4. Apramādavarga
The Chapter about Heedfulness
(39 Verses)
[4.1]
[stm.]
Apramādo hy amṛtapadaṁ, pramādo mṛtyunaḥ padam,
apramattā na mriyante, ye pramattāḥ sadā mṛtāḥ.
Heedfulness is the path to the deathless, heedlessness is the path to death, the heedful do not die, but those who are heedless are always dead.
[4.2]
[adm.]
Etāṁ viśeṣatāṁ jñātvā hy apramādasya, paṇḍitaḥ,
apramādaṁ pramudyeta nityam āryaḥ svagocaram.
Knowing this distinguishing feature of heedfulness, the wise one, the noble one, should constantly rejoice in heedfulness, which is his own domain.
[4.3]
[stm.]
Apramattāḥ sātatikā, nityaṁ dṛḍhaparākramāḥ,
spṛśanti dhīrā Nirvāṇaṁ, yogakṣemam anuttaram.
The heedful, persevering, constantly steadfast in their effort, the steadfast ones experience Nirvāṇa, the unsurpassed safety.
[4.4]
[stm. + sim.]
Pramādam apramādena yadā nudati paṇḍitaḥ,
prajñāprāsādam āruhya, tv aśokaḥ, śokinīṁ prajām,
parvatasthaiva bhūmisthāṁ dhīro bālān avekṣate.
When the wise one eliminates heedlessness through heedfulness, mounting the palace of wisdom, griefless, on grieving people, on the fools, the steadfast one looks down, like one standing on a mountain looks down on those standing on the plains.
[4.5]
[stm. + ana.]
Utthānenāpramādena, saṁyamena damena ca,
dvīpaṁ karoti medhāvī tam ogho nābhimardati.
Through energy, heedfulness, and through restraint and training, the intelligent one makes an island that a flood cannot destroy.
[4.6]
[stm.]
Utthānavataḥ smṛtātmanaḥ, śubhacittasya niśāmyacāriṇaḥ,
saṁyatasya hi Dharmajīvino, hy apramattasya yaśobhivardhate.
For the one who is energetic, mindful of himself, discerning in conduct, for one of pure mind, restrained, living by Dharma, and heedful, fame greatly increases.
[4.7]
[adm.]
Adhicetasi mā pramadyata,
pratataṁ maunapadeṣu śikṣata,
śokā na bhavanti tāyino,
hy upaśāntasya, sadā smṛtātmanaḥ.
Do not be heedless regarding higher thought, you must train diligently in the paths of the sage, there are no griefs for such a one, for the one at peace, ever mindful of himself.
[4.8]
[adm.]
Hīnāṁ dharmāṁ na seveta, pramādena na saṁvaset,
mithyādṛṣṭiṁ na roceta, na bhavel lokavardhanaḥ.
One should not pursue lowly thoughts, one should not live with heedlessness, one should not approve of a wrong view, one should not foster worldliness.
[4.9]
[stm.]
Samyagdṛṣṭir adhīmātrā laukikī yasya vidyate,
api jātisahasrāṇi, nāsau gacchati durgatim.
One in whom worldly right view beyond measure is found, even for thousands of births, that one does not go to a bad destination.
[4.10]
[stm. + sim.]
Pramādam anuvartante bālā durmedhaso janāḥ,
apramādaṁ tu medhāvī, dhanaṁ śreṣṭhīva rakṣati.
Fools, unintelligent people, indulge in heedlessness, but the intelligent one guards heedfulness, like one guards the greatest wealth.
[4.11]
[stm.]
Pramādam anuvartante bālā durmedhaso janāḥ,
apramattaḥ, sadā dhyāyī, prāpnute hy āsravakṣayam.
Fools, unintelligent people, indulge in heedlessness, the heedful one, the meditator, always attains the destruction of the pollutants.
[4.12]
[adm.]
Pramādaṁ nānuyujyeta, na kāmaratisaṁstavam,
apramattaḥ sadā dhyāyī, prāpnute hy acalaṁ sukham.
One should not apply oneself to heedlessness, nor take intimate delight in desire, the heedful one, the meditator, always attains unmoving happiness.
[4.13]
[adm. + sim.]
Nāyaṁ pramādakālaḥ syād, aprāpte hy āsravakṣaye,
Māraḥ pramattam anveti, siṁhaṁ vā mṛgramātṛkā.
This should not be the time for heedlessness, while the destruction of the pollutants is unattained, This is a locative absolute construction, giving the meaning: While… Māra follows the heedless, like a lion follows a mother deer.
[4.14]
[stm.]
Sthānāni catvāri naraḥ pramatta,
āpadyate yaḥ paradārasevī:
apuṇyalābhaṁ, hy anikāmaśayyāṁ,
nindāṁ tṛtīyaṁ, narakaṁ caturtham.
