Patna Dhamma Verses
Patna Dhammapadaṁ
Bhikṣuvarggaḥ
4: The Chapter about Monastics
50. Sabbattha saṁvaro sādhu,
sādhu sabbattha saṁvaro,
sabbattha saṁvto bhikkhū The form appears to be plural, but the verb it agrees with is singular; same in the next verse.
sabbadukkhā pramuccati.
50. Restraint is good everywhere,
restraint is everywhere good,
a monastic who is restrained everywhere
is liberated from all suffering.
51. Kāyena samvaro sādhu,
sādhu vācāya saṁvaro,
manasā pi saṁvaro sādhu,
sādhu sabbattha saṁvaro,
sabbattha saṁvto bhikkhū
sabbadukkhā pramuccati.
51. Restraint of body is good,
restraint of speech is good,
restraint of mind is also good,
restraint is everywhere good,
a monastic who is restrained everywhere
is liberated from all suffering.
52. Hastasaṁyyato pādasaṁyyato,
vācāsaṁyyato saṁvtendriyo,
ajjhattarato samāhito,
eko santuṣito: tam āhu bhikkhuṁ.
52. One who controls his hands, controls his feet,
controls his speech, controls the mind faculty,
with inner delight and composure,
solitary, content: that one is called a monastic.
53. Śāntakāyo śāntacitto,
śāntavā susamāhito,
vāntalokāmiṣo bhikkhū
upaśānto ti vuccati.
53. Calm in body and calm in mind,
having calmness and composure,
having thrown off worldly gain
the monastic is called one at peace.
54. Yo mukhe saṁyyato bhikkhū,
mantābhāṣī anuddhato,
atthaṁ Dhammañ-ca deśeti,
madhuraṁ tassa bhāṣitaṁ.
54. That monastic who restrains the mouth,
who speaks well, and who is modest,
who teaches the meaning of the Dhamma,
his speech is sweet.
55. Saṁlābhaṁ nātimaññeyā,
nāññesaṁ prihayaṁ care,
aññesaṁ prihayaṁ bhikkhū
samādhin nādhigacchati,
55. One should not despise one’s own gains,
one should not live envious of others,
the monastic who is envious of others
does not attain concentration.
56. Appalābho pi ce bhikkhū
saṁlābhaṁ nātimaññati,
taṁ ve devā praśaṁsanti
śuddhājīviṁ atandritaṁ.
56. Even if a monastic gains little
he should not despise his gains,
even the very gods praise
the one of pure life who is diligent.
57. Siñca bhikkhu imāṁ nāvāṁ,
sittā te laghu hehiti,
hettā rāgañ-ca dosaṁ ca,
tato Nibbāṇam ehisi.
57. Please bail out this boat, monastic,
when bailed out it will go lightly,
cutting off passion and hatred,
from here one will go to Nibbāna.
58. Udāggracitto sumano,
adhibhūya priyāpriyaṁ,
tato prāmojjabahulo,
sato bhikkhū parivraje.
58. With uplifted mind, happy,
having overcome what is dear and not dear,
then with lots of happiness,
the monastic should wander mindfully.
59. Mettāvihārī bhikkhū,
prasanno Buddhaśāsane.
paṭivijjhi padaṁ śāntaṁ,
saṅkhāropaśamaṁ sukhaṁ,
dṣṭe va dhamme Nibbāṇaṁ,
yogacchemaṁ anuttaraṁ.
59. That monastic who dwells in loving-kindness,
with faith in Buddha’s dispensation,
has penetrated the state of peace,
the joy in stilling of all conditions,
here and now there is Nibbāna,
the unsurpassed release from all bonds.
60. Suññāgāraṁ praviṣṭassa,
śāntacittassa bhikkhuṇo,
amānuṣā ratī hoti
sammaṁ Dhammaṁ vipaśśato.
60. For the one who has entered an empty place,
a monastic with a peaceful mind,
there is superhuman delight
from insight into true Dhamma.
61. Yathā yathā sammasati
khandhānām udayavyayaṁ
labhate cittassa prāmojjaṁ,
amatā hetaṁ vijānato.
61. Just as one with right mindfulness
regarding the rise and fall of the components of mind and body
gains happiness in mind,
this is the deathless state for the one who knows.
62. Nāsti jhānam apraññassa,
praññā nāsti ajhāyato,
yamhi jhānañ-ca praññā ca
sa ve Nibbāṇasantike.
62. There is no concentration for one without wisdom,
there is no wisdom for one without concentration,
that one in whom there is concentration and wisdom
is indeed close to Nibbāna.
63. Tatthāyam ādī bhavati
iha praññassa bhikkhuṇo:
indriyagottī sāntoṣṭī:
prātimokkhe ca saṁvaro.
63. This is the very beginning
for the wise monastic here:
contentment, guarding the senses,
and restraint in the regulations.
64. Mitte bhajetha kallāṇe,
śuddhājīvī atandrito,
paṭisandharavaṭṭissa,
ācārakuśalo siyā,
tato prāmojjabahulo,
sato bhikkhū parivraje.
64. One should resort to spiritual friends,
ones of pure life, ones who are diligent,
one should be one of friendly disposition,
one who will be skilful in conduct,
rejoicing frequently because of that,
the monastic should wander mindfully.
Bhikṣuvarggaḥ
The Chapter about Monastics