleep badly. The peaceful sleep at ease, having left victory and defeat behind.
Natthi rāgasamo aggi,Natthi dosasamo kali;Natthi khandhasamā dukkhā,Natthi santiparaṁ sukhaṁ.
नत्थि रागसमो अग्गि,नत्थि दोससमो कलि ।नत्थि खन्धसमा दुक्खा,नत्थि सन्तिपरं सुखं ॥
There is no fire like greed, no crime like hate, no suffering like the aggregates, no bliss beyond peace.
Jighacchāparamā rogā,saṅkhāraparamā dukhā;Etaṁ ñatvā yathābhūtaṁ,nibbānaṁ paramaṁ sukhaṁ.
जिघच्छापरमा रोगा,सङ्खारपरमा दुखा ।एतं ञत्वा यथाभूतं,निब्बानं परमं सुखं ॥
Hunger is the worst illness, conditions are the worst suffering. When one has known this as it is, extinguishment is the ultimate happiness.
Ārogyaparamā lābhā,Santuṭṭhiparamaṁ dhanaṁ;Vissāsaparamā ñāti,Nibbānaṁ paramaṁ sukhaṁ.
आरोग्यपरमा लाभा,सन्तुट्ठिपरमं धनं ।विस्सासपरमा ञाति,निब्बानं परमं सुखं ॥
Health is the ultimate blessing; contentment, the ultimate wealth; trust is the ultimate family; extinguishment, the ultimate happiness.
Pavivekarasaṁ pitvā,rasaṁ upasamassa ca;Niddaro hoti nippāpo,dhammapītirasaṁ pivaṁ.
पविवेकरसं पित्वा,रसं उपसमस्स च ।निद्दरो होति निप्पापो,धम्मपीतिरसं पिवं ॥
Having drunk the nectar of seclusion and the nectar of peace, free of stress, free of evil, drink the joyous nectar of truth.
Sāhu dassanamariyānaṁ,sannivāso sadā sukho;Adassanena bālānaṁ,niccameva sukhī siyā.
साहु दस्सनमरियानं,सन्निवासो सदा सुखो ।अदस्सनेन बालानं,निच्चमेव सुखी सिया ॥
It’s good to see the noble ones, staying with them is always good. Were you not to see fools, you’d always be happy.
Bālasaṅgatacārī hi,dīghamaddhāna socati;Dukkho bālehi saṁvāso,amitteneva sabbadā;Dhīro ca sukhasaṁvāso,ñātīnaṁva samāgamo.
बालसङ्गतचारी हि,दीघमद्धान सोचति ।दुक्खो बालेहि संवासो,अमित्तेनेव सब्बदा ।धीरो च सुखसंवासो,ञातीनंव समागमो ॥
For one who consorts with fools grieves long. Painful is living with fools, like being stuck with your enemy. Happy is living with an attentive one, like meeting with your kin.
Tasmā hiDhīrañca paññañca bahussutañca,Dhorayhasīlaṁ vatavantamariyaṁ;Taṁ tādisaṁ sappurisaṁ sumedhaṁ,Bhajetha nakkhattapathaṁva candimā.Sukhavaggo pannarasamo.
तस्मा हिधीरञ्च पञ्ञञ्च बहुस्सुतञ्च,धोरय्हसीलं वतवन्तमरियं ।तं तादिसं सप्पुरिसं सुमेधं,भजेथ नक्खत्तपथंव चन्दिमा ॥सुखवग्गो पन्नरसमो ॥
Therefore: An attentive one, wise and learned, a behemoth of virtue, true to their vows, noble: follow a true and intelligent person such as this, as the moon tracks the path of the stars.
In verse 204, what is called the greatest wealth?
According to verse 201, who sleeps at ease?
In verse 202, what is compared to a fire?
Verse 203 calls which thing the worst illness?
Verse 207 compares living with a wise person to what?
In verse 208, the wise should be followed the way what follows the path of the stars?
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Pali (Mahāsaṅgīti edition) and English by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0) from SuttaCentral. Hindi and Marathi meanings, summaries and stories: IndiaDigital, awaiting review by a Buddhist scholar.
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