Dhammapada · Chapter 21 of 26 · verses 290 to 305
Assorted teachings on mindfulness, recollection and the shining good.
Pakiṇṇakavagga
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This chapter gathers varied teachings. The Buddha advises giving up a small happiness for a greater one and warns that seeking one's own happiness by hurting others only breeds enmity. A refrain describes the disciples of Gotama who wake up refreshed because day and night they recollect the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha, stay mindful of the body, and delight in harmlessness and meditation. Two riddle-like verses use striking images that the commentary explains as cutting off craving, conceit and wrong views. The chapter ends by praising the good, who shine from afar like the Himalayas, and the one who delights in solitude.
The mindMeditationEthicsHappiness
The commentary tells that the city of Vesali was struck by drought, famine and sickness, and its people invited the Buddha from Rajagaha.
King Bimbisara prepared the road with great honour, and as the Buddha reached Vesali, heavy rain fell.
The commentary says Ananda recited the Ratana Sutta through the city, and its troubles eased.
When monks marvelled at the honours, the Buddha traced them to a small sacrifice in a past life and spoke verse 290.
Mattāsukhapariccāgā,passe ce vipulaṁ sukhaṁ;Caje mattāsukhaṁ dhīro,sampassaṁ vipulaṁ sukhaṁ.
मत्तासुखपरिच्चागा,पस्से चे विपुलं सुखं ।चजे मत्तासुखं धीरो,सम्पस्सं विपुलं सुखं ॥
If by giving up material happiness one sees abundant happiness, the attentive would give up material happiness, seeing the abundant happiness.
Paradukkhūpadhānena,attano sukhamicchati;Verasaṁsaggasaṁsaṭṭho,verā so na parimuccati.
परदुक्खूपधानेन,अत्तनो सुखमिच्छति ।वेरसंसग्गसंसट्ठो,वेरा सो न परिमुच्चति ॥
Seeking their own happiness by imposing suffering on others, intimate with enmity, they’re not freed from enmity.
Yañhi kiccaṁ apaviddhaṁ,akiccaṁ pana karīyati;Unnaḷānaṁ pamattānaṁ,tesaṁ vaḍḍhanti āsavā.
यञ्हि किच्चं अपविद्धं,अकिच्चं पन करीयति ।उन्नळानं पमत्तानं,तेसं वड्ढन्ति आसवा ॥
They dump what should be done, and do what should not be done. For the insolent and the negligent, their defilements only grow.
Yesañca susamāraddhā,niccaṁ kāyagatā sati;Akiccaṁ te na sevanti,kicce sātaccakārino;Satānaṁ sampajānānaṁ,atthaṁ gacchanti āsavā.
येसञ्च सुसमारद्धा,निच्चं कायगता सति ।अकिच्चं ते न सेवन्ति,किच्चे सातच्चकारिनो ।सतानं सम्पजानानं,अत्थं गच्छन्ति आसवा ॥
Those that have properly undertaken constant mindfulness of the body, don’t cultivate what should not be done, but always do what should be done. Mindful and aware, their defilements come to an end.
Mātaraṁ pitaraṁ hantvā,rājāno dve ca khattiye;Raṭṭhaṁ sānucaraṁ hantvā,anīgho yāti brāhmaṇo.
मातरं पितरं हन्त्वा,राजानो द्वे च खत्तिये ।रट्ठं सानुचरं हन्त्वा,अनीघो याति ब्राह्मणो ॥
Having slain mother and father, and two aristocratic kings, and having wiped out the kingdom with its tax collector, the brahmin walks on untroubled.
Mātaraṁ pitaraṁ hantvā,rājāno dve ca sotthiye;Veyagghapañcamaṁ hantvā,anīgho yāti brāhmaṇo.
मातरं पितरं हन्त्वा,राजानो द्वे च सोत्थिये ।वेयग्घपञ्चमं हन्त्वा,अनीघो याति ब्राह्मणो ॥
Having slain mother and father, and two prosperous kings, and a tiger as the fifth, the brahmin walks on untroubled.
Suppabuddhaṁ pabujjhanti,sadā gotamasāvakā;Yesaṁ divā ca ratto ca,niccaṁ buddhagatā sati.
सुप्पबुद्धं पबुज्झन्ति,सदा गोतमसावका ।येसं दिवा च रत्तो च,निच्चं बुद्धगता सति ॥
The disciples of Gotama always wake up refreshed, who day and night constantly recollect the Buddha.
