Dhammapada · Chapter 2 of 26 · verses 21 to 32
Heedfulness is the path to the deathless; heedlessness leads to death.
Appamādavagga
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In this chapter the Buddha praises appamada, a word meaning heedfulness, diligence and careful attention. The opening verse calls heedfulness the path to the deathless, that is, to nibbana, liberation and the end of suffering, while heedlessness is likened to death. The wise are shown guarding diligence as their greatest treasure and building an inner island that no flood can overwhelm. Buddhists understand this chapter as a call to steady, wakeful effort in daily life and in meditation.
DiligenceMeditationNibbana
The commentary tells of Culapanthaka, a monk who for four months could not learn even a single verse by heart.
His elder brother, also a monk, told him to leave the order. Culapanthaka stood weeping at the monastery gate.
The Buddha gave him a clean white cloth and asked him to rub it while repeating the words 'removing dirt'.
As the cloth grew soiled, he saw how all things change, turned this insight inward, and attained full liberation.
Speaking of him, the Buddha uttered verse 25: by effort and restraint the wise make an island no flood can overwhelm.
Appamādo amatapadaṁ,pamādo maccuno padaṁ;Appamattā na mīyanti,ye pamattā yathā matā.
अप्पमादो अमतपदं,पमादो मच्चुनो पदं ।अप्पमत्ता न मीयन्ति,ये पमत्ता यथा मता ॥
Heedfulness is the state free of death; heedlessness is the state of death. The heedful do not die, while the heedless are like the dead.
Evaṁ visesato ñatvā,appamādamhi paṇḍitā;Appamāde pamodanti,ariyānaṁ gocare ratā.
एवं विसेसतो ञत्वा,अप्पमादम्हि पण्डिता ।अप्पमादे पमोदन्ति,अरियानं गोचरे रता ॥
Understanding this distinction when it comes to heedfulness, the astute rejoice in heedfulness, happy in the noble ones’ domain.
Te jhāyino sātatikā,niccaṁ daḷhaparakkamā;Phusanti dhīrā nibbānaṁ,yogakkhemaṁ anuttaraṁ.
ते झायिनो साततिका,निच्चं दळ्हपरक्कमा ।फुसन्ति धीरा निब्बानं,योगक्खेमं अनुत्तरं ॥
They who regularly meditate, always staunchly vigorous; the attentive realize extinguishment, the supreme sanctuary from the yoke.
Uṭṭhānavato satīmato,Sucikammassa nisammakārino;Saññatassa dhammajīvino,Appamattassa yasobhivaḍḍhati.
उट्ठानवतो सतीमतो,सुचिकम्मस्स निसम्मकारिनो ।सञ्ञतस्स धम्मजीविनो,अप्पमत्तस्स यसोभिवड्ढति ॥
For the hard-working and mindful, pure of deed and attentive, restrained, living righteously, and diligent, their reputation only grows.
Uṭṭhānenappamādena,saṁyamena damena ca;Dīpaṁ kayirātha medhāvī,yaṁ ogho nābhikīrati.
उट्ठानेनप्पमादेन,संयमेन दमेन च ।दीपं कयिराथ मेधावी,यं ओघो नाभिकीरति ॥
By hard work and diligence, by restraint and by self-control, a smart person would build an island that the floods cannot overflow.
Pamādamanuyuñjanti,bālā dummedhino janā;Appamādañca medhāvī,dhanaṁ seṭṭhaṁva rakkhati.
पमादमनुयुञ्जन्ति,बाला दुम्मेधिनो जना ।अप्पमादञ्च मेधावी,धनं सेट्ठंव रक्खति ॥
Fools and simpletons devote themselves to negligence. But the wise protect diligence as their best treasure.
Mā pamādamanuyuñjetha,mā kāmaratisanthavaṁ;Appamatto hi jhāyanto,pappoti vipulaṁ sukhaṁ.
मा पमादमनुयुञ्जेथ,मा कामरतिसन्थवं ।अप्पमत्तो हि झायन्तो,पप्पोति विपुलं सुखं ॥
Don’t devote yourself to negligence, or delight in erotic intimacy. For if you’re diligent and meditate, you’ll attain abundant happiness.
Pamādaṁ appamādena,yadā nudati paṇḍito;Paññāpāsādamāruyha,asoko sokiniṁ pajaṁ;Pabbataṭṭhova bhūmaṭṭhe,dhīro bāle avekkhati.
पमादं अप्पमादेन,यदा नुदति पण्डितो ।पञ्ञापासादमारुय्ह,असोको सोकिनिं पजं ।पब्बतट्ठोव भूमट्ठे,धीरो बाले अवेक्खति ॥
When the astute dispel negligence by means of diligence, ascending the palace of wisdom, sorrowless, they behold this generation of sorrow, as an attentive one on a mountain top beholds the fools below.
Appamatto pamattesu,suttesu bahujāgaro;Abalassaṁva sīghasso,hitvā yāti sumedhaso.
अप्पमत्तो पमत्तेसु,सुत्तेसु बहुजागरो ।अबलस्संव सीघस्सो,हित्वा याति सुमेधसो ॥
Heedful among the heedless, wide awake while others sleep, a true sage leaves them behind, like a swift horse passing a feeble.
Appamādena maghavā,devānaṁ seṭṭhataṁ gato;Appamādaṁ pasaṁsanti,pamādo garahito sadā.
अप्पमादेन मघवा,देवानं सेट्ठतं गतो ।अप्पमादं पसंसन्ति,पमादो गरहितो सदा ॥
Maghavā became chief of the gods by means of diligence. People praise diligence, while negligence is always deplored.
Appamādarato bhikkhu,pamāde bhayadassi vā;Saṁyojanaṁ aṇuṁ thūlaṁ,ḍahaṁ aggīva gacchati.
अप्पमादरतो भिक्खु,पमादे भयदस्सि वा ।संयोजनं अणुं थूलं,डहं अग्गीव गच्छति ॥
A mendicant who loves diligence, seeing fear in negligence, advances like fire, burning up fetters big and small.
Appamādarato bhikkhu,pamāde bhayadassi vā;Abhabbo parihānāya,nibbānasseva santike.Appamādavaggo dutiyo.
अप्पमादरतो भिक्खु,पमादे भयदस्सि वा ।अभब्बो परिहानाय,निब्बानस्सेव सन्तिके ॥अप्पमादवग्गो दुतियो ॥
A mendicant who loves diligence, seeing fear in negligence, such a one can’t decline, and has drawn near to extinguishment.
Verse 21 calls heedfulness the path to what?
In verse 25, what does the wise person build through effort and restraint?
According to verse 26, the wise guard diligence as what?
In verse 28, from where does the wise person look down on those who grieve?
Verse 29 compares the wakeful sage to what?
In verse 31, the diligent monk advances like fire, burning what?
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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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