Dhammapada · Chapter 25 of 26 · verses 360 to 382
The restrained, joyful monk who shines like the moon freed from clouds.
Bhikkhuvagga
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In this chapter the Buddha describes the ideal bhikkhu, or mendicant monk. Such a person guards the senses, body, speech and mind, speaks gently, delights in the Dhamma, is content with what is received and does not envy others. The chapter teaches that meditation (jhana) and wisdom support each other, and that seeing the rise and fall of experience brings deep joy. It urges self-reliance, saying that one is one's own protector, and closes with the image of a young monk devoted to the teaching who lights up the world like the moon freed from clouds.
Self-masteryMeditationHappinessSpeech
The commentary tells of a poor ploughman who became a monk and hung his old plough and ragged clothes on a tree near the monastery.
Whenever discontent arose, he went to the tree and asked himself whether he really wished to return to that hard life.
By admonishing himself this way, his mind grew steady, and in time, the commentary says, he reached awakening.
When monks noticed he no longer visited the tree, the Buddha spoke verses 379 and 380 on guiding oneself.
Cakkhunā saṁvaro sādhu,sādhu sotena saṁvaro;Ghānena saṁvaro sādhu,sādhu jivhāya saṁvaro.
चक्खुना संवरो साधु,साधु सोतेन संवरो ।घानेन संवरो साधु,साधु जिव्हाय संवरो ॥
Restraint of the eye is good; good is restraint of the ear; restraint of the nose is good; good is restraint of the tongue.
Kāyena saṁvaro sādhu,sādhu vācāya saṁvaro;Manasā saṁvaro sādhu,sādhu sabbattha saṁvaro;Sabbattha saṁvuto bhikkhu,sabbadukkhā pamuccati.
कायेन संवरो साधु,साधु वाचाय संवरो ।मनसा संवरो साधु,साधु सब्बत्थ संवरो ।सब्बत्थ संवुतो भिक्खु,सब्बदुक्खा पमुच्चति ॥
Restraint of the body is good; good is restraint of speech; restraint of mind is good; everywhere, restraint is good. The mendicant restrained everywhere is released from all suffering.
Hatthasaṁyato pādasaṁyato,Vācāsaṁyato saṁyatuttamo;Ajjhattarato samāhito,Eko santusito tamāhu bhikkhuṁ.
हत्थसंयतो पादसंयतो,वाचासंयतो संयतुत्तमो ।अज्झत्तरतो समाहितो,एको सन्तुसितो तमाहु भिक्खुं ॥
One restrained in hand and foot, and in speech, the supreme restraint; happy inside, serene, solitary, content, I call a mendicant.
Yo mukhasaṁyato bhikkhu,mantabhāṇī anuddhato;Atthaṁ dhammañca dīpeti,madhuraṁ tassa bhāsitaṁ.
यो मुखसंयतो भिक्खु,मन्तभाणी अनुद्धतो ।अत्थं धम्मञ्च दीपेति,मधुरं तस्स भासितं ॥
When a mendicant of restrained mouth, thoughtful in counsel, not restless, explains the text and its meaning, their words are sweet.
Dhammārāmo dhammarato,dhammaṁ anuvicintayaṁ;Dhammaṁ anussaraṁ bhikkhu,saddhammā na parihāyati.
धम्मारामो धम्मरतो,धम्मं अनुविचिन्तयं ।धम्मं अनुस्सरं भिक्खु,सद्धम्मा न परिहायति ॥
Delighting in the teaching, enjoying the teaching, contemplating the teaching, a mendicant who recollects the teaching doesn’t fall away from the true teaching.
Salābhaṁ nātimaññeyya,nāññesaṁ pihayaṁ care;Aññesaṁ pihayaṁ bhikkhu,samādhiṁ nādhigacchati.
सलाभं नातिमञ्ञेय्य,नाञ्ञेसं पिहयं चरे ।अञ्ञेसं पिहयं भिक्खु,समाधिं नाधिगच्छति ॥
A well-off mendicant ought not look down on others, nor should they be envious. A mendicant who envies others does not achieve immersion.
Appalābhopi ce bhikkhu,salābhaṁ nātimaññati;Taṁ ve devā pasaṁsanti,suddhājīviṁ atanditaṁ.