Suppabuddhaṁ pabujjhanti,sadā gotamasāvakā;Yesaṁ divā ca ratto ca,niccaṁ dhammagatā sati.
सुप्पबुद्धं पबुज्झन्ति,सदा गोतमसावका ।येसं दिवा च रत्तो च,निच्चं धम्मगता सति ॥
The disciples of Gotama always wake up refreshed, who day and night constantly recollect the teaching.
Suppabuddhaṁ pabujjhanti,sadā gotamasāvakā;Yesaṁ divā ca ratto ca,niccaṁ saṅghagatā sati.
सुप्पबुद्धं पबुज्झन्ति,सदा गोतमसावका ।येसं दिवा च रत्तो च,निच्चं सङ्घगता सति ॥
The disciples of Gotama always wake up refreshed, who day and night constantly recollect the Saṅgha.
Suppabuddhaṁ pabujjhanti,sadā gotamasāvakā;Yesaṁ divā ca ratto ca,niccaṁ kāyagatā sati.
सुप्पबुद्धं पबुज्झन्ति,सदा गोतमसावका ।येसं दिवा च रत्तो च,निच्चं कायगता सति ॥
The disciples of Gotama always wake up refreshed, who day and night are constantly mindful of the body.
Suppabuddhaṁ pabujjhanti,sadā gotamasāvakā;Yesaṁ divā ca ratto ca,ahiṁsāya rato mano.
सुप्पबुद्धं पबुज्झन्ति,सदा गोतमसावका ।येसं दिवा च रत्तो च,अहिंसाय रतो मनो ॥
The disciples of Gotama always wake up refreshed, whose minds day and night delight in harmlessness.
Suppabuddhaṁ pabujjhanti,sadā gotamasāvakā;Yesaṁ divā ca ratto ca,bhāvanāya rato mano.
सुप्पबुद्धं पबुज्झन्ति,सदा गोतमसावका ।येसं दिवा च रत्तो च,भावनाय रतो मनो ॥
The disciples of Gotama always wake up refreshed, whose minds day and night delight in meditation.
Duppabbajjaṁ durabhiramaṁ,Durāvāsā gharā dukhā;Dukkhosamānasaṁvāso,Dukkhānupatitaddhagū;Tasmā na caddhagū siyā,Na ca dukkhānupatito siyā.
दुप्पब्बज्जं दुरभिरमं,दुरावासा घरा दुखा ।दुक्खोसमानसंवासो,दुक्खानुपतितद्धगू ।तस्मा न चद्धगू सिया,न च दुक्खानुपतितो सिया ॥
Going forth is hard, it’s hard to be happy; life at home is hard too, and painful, it’s painful to stay when you’ve nothing in common. A traveler is a prey to pain, so don’t be a traveler, don’t be prey to pain.
Saddho sīlena sampanno,yasobhogasamappito;Yaṁ yaṁ padesaṁ bhajati,tattha tattheva pūjito.
सद्धो सीलेन सम्पन्नो,यसोभोगसमप्पितो ।यं यं पदेसं भजति,तत्थ तत्थेव पूजितो ॥
One who is faithful, accomplished in ethics, blessed with fame and wealth, is honored in whatever place they frequent.
Dūre santo pakāsenti,himavantova pabbato;Asantettha na dissanti,rattiṁ khittā yathā sarā.
दूरे सन्तो पकासेन्ति,हिमवन्तोव पब्बतो ।असन्तेत्थ न दिस्सन्ति,रत्तिं खित्ता यथा सरा ॥
The good shine from afar, like the Himalayan peaks, but the wicked are not seen, like arrows scattered in the night.
Ekāsanaṁ ekaseyyaṁ,eko caramatandito;Eko damayamattānaṁ,vanante ramito siyā.Pakiṇṇakavaggo ekavīsatimo.
एकासनं एकसेय्यं,एको चरमतन्दितो ।एको दमयमत्तानं,वनन्ते रमितो सिया ॥पकिण्णकवग्गो एकवीसतिमो ॥
Sitting alone, sleeping alone, tirelessly wandering alone; one who tames themselves alone would delight within a forest.
According to verse 290, what should the wise give up?
What happens, says verse 291, to one who seeks happiness by causing others pain?
In verses 296 to 298, what do Gotama's disciples recollect day and night?
Verse 304 says the good shine from afar like what?
According to verse 300, in what do the minds of Gotama's disciples delight?
According to the commentary, what does the "mother" in verse 294 stand for?
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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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