Dhammapada · Chapter 6 of 26 · verses 76 to 89
The wise welcome correction, stay steady, and tame themselves.
Paṇḍitavagga
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In this chapter the Buddha describes the pandita, the wise or astute person. Such a person treats one who points out their faults as a guide to hidden treasure, chooses good friends, and finds joy in the Dhamma. As craftsmen shape water, arrows and wood, the wise shape themselves; like a solid rock they are unmoved by praise and blame, and like a deep lake they are calm and clear. The chapter closes with the few who cross to the far shore, giving up attachment and reaching nibbana, liberation and the end of suffering, in this very life.
WisdomFriendshipSelf-masteryNibbana
The commentary tells of Radha, a poor elderly brahmin who lived at the monastery doing small chores, but whom no monk would ordain.
The Buddha asked if anyone remembered a kindness from him. Sariputta recalled that Radha had once given him a spoonful of food.
Out of gratitude Sariputta ordained Radha, who accepted every correction and instruction without resentment.
Radha soon attained liberation. Praising such teachability, the Buddha spoke verse 76 about the one who points out faults.
Nidhīnaṁva pavattāraṁ,yaṁ passe vajjadassinaṁ;Niggayhavādiṁ medhāviṁ,tādisaṁ paṇḍitaṁ bhaje;Tādisaṁ bhajamānassa,seyyo hoti na pāpiyo.
निधीनंव पवत्तारं,यं पस्से वज्जदस्सिनं ।निग्गय्हवादिं मेधाविं,तादिसं पण्डितं भजे ।तादिसं भजमानस्स,सेय्यो होति न पापियो ॥
Regard one who sees your faults as a guide to a hidden treasure. Stay close to one so intelligent and astute who curbs you when you need it. Sticking close to such an impartial person, things get better, not worse.
Ovadeyyānusāseyya,asabbhā ca nivāraye;Satañhi so piyo hoti,asataṁ hoti appiyo.
ओवदेय्यानुसासेय्य,असब्भा च निवारये ।सतञ्हि सो पियो होति,असतं होति अप्पियो ॥
Advise and instruct; curb wickedness: for you shall be loved by the good, and disliked by the bad.
Na bhaje pāpake mitte,na bhaje purisādhame;Bhajetha mitte kalyāṇe,bhajetha purisuttame.
न भजे पापके मित्ते,न भजे पुरिसाधमे ।भजेथ मित्ते कल्याणे,भजेथ पुरिसुत्तमे ॥
Don’t mix with bad friends, nor with the worst of men. Mix with spiritual friends, and with the best of men.
Dhammapīti sukhaṁ seti,vippasannena cetasā;Ariyappavedite dhamme,sadā ramati paṇḍito.
धम्मपीति सुखं सेति,विप्पसन्नेन चेतसा ।अरियप्पवेदिते धम्मे,सदा रमति पण्डितो ॥
Through joy in the teaching you sleep at ease, with clear and confident heart. An astute person always delights in the teaching proclaimed by the Noble One.
Udakañhi nayanti nettikā,Usukārā namayanti tejanaṁ;Dāruṁ namayanti tacchakā,Attānaṁ damayanti paṇḍitā.
उदकञ्हि नयन्ति नेत्तिका,उसुकारा नमयन्ति तेजनं ।दारुं नमयन्ति तच्छका,अत्तानं दमयन्ति पण्डिता ॥
While irrigators guide water, fletchers bend arrows straight, and carpenters bend timber straight, the astute tame themselves.
Selo yathā ekaghano,vātena na samīrati;Evaṁ nindāpasaṁsāsu,na samiñjanti paṇḍitā.
सेलो यथा एकघनो,वातेन न समीरति ।एवं निन्दापसंसासु,न समिञ्जन्ति पण्डिता ॥
As the wind cannot stir a solid mass of rock, so too blame and praise do not affect the wise.
Yathāpi rahado gambhīro,vippasanno anāvilo;Evaṁ dhammāni sutvāna,vippasīdanti paṇḍitā.