अप्पलाभोपि चे भिक्खु,सलाभं नातिमञ्ञति ।तं वे देवा पसंसन्ति,सुद्धाजीविं अतन्दितं ॥
If a mendicant is poor in offerings, the well-to-do ought not look down on them. For the gods indeed praise them, who are tireless and pure of livelihood.
Sabbaso nāmarūpasmiṁ,yassa natthi mamāyitaṁ;Asatā ca na socati,sa ve “bhikkhū”ti vuccati.
सब्बसो नामरूपस्मिं,यस्स नत्थि ममायितं ।असता च न सोचति,स वे “भिक्खू”ति वुच्चति ॥
One who has no sense of ownership in the whole realm of name and form, who does not grieve for that which is not, is said to be a mendicant.
Mettāvihārī yo bhikkhu,pasanno buddhasāsane;Adhigacche padaṁ santaṁ,saṅkhārūpasamaṁ sukhaṁ.
मेत्ताविहारी यो भिक्खु,पसन्नो बुद्धसासने ।अधिगच्छे पदं सन्तं,सङ्खारूपसमं सुखं ॥
A mendicant who meditates on love, devoted to the Buddha’s teaching, would realize the peaceful state, the blissful stilling of conditions.
Siñca bhikkhu imaṁ nāvaṁ,sittā te lahumessati;Chetvā rāgañca dosañca,tato nibbānamehisi.
सिञ्च भिक्खु इमं नावं,सित्ता ते लहुमेस्सति ।छेत्वा रागञ्च दोसञ्च,ततो निब्बानमेहिसि ॥
Bail out this boat, mendicant! When bailed out it will float lightly. Having cut off desire and hate, you shall reach extinguishment.
Pañca chinde pañca jahe,pañca cuttari bhāvaye;Pañca saṅgātigo bhikkhu,“oghatiṇṇo”ti vuccati.
पञ्च छिन्दे पञ्च जहे,पञ्च चुत्तरि भावये ।पञ्च सङ्गातिगो भिक्खु,“ओघतिण्णो”ति वुच्चति ॥
Five to cut, five to drop, and five more to develop. When a mendicant slips five chains they’re said to have crossed the flood.
Jhāya bhikkhu mā pamādo,Mā te kāmaguṇe ramessu cittaṁ;Mā lohaguḷaṁ gilī pamatto,Mā kandi “dukkhamidan”ti dayhamāno.
झाय भिक्खु मा पमादो,मा ते कामगुणे रमेस्सु चित्तं ।मा लोहगुळं गिली पमत्तो,मा कन्दि “दुक्खमिदन्”ति दय्हमानो ॥
Practice absorption, don’t be negligent! Don’t let the mind delight in the senses! Don’t heedlessly swallow a hot iron ball! And when it burns, don’t cry, “Oh, the pain!”
Natthi jhānaṁ apaññassa,paññā natthi ajhāyato;Yamhi jhānañca paññā ca,sa ve nibbānasantike.
नत्थि झानं अपञ्ञस्स,पञ्ञा नत्थि अझायतो ।यम्हि झानञ्च पञ्ञा च,स वे निब्बानसन्तिके ॥
No absorption for one without wisdom, no wisdom for one without absorption. But one with absorption and wisdom, they have truly drawn near to extinguishment.
Suññāgāraṁ paviṭṭhassa,santacittassa bhikkhuno;Amānusī rati hoti,sammā dhammaṁ vipassato.
सुञ्ञागारं पविट्ठस्स,सन्तचित्तस्स भिक्खुनो ।अमानुसी रति होति,सम्मा धम्मं विपस्सतो ॥
A mendicant who enters an empty hut with mind at peace finds a superhuman delight as they rightly discern the Dhamma.
Yato yato sammasati,khandhānaṁ udayabbayaṁ;Labhatī pītipāmojjaṁ,amataṁ taṁ vijānataṁ.
यतो यतो सम्मसति,खन्धानं उदयब्बयं ।लभती पीतिपामोज्जं,अमतं तं विजानतं ॥
Whenever they are mindful of the rise and fall of the aggregates, they feel rapture and joy: that is freedom from death for one who knows.
