Book XIV. The Enlightened, Buddha Vagga
179, 180
There is one whose victory cannot be turned to defeat,
Unto victory over whom no one in the world can attain.
The Buddha, unlimited in power, the trackless.
By what track can you lead him?
There is one in whom there is no Craving,
With its snares and poisons, to lead him whithersoever.
The Buddha, unlimited in power, the trackless.
By what track can you lead him?
181
They that are devoted to meditation, they that are steadfast,
They that delight in the tranquillity of retirement from the world,
They that are enlightened and mindful, they are beloved even of the gods.
182
Difficult is it to obtain birth as a human being; difficult is the life of mortals;
Difficult is the hearing of the Good Law; difficult is the rise of the Buddhas.
183, 184, 185
The shunning of all evil, the doing of good,
The cleansing of the heart: this is the Religion of the Buddhas.
Patience, long-suffering, is the highest form of asceticism.
Nibbāna the Buddhas declare to be the highest of all things.
For one who strikes another is no true religious,
Nor is he a monk who injures another.
Not blaming, not harming, restraint under the Law,
Moderation in food, a remote lodging,
Dwelling on lofty thoughts, this is the Religion of the Buddhas.
186, 187
Not with a rain of coins can the lusts be satisfied;
The wise man understands that the lusts afford but temporary satisfaction, and bring suffering in their train.
Even in celestial pleasures the wise man takes no delight;
The disciple of the Supremely Enlightened takes delight only in the destruction of Craving.
188, 189, 190, 191, 192
To many a refuge men go, to mountains and to forests,
To shrines and trees and groves, when terrified with fear.
Such is no sure refuge, such is no final refuge;
Not by resorting to such a refuge does a man obtain release from all suffering.
Whoever seeks refuge in the Buddha, the Law, and the Order,
Whoever, with clear understanding, beholds the Four Noble Truths,
Suffering, the Origin of Suffering, the Escape from Suffering,
And the Noble Eightfold Path of Escape from Suffering, –
To this sure refuge, to this supreme refuge,
By resorting to this refuge, he obtains release from all suffering.
193
It is not easy to find a man of noble birth; it is not everywhere that such a man is born;
Wherever is born a man that is steadfast, the family prospers wherein he is born.
194
Pleasant is the rise of the Buddhas, pleasant is the preaching of the True Religion,
Pleasant is peace and unity in the Order; the devotion of those who live in harmony is pleasant.
195, 196
He that renders honor to whom honor is due, whether they be the Buddhas or their disciples,
Those that have overpassed the Hindrances, those that have crossed the Sea of Sorrow,
He that renders honor to those that have found Nibbāna, to those that are without fear,
His merit cannot be measured by anyone.