यथापि रहदो गम्भीरो,विप्पसन्नो अनाविलो ।एवं धम्मानि सुत्वान,विप्पसीदन्ति पण्डिता ॥
Like a deep lake, clear and unclouded, so clear are the astute when they hear the teachings.
Sabbattha ve sappurisā cajanti,Na kāmakāmā lapayanti santo;Sukhena phuṭṭhā atha vā dukhena,Na uccāvacaṁ paṇḍitā dassayanti.
सब्बत्थ वे सप्पुरिसा चजन्ति,न कामकामा लपयन्ति सन्तो ।सुखेन फुट्ठा अथ वा दुखेन,न उच्चावचं पण्डिता दस्सयन्ति ॥
True persons give up everything, they don’t cajole for the things they desire. Though touched by sadness or happiness, the astute appear neither depressed nor elated.
Na attahetu na parassa hetu,Na puttamicche na dhanaṁ na raṭṭhaṁ;Na iccheyya adhammena samiddhimattano,Sa sīlavā paññavā dhammiko siyā.
न अत्तहेतु न परस्स हेतु,न पुत्तमिच्छे न धनं न रट्ठं ।न इच्छेय्य अधम्मेन समिद्धिमत्तनो,स सीलवा पञ्ञवा धम्मिको सिया ॥
Never wish for success by unjust means, for your own sake or that of another, desiring children, wealth, or nation; rather, be virtuous, wise, and just.
Appakā te manussesu,ye janā pāragāmino;Athāyaṁ itarā pajā,tīramevānudhāvati.
अप्पका ते मनुस्सेसु,ये जना पारगामिनो ।अथायं इतरा पजा,तीरमेवानुधावति ॥
Few are those among humans who cross to the far shore. The rest just run around on the near shore.
Ye ca kho sammadakkhāte,dhamme dhammānuvattino;Te janā pāramessanti,maccudheyyaṁ suduttaraṁ.
ये च खो सम्मदक्खाते,धम्मे धम्मानुवत्तिनो ।ते जना पारमेस्सन्ति,मच्चुधेय्यं सुदुत्तरं ॥
When the teaching is well explained, the people who practice accordingly will cross over Death’s dominion so hard to pass.
Kaṇhaṁ dhammaṁ vippahāya,Sukkaṁ bhāvetha paṇḍito;Okā anokamāgamma,Viveke yattha dūramaṁ.
कण्हं धम्मं विप्पहाय,सुक्कं भावेथ पण्डितो ।ओका अनोकमागम्म,विवेके यत्थ दूरमं ॥
Rid of dark qualities, an astute person would develop the bright. Having left home for homelessness in seclusion, where joy is hard,
Tatrābhiratimiccheyya,hitvā kāme akiñcano;Pariyodapeyya attānaṁ,cittaklesehi paṇḍito.
तत्राभिरतिमिच्छेय्य,हित्वा कामे अकिञ्चनो ।परियोदपेय्य अत्तानं,चित्तक्लेसेहि पण्डितो ॥
they’d long for satisfaction there. Forsaking sensual pleasures, owning nothing, an astute person would cleanse themselves of mental corruptions.
Yesaṁ sambodhiyaṅgesu,sammā cittaṁ subhāvitaṁ;Ādānapaṭinissagge,anupādāya ye ratā;Khīṇāsavā jutimanto,te loke parinibbutā.Paṇḍitavaggo chaṭṭho.
येसं सम्बोधियङ्गेसु,सम्मा चित्तं सुभावितं ।आदानपटिनिस्सग्गे,अनुपादाय ये रता ।खीणासवा जुतिमन्तो,ते लोके परिनिब्बुता ॥पण्डितवग्गो छट्ठो ॥
And those whose minds are rightly developed in the awakening factors; who, letting go of attachments, delight in not grasping: with defilements ended, brilliant, they are quenched in this world.
According to verse 76, how should we regard someone who points out our faults?
Verse 78 advises keeping company with whom?
In verse 80, after irrigators, fletchers and carpenters, what do the wise shape?
Verse 81 says the wise are not moved by praise and blame, just as a solid rock is not moved by what?
What image does verse 82 use for the minds of the wise after hearing the Dhamma?
According to verse 85, what do most people do instead of crossing to the far shore?
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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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