Tatrāyamādi bhavati,idha paññassa bhikkhuno;Indriyagutti santuṭṭhi,pātimokkhe ca saṁvaro.
तत्रायमादि भवति,इध पञ्ञस्स भिक्खुनो ।इन्द्रियगुत्ति सन्तुट्ठि,पातिमोक्खे च संवरो ॥
This is the very start of the path for a wise mendicant here: guarding the senses, contentment, and restraint in the monastic code.
Mitte bhajassu kalyāṇe,suddhājīve atandite;Paṭisanthāravutyassa,ācārakusalo siyā;Tato pāmojjabahulo,dukkhassantaṁ karissati.
मित्ते भजस्सु कल्याणे,सुद्धाजीवे अतन्दिते ।पटिसन्थारवुत्यस्स,आचारकुसलो सिया ।ततो पामोज्जबहुलो,दुक्खस्सन्तं करिस्सति ॥
Mix with spiritual friends, who are tireless and pure of livelihood. Share what you have with others, being skillful in your conduct. And when you’re full of joy, you’ll make an end to suffering.
Vassikā viya pupphāni,maddavāni pamuñcati;Evaṁ rāgañca dosañca,vippamuñcetha bhikkhavo.
वस्सिका विय पुप्फानि,मद्दवानि पमुञ्चति ।एवं रागञ्च दोसञ्च,विप्पमुञ्चेथ भिक्खवो ॥
As a jasmine sheds its withered flowers, O mendicants, shed greed and hate.
Santakāyo santavāco,santavā susamāhito;Vantalokāmiso bhikkhu,“upasanto”ti vuccati.
सन्तकायो सन्तवाचो,सन्तवा सुसमाहितो ।वन्तलोकामिसो भिक्खु,“उपसन्तो”ति वुच्चति ॥
Calm in body, calm in speech, peaceful and serene; a mendicant who’s spat out the world’s bait is said to be one at peace.
Attanā codayattānaṁ,paṭimaṁsetha attanā;So attagutto satimā,sukhaṁ bhikkhu vihāhisi.
अत्तना चोदयत्तानं,पटिमंसेथ अत्तना ।सो अत्तगुत्तो सतिमा,सुखं भिक्खु विहाहिसि ॥
Urge yourself on, reflect on yourself. A mendicant self-controlled and mindful will always dwell in happiness.
Attā hi attano nātho,ko hi nātho paro siyā;Attā hi attano gati,tasmā saṁyamamattānaṁ;Assaṁ bhadraṁva vāṇijo.
अत्ता हि अत्तनो नाथो,को हि नाथो परो सिया ।अत्ता हि अत्तनो गति,तस्मा संयममत्तानं ।अस्सं भद्रंव वाणिजो ॥
Self is indeed the lord of self, for who else would be one’s lord? Self is indeed the home of self, so restrain yourself, as a merchant his thoroughbred steed.
Pāmojjabahulo bhikkhu,pasanno buddhasāsane;Adhigacche padaṁ santaṁ,saṅkhārūpasamaṁ sukhaṁ.
पामोज्जबहुलो भिक्खु,पसन्नो बुद्धसासने ।अधिगच्छे पदं सन्तं,सङ्खारूपसमं सुखं ॥
A monk full of joy trusting in the Buddha’s teaching, would realize the peaceful state, the blissful stilling of conditions.
Yo have daharo bhikkhu,yuñjati buddhasāsane;Somaṁ lokaṁ pabhāseti,abbhā muttova candimā.Bhikkhuvaggo pañcavīsatimo.
यो हवे दहरो भिक्खु,युञ्जति बुद्धसासने ।सोमं लोकं पभासेति,अब्भा मुत्तोव चन्दिमा ॥भिक्खुवग्गो पञ्चवीसतिमो ॥
A young mendicant devoted to the Buddha’s teaching, shines upon this world, like the moon freed from clouds.
According to verse 372, what is there no meditation (jhana) without?
Verse 380 says to restrain oneself as a merchant restrains what?
In verse 377, monks are told to shed greed and hate like what?
Verse 382 says a young monk devoted to the teaching shines like what?
In verse 369, what should be bailed out so it floats lightly?
According to verse 375, what is the very start of the path for a wise monk?
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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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