Dhammapada · Chapter 7 of 26 · verses 90 to 99
Free of all ties, the perfected ones leave no trace.
Arahantavagga
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In this chapter the Buddha describes the arahant, the perfected one who has reached nibbana, liberation and the end of suffering. Such a person has finished the journey, is free of sorrow and of every bond, and moves on like a swan leaving a lake. Their path is as hard to trace as the flight of birds in the sky, and they are calm in thought, word and deed, patient like the earth and clear like a lake without mud. The chapter ends by saying that wherever such ones live, in village or forest, that place is delightful.
NibbanaSelf-masteryWisdom
The commentary tells that a monk, resentful of the elder Sariputta, claimed Sariputta had struck him and left without apologising.
In fact only the hem of Sariputta's robe had brushed him in passing. The Buddha called Sariputta to answer.
Sariputta calmly said that, like the earth which bears everything thrown on it, he held no anger toward anyone.
The accuser was moved, confessed and asked forgiveness. The Buddha then spoke verse 95, likening such a one to the earth.
Gataddhino visokassa,vippamuttassa sabbadhi;Sabbaganthappahīnassa,pariḷāho na vijjati.
गतद्धिनो विसोकस्स,विप्पमुत्तस्स सब्बधि ।सब्बगन्थप्पहीनस्स,परिळाहो न विज्जति ॥
At journey’s end, rid of sorrow; everywhere free, all ties given up, no fever is found in them.
Uyyuñjanti satīmanto,na nikete ramanti te;Haṁsāva pallalaṁ hitvā,okamokaṁ jahanti te.
उय्युञ्जन्ति सतीमन्तो,न निकेते रमन्ति ते ।हंसाव पल्ललं हित्वा,ओकमोकं जहन्ति ते ॥
The mindful apply themselves; they delight in no abode. Like a swan gone from the marsh, they leave home after home behind.
Yesaṁ sannicayo natthi,ye pariññātabhojanā;Suññato animitto ca,vimokkho yesaṁ gocaro;Ākāseva sakuntānaṁ,gati tesaṁ durannayā.
येसं सन्निचयो नत्थि,ये परिञ्ञातभोजना ।सुञ्ञतो अनिमित्तो च,विमोक्खो येसं गोचरो ।आकासेव सकुन्तानं,गति तेसं दुरन्नया ॥
Those with nothing stored up, who have understood their food, whose domain is the liberation of the signless and the empty: their path is hard to trace, like birds in the sky.
Yassāsavā parikkhīṇā,āhāre ca anissito;Suññato animitto ca,vimokkho yassa gocaro;Ākāseva sakuntānaṁ,padaṁ tassa durannayaṁ.
यस्सासवा परिक्खीणा,आहारे च अनिस्सितो ।सुञ्ञतो अनिमित्तो च,विमोक्खो यस्स गोचरो ।आकासेव सकुन्तानं,पदं तस्स दुरन्नयं ॥
One whose defilements have ended; who’s not attached to food; whose domain is the liberation of the signless and the empty: their track is hard to trace, like birds in the sky.
Yassindriyāni samathaṅgatāni,Assā yathā sārathinā sudantā;Pahīnamānassa anāsavassa,Devāpi tassa pihayanti tādino.
यस्सिन्द्रियानि समथङ्गतानि,अस्सा यथा सारथिना सुदन्ता ।पहीनमानस्स अनासवस्स,देवापि तस्स पिहयन्ति तादिनो ॥
Whose faculties have become serene, like horses tamed by a charioteer, who has abandoned conceit and defilements; the unaffected one is envied by even the gods.
Pathavisamo no virujjhati,Indakhilupamo tādi subbato;Rahadova apetakaddamo,Saṁsārā na bhavanti tādino.
पथविसमो नो विरुज्झति,इन्दखिलुपमो तादि सुब्बतो ।रहदोव अपेतकद्दमो,संसारा न भवन्ति तादिनो ॥
Undisturbed like the earth, true to their vows, steady as Indra’s pillar, like a lake clear of mud; such a one does not transmigrate.
Santaṁ tassa manaṁ hoti,santā vācā ca kamma ca;Sammadaññāvimuttassa,upasantassa tādino.
सन्तं तस्स मनं होति,सन्ता वाचा च कम्म च ।सम्मदञ्ञाविमुत्तस्स,उपसन्तस्स तादिनो ॥
Their mind is peaceful, peaceful are their speech and deeds. Such a one is at peace, rightly freed through enlightenment.
Assaddho akataññū ca,sandhicchedo ca yo naro;Hatāvakāso vantāso,sa ve uttamaporiso.
अस्सद्धो अकतञ्ञू च,सन्धिच्छेदो च यो नरो ।हतावकासो वन्तासो,स वे उत्तमपोरिसो ॥
Lacking faith, a house-breaker, one who acknowledges nothing, purged of hope, they’ve wasted their chance: that is indeed the supreme person!
Gāme vā yadi vāraññe,Ninne vā yadi vā thale;Yattha arahanto viharanti,Taṁ bhūmirāmaṇeyyakaṁ.
गामे वा यदि वारञ्ञे,निन्ने वा यदि वा थले ।यत्थ अरहन्तो विहरन्ति,तं भूमिरामणेय्यकं ॥
Whether in village or wilderness, in a valley or the uplands, wherever the perfected ones live is a delightful place.
Ramaṇīyāni araññāni,yattha na ramatī jano;Vītarāgā ramissanti,na te kāmagavesino.Arahantavaggo sattamo.
रमणीयानि अरञ्ञानि,यत्थ न रमती जनो ।वीतरागा रमिस्सन्ति,न ते कामगवेसिनो ॥अरहन्तवग्गो सत्तमो ॥
Delightful are the wildernesses where no people delight. Those free of greed will delight there, not those who seek sensual pleasures.
In verse 91, the mindful leave home after home like which bird?
Verses 92 and 93 say the path of the liberated is hard to trace, like what?
In verse 94, the perfected one's senses are calm like what?
Verse 95 compares the patient one to which element?
According to verse 96, which three are calm in one freed by right knowledge?
What does verse 98 say about places where perfected ones live?
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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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