Patna Dhamma Verses
Patna Dhammapadaṁ
Māggavarggaḥ
20: The Chapter about the Path
358. Māggānaṣṭaṅgiko śreṣṭho,
saccānāṁ caturo padā,
virāgo śreṣṭho dhammāṇāṁ,
dupadānāṁ ca Cakkhumā.
358. The eightfold is the best of paths,
four principles the best of truths,
dispassion the best of states,
the Visionary the best of men.
359. Ākkhāto vo mayā māggo,
aññāye śallasaṁsano,
tubbhehi kiccam ātappaṁ akkhātāro Tathāgatā,
paṭipannā pramokkhanti jhāyino Mārabandhanā.
359. The path was declared by me,
the removal of the dart by knowledge,
your duty is to have ardour declare the Realised Ones,
entering this path meditators
will be released from the bonds of Māra.
360. Eseva māggo nāstañño,
daṁśanassa viśuddhiye,
taṁ māggaṁ paṭipajjahvo,
Mārassesā pramohanī,
etāhi tubbhe paṭipannā dukkhassa antaṁ kariṣyatha.
This is the path, there is no other,
for insight and for purity,
you should enter upon this path,
this is the confounding of Māra,
having entered upon this path you will make an end to suffering.
361. Vanaṁ chindatha mā rukkhe,
vanāto jāyate bhayaṁ,
chettā vanañ-ca vanadhañ-ca,
nibbanena gamiśśatha.
361. Cut down the forest of defilements not just the trees,
from the forest arises a danger,
having cut down the forest and thicket,
you will go further without forests.
362. Yāvatā vanadho na cchijjati
aṇumātto pi narassa ñātisu,
paṭibaddhamano hi tattha
so vaccho cchīravako va mātari.
362. For as long as an atom of desire
of a man for his kin is not cut down,
the mind is in bondage there,
like a calf in bondage to mother’s milk.
363. Ucchinna sineham āttano,
kumudaṁ śāradikaṁ va pāṇinā,
śāntimāggam eva byūhaya
Nibbāṇaṁ Sugatena deśitaṁ.
363. Cut off any affection for one’s self,
like an autumn lotus plucked with the hand,
develop fully the path to peace and
Nibbāna as taught by the Happy One.
364. “Idaṁ vaśśā kariṣyāmi,
idaṁ hemanna ghmasu”,
iti bālo vicinteti,
antarāyaṁ na bujjhati.
“Here I will make the rains retreat,
here during winter and summer”,
in just such a way a fool thinks,
not understanding the danger.
365. Taṁ puttapaśusammattaṁ vyāsattamanasaṁ naraṁ,
suttaṁ ggrāmaṁ mahogho vā maccu-r-ādāya gacchati.
364. That person whose mind is attached and besotted
by cattle and children,
is snatched away by death
just as a sleeping village by a great flood.
366. Na santi puttā ttāṇāya, na pitā no pi bhātaro,
Antakenādhibhūtassa nāsti ñātīsu ttāṇatā.
366. Children are not a refuge, nor fathers, not even brothers,
for one afflicted by the End-Maker there is no refuge in relatives.
367. Krandatām eva ñātīnaṁ vilapatāṁ cevam ekato
janā antarahīyanti, asakāmā jahanti naṁ.
367. Relatives cry and wail together in this way
people still depart, against their desires they give him up.
368. Etaṁ vidiya medhāvī,
praññavā vītamaccharī,
taṁ saggagamanaṁ māggaṁ niccam eva viśodhaye.
368. Understanding this the sage, wise, free of selfishness,
should constantly purify the path that is leading to heaven.
369. Tassā hi paṇḍito poṣo sampaśśaṁ attham āttano
taṁ saggaganaṁ māggaṁ niccam eva viśodhaye.
369. Therefore a wise man looking for his own welfare
should constantly purify the path that is leading to heaven.
370. Śraddho śīlena sampanno,
praññavā susamāhito,
niccaṁ māggaṁ viśodheti,
sacchayanaṁ sāmparāyikaṁ.
370. Endowed with faith and virtue,
wise, well-composed,
one constantly purifies the path,
which brings safety in the next world.
371. Śraddho śīlena sampanno,
praññavā susamāhito,
ramate māggam āsevaṁ,
ajjhattopasame rato.
371. Endowed with faith and virtue,
wise, composed,
delights in practising the path,
delights in internal peace.
372. Śraddho śīlena sampanno,
praññāvāgarato sadā,
saṁyojanam aṇutthūlaṁ daham aggī va gacchati,
mānamakkhe va pāpake.
372. Endowed with faith and virtue,
always delighting in being wise,
one advances like burning fire against the fetter, small or large,
whether it is wicked conceit or hypocrisy.
373. Aniccā sabbasaṅkhārā,
yato praññāya paśśati,
atha nivvaṇḍate dukkhā –
esa māggo viśuddhiye.
373. All conditions are impermanent,
when one sees this with wisdom,
then one grows tired of suffering –
this is the path to purity.
374. Sabbadhammā anāttā ti,
yato praññāya paśśati,
atha nivvaṇḍate dukkhā –
esa māggo viśuddhiye.
374. All components of mind and body are without self,
when one sees this with wisdom,
then one grows tired of suffering –
this is the path to purity.
375. Yogā hi bhūrī sambhavati,
ayogā bhūrisaṅkhayo,
etaṁ jethāpathaṁ ñāttā bhavāya vibhavāya ca,
tathā śiccheya medhāvī yathā bhūrī pravaddhati.
375. From effort originates wisdom,
without effort wisdom is destroyed,
having understood these two paths of development and decline,
the sage should train so that his wisdom increases.
Māggavarggaḥ
The Chapter about the Path