Book XV. Happiness, Sukha Vagga

197, 198, 199

Oh, happily let us live! free from hatred, among those who hate;
Among men who hate, let us live free from hatred.

Oh, happily let us live! free from hatred, among those who hate;
Among men who hate, let us live free from hatred.

Oh, happily let us live! free from disease, among those who are afflicted with disease;
Among men who are afflicted with disease, let us live free from disease.

Oh, happily let us live! free from longing, among those who are possessed with longing;
Among those who are possessed with longing, let us live free from longing.

200

Oh, happily let us live! we who possess naught;