There are four states the man who is heedless, who consorts with other men’s wives, undergoes: he gains demerit, restless sleep, blame as third, and rebirth in purgatory as fourth.
[4.15.i]
[adm.]
Apuṇyalābhaṁ ca gatiṁ ca pāpikāṁ,
bhītasya bhītābhir athālpikāṁ ratim,
nindāṁ ca paśyaṁ nṛpateś ca daṇḍaṁ –
parasya dārāṇi vivarjayeta.
There is the gaining of demerit and a bad destination, the meagre delight of a frightened man with frightened women, and seeing blame and a king’s punishment – one should avoid another’s wives. We may have expected a word indicating consequence in this line, but it is left out, and instead we simply have an advisory statement.
[4.15.ii]
[stm.]
Apuṇyalābhaś ca gatiś ca pāpikā,
bhītasya bhītābhir athālpikā ratiḥ,
rājā ca daṇḍaṁ gurukaṁ dadāti –
kāyasya bhedād narakeṣu pacyate.
There is the gaining of demerit and a bad destination, the meagre delight of a frightened man with frightened women, and a king who gives heavy punishment – upon the break up of the body he is tormented in the purgatories. In the previous verse we were warned what would happen; here we see the consequences of not heeding that warning.
[4.16]
[adm. + sim.]
Pratiyatyeva tat kuryād yaj jāned dhitam ātmanaḥ,
na śākaṭikacintābhir, mandaṁ dhīraḥ parākramet.
One should carefully do that which one knows is beneficial for oneself, not with a cart-driver’s thoughts, foolishly, should a steadfast one strive.
[4.17–4.18]
[stm. + sim.]
Yathā śākaṭiko mārgaṁ samaṁ hitvā mahāpatham,
viṣamaṁ mārgam āgamya, cchinnākṣaḥ śocate bhṛśam,
evaṁ Dharmād apakramya, hy adharmam anuvartya ca,
bālo mṛtyuvaśaṁ prāptac, chinnākṣa iva śocate.
Just as a cart-driver, having abandoned the even path, a highway, and coming to a path that is uneven, grieves intensely like one with a broken axle, so, departing from the Dharma, and following what is not Dharma, a fool, having come into the power of death, grieves like one with a broken axle.
[4.19]
[stm.]
Yat kṛtyaṁ tad apaviddham, akṛtyaṁ kriyate punaḥ,
uddhatānāṁ pramattānāṁ, teṣāṁ vardhanti āsravāḥ,
āsravās teṣu vardhante, ārāt te hy āsravakṣayāt.
What is to be done, that is rejected, what is not to be done is done again, for the arrogant and the heedless, their pollutants increase, the pollutants grow in them, they are far from the pollutants’ destruction.
[4.20]
[stm.]
Yeṣāṁ tu susamārabdhā nityaṁ kāyagatā smṛtiḥ,
akṛtyaṁ te na kurvanti, kṛtye sātatyakāriṇaḥ,
smṛtānāṁ saṁprajānānām astaṁ gacchanti āsravāḥ.
But for whom mindfulness directed toward the body has been constantly and well undertaken, they do not do what should not be done, they perseve in doing what should be done, for the mindful and clearly comprehending the pollutants go to rest.
[4.21]
[stm.]
Na tāvatā Dharmadharo, yāvatā bahu bhāṣate,
yas tv ihālpam api śrutvā, Dharmaṁ kāyena vai spṛśet,
sa vai Dharmadharo bhavati, yo Dharme na pramādyate.
One is not on that account an upholder of Dharma, to the extent that one speaks much, but the one who, having heard a little here, would experience Dharma personally, he is indeed an upholder of Dharma, the one who is not heedless regarding Dharma.
[4.22]
[stm. + sim.]
Subahv apīha sahitaṁ bhāṣamāṇo,
na tatkaro bhavati naraḥ pramattaḥ,
gopaiva gāḥ saṁgaṇayaṁ pareṣāṁ,
na bhāgavāṁ cchrāmaṇyārthasya bhavati.
Even if the heedless person recites abundant scriptures here, but does not act accordingly, like a cowboy counting others’ cattle, he is not one who partakes of the goal of the ascetic life.
[4.23]
[stm.]
Alpam api cet sahitaṁ bhāṣamāṇo
Dharmasya, bhavati hy anudharmacārī,
rāgaṁ ca doṣaṁ ca tathaiva mohaṁ prahāya,
bhāgī śrāmaṇyārthasya bhavati.
Even if one recites a few scriptures of the Dharma, but is living in accordance with Dharma, abandoning passion, hatred and also delusion, he is one who partakes of the goal of the ascetic life.
[4.24]
[stm.]
Apramādaṁ praśaṁsanti, pramādo garhitaḥ sadā,
apramādena Maghavāṁ Devānāṁ śreṣṭhatāṁ gataḥ.
Heedfulness they praise, heedlessness is blamed always, through heedfulness Maghavā attained leadership of the Devas.
[4.25–4.26]
[stm.]
Apramādaṁ praśaṁsanti sadā kṛtyeṣu paṇḍitāḥ,
apramatto hy ubhāv arthāv atigṛhṇāti paṇḍitaḥ:
Dṛṣṭadhārmika eko ’rthas, tathānyaḥ sāmparāyikaḥ,
arthābhisamayād dhīraḥ paṇḍito hi nirucyate.
The wise always praise heedfulness in the duties, the heedful and wise one obtains both of these benefits: One benefit is visible in this present life, and another in the future life, the steadfast one, from the realisation of these benefits, is indeed called a wise one.
[4.27]
[adm. + sim.]
Apramādarato bhikṣuḥ, pramāde bhayadarśakaḥ,
durgād uddharatetmānaṁ paṅkasannaiva kuñjaraḥ.
A monastic who delights in heedfulness, who sees danger in heedlessness, must raise himself up from a pit, like the tusker sunk in the mud.
[4.28]
[stm. + sim.]
Apramādarato bhikṣuḥ, pramāde bhayadarśakaḥ,
dhunāti pāpakāṁ dharmāṁ, patrāṇīva hi mārutaḥ.
A monastic who delights in heedfulness, who sees danger in heedlessness, shakes off wicked thoughts, like a wind shakes off the leaves of a tree.
[4.29]
[stm. + sim.]
Apramādarato bhikṣuḥ, pramāde bhayadarśakaḥ,
saṁyojanam aṇusthūlaṁ dahann agnir iva gacchati.
A monastic who delights in heedfulness, who sees danger in heedlessness, advances, burning the fetters, small or large, like a fire.
[4.30]
[stm.]
Apramādarato bhikṣuḥ, pramāde bhayadarśakaḥ,
spṛśati hy anupūrveṇa sarvasaṁyojanakṣayam.
A monastic who delights in heedfulness, who sees danger in heedlessness, gradually experiences the destruction of all the fetters.
[4.31]
[stm.]
Apramādarato bhikṣuḥ, pramāde bhayadarśakaḥ,
pratividhyate padaṁ śāntaṁ, saṁskāropaśamaṁ sukham.
A monastic who delights in heedfulness, who sees danger in heedlessness, penetrates the state of peace, the stilling of conditioned things, happiness.
[4.32]
[stm.]
Apramādarato bhikṣuḥ, pramāde bhayadarśakaḥ,
abhavyaḥ parihāṇāya: Nirvāṇasyaiva so ’ntike.
A monastic who delights in heedfulness, who sees danger in heedlessness, is incapable of falling away: that one is indeed in the presence of Nirvāṇa.
[4.33–4.34]
[adm.]
Uttiṣṭhata vyāyamata, dṛḍhaṁ śikṣata śāntaye!
Asmṛtiś ca pramādaś caivānutthānam asaṁyamaḥ,
nidrā tandrīr anāyoga – ete śikṣāntarāyikāḥ,
tad aṅgaṁ pratibudhyadhvaṁ! Smṛtir māntaradhīyata!
Rouse yourselves, strive, train steadfastly for peace! Lack of mindfulness, heedlessness, laziness, lack of restraint, sleep, lethargy, lack of application – these are obstacles to the training, wake up to that fact! Do not lose mindfulness!
[4.35]
[adm.]
Uttiṣṭhen na pramādyeta, Dharmaṁ sucaritaṁ caret,
Dharmacārī sukhaṁ śete hy asmiṁ loke paratra ca.
One should strive, not be heedless, live by Dharma and good conduct, one who lives by Dharma lives happily in this world and in the next world. Literally: elsewhere, but in this context, alongside loke (in this world) it always means: in the next world.
[4.36]
[adm.]
Apramādaratā bhavata! Suśīlā bhavata, bhikṣavaḥ,
susamāhitasaṁkalpāḥ, svacittam anurakṣata.
Be ones who delight in heedfulness! Be well-disciplined, monastics, with well-composed intentions, protect your own minds.
[4.37]
[adm. + sim.]
Ārabhadhvaṁ niṣkramadhvaṁ, yujyadhvaṁ Buddhaśāsane,
dhunidhvaṁ mṛtyunaḥ sainyaṁ, naḍāgāram iva kuñjaraḥ.
You should strive and renounce, and apply yourselves to the Buddha’s dispensation, shake off the army of death, like an elephant destroys a hut of reeds.
[4.38]
[stm.]
Yo hy asmiṁ Dharmavinaye tv apramatto bhaviṣyati,
prahāya jātisaṁsāraṁ, duḥkhasyāntaṁ sa yāsyati.
The one who will be heedful in this Dharma and Discipline, having abandoned the transmigration through births, will go to the end to suffering.
Apramādavargaḥ, 4.
The Chapter about Heedfulness, the Fourth