Patna Dhamma Verses
Patna Dhammapadaṁ
Cittavarggaḥ
19: The Chapter about the Mind
342. Phandanaṁ capalaṁ cittaṁ,
durakkhaṁ dunnivārayaṁ,
ujjuṁ karoti medhāvī,
uṣukāro va tejanā.
342. An agitated, unsteady mind,
difficult to guard, difficult to ward,
the sagacious one makes straight,
as a fletcher does his arrows.
343. Vārijo va thale khitto,
oka-m-okātu ubbhato,
pariphandatimaṁ cittaṁ,
Māradheyaṁ prahātaye.
343. Like a fish thrown up on dry land,
pulled out from its watery home,
the mind is agitated,
one ought to throw off the sway of Māra.
344. Dūraṅgamaṁ ekacaraṁ,
aśarīraṁ guhāśayaṁ,
ye cittaṁ saṁyyam-ehinti,
mokkhante Mārabandhanā.
344. Those who will restrain the mind that roams far,
is lonesome, without a body, hidden,
gain release from the bonds of Māra.
345. Dunniggrahassa laghuno,
yatthakāmanipātino,
cittassa damatho sādhu,
cittaṁ dāntaṁ sukhāvahaṁ.
345. For the mind that is difficult to subdue, flighty,
flitting wherever it will,
restraint is good,
a restrained mind brings happiness.
346. Sududdaśaṁ sunipuṇaṁ,
yatthakāmanipātinaṁ,
cittaṁ rakkheya medhāvī,
tad<a>hi guttaṁ sukhāvahaṁ.
346. Hard to see, very subtle,
flitting wherever it will,
the sage should guard the mind,
for guarded it brings happiness.
347. Anaprāśrayamāṇassa,
ananvāhatacetaso,
hettā kallāṇapāpāni,
nāsti jāgarato bhayaṁ.
347. For the one with mind that is not dependent,
for the one with mind unperplexed,
having abandoned the wholesome and demerit,
for the watchful, there is no fear.
348. Dhammaprītirasaṁ pāttā,
viprasannena cetasā,
Ayirapravedite Dhamme
sadā ramati paṇḍito.
348. The one who drinks the tasty
Dhamma drink, with a clear mind,
the wise one will always delight
in the Dhamma that is made known by the Noble.
349. Acirā vata ayaṁ kāyo paṭhaviṁ abhiśehiti,
chūḍo apetavinnyāṇo,
nirātthaṁ vā kaṭiṅgaraṁ.
349. Before long has passed by, alas, this body will lie on the ground,
rejected, without consciousness,
just like a useless piece of wood.
350. Kumbhopamaṁ kāyam imaṁ vidittā,
nagaropamaṁ cittam adhiṣṭhihittā,
yodheya Māraṁ praññāyudhena,
jitaṁ ca rakkhe, aniveśano siyā.
350. Knowing this body is frail like a jar,
govern the mind like a fortress,
one should fight Māra with the weapon of wisdom,
guard your success, and do not be attached.
351. Yathā agāraṁ ducchannaṁ vaṭṭhī samitivijjhati,
evaṁ abhāvitaṁ cittaṁ rāgo samitivijjhati.
351. Just as the rain penetrates a house with thatching that is poor,
so passion penetrates a mind that is undeveloped.
352. Yathā agāraṁ succhannaṁ vaṭṭhī na samitivijjhati,
evaṁ subhāvitaṁ cittaṁ rāgo na samitivijjhati.
352. Just as rain does not penetrate a house with thatching that is good,
so passion cannot penetrate a mind that is well-developed.
353. Yathā agāraṁ ducchannaṁ vaṭṭhī samitivijjhati,
evaṁ abhāvitaṁ cittaṁ doṣo samitivijjhati.
353. Just as the rain penetrates a house with thatching that is poor,
so hatred penetrates a mind that is undeveloped.
354. Yathā agāraṁ succhannaṁ vaṭṭhī na samitivijjhati,
evaṁ subhāvitaṁ cittaṁ doṣo na samitivijjhati.
354. Just as rain does not penetrate a house with thatching that is good,
so hatred cannot penetrate a mind that is well-developed.
355. Yathā agāraṁ ducchannaṁ vaṭṭhī samitivijjhati,
evaṁ abhāvitaṁ cittaṁ moho samitivijjhati.
355. Just as the rain penetrates a house with thatching that is poor,
so delusion penetrates a mind that is undeveloped.
356. Yathā agāraṁ succhannaṁ vaṭṭhī na samitivijjhati,
evaṁ subhāvitaṁ cittaṁ moho na samitivijjhati.
356. Just as rain does not penetrate a house with thatching that is good,
so delusion cannot penetrate a mind that is well-developed.
357. Sabbapāpassa akaraṇaṁ, kuśalassa apasampadā,
sacittapariyodamanaṁ – etaṁ Buddhāna’ śāsanaṁ.
357. The non-doing of anything wicked, undertaking of what is good,
the training of one’s mind – this is the teaching of the Buddhas.
Cittavarggaḥ
The Chapter about the Mind