[Proem] This is my title, as the wisdom verses begin only with verse 4.
(3 Verses)
1 [stm.]
Vanditvā Ratanaṁ seṭṭhaṁ nissāya pubbake garuṁ,
Nītidhammaṁ pavakkhāmi, sabbalokasukhāvahaṁ.
Having worshipped the excellent Treasures Ratanaṁ is a neuter collective singular here, indicating the Three Treasures. and my teacher, depending upon the ancients, I will proclaim the Dhamma Wisdom, which brings happiness to the whole world.
2–3 [stm.]
Ācariyo ca Sippañ-ca, Paññā Sutaṁ Kathā Dhanaṁ,
Deso ca Nissayo Mittaṁ, Dujjano Sujano Balaṁ,
Itthī Putto ca Dāso ca, Gharāvāso Katākato,
Ñātabbo ca Alaṅkāro, Rājadhammopasevako,
Dukādimissako ceva, Pakiṇṇako ti mātikā.
The Teacher, Knowledge, Wisdom, Learning, Speech and Wealth, A Country, Dependence, A Friend, A Bad Person, A Good Person, Strength, A Woman, The Child, The Slave, The Householder, Done (by the Wise) and Not Done (by the Wise), To Be Known, An Ornament, Kingly Duty, The Courtier, A Mixture of Pairs and So On, and Miscellaneous is the table of contents. A mātika means literally a matrix, but what it means in context is a table of contents. These first three verses are written by the collector-translator. The idea of having headings—rather than end-titles—and a table of contents is found in Sankrit works of this kind, and the Pāḷi follows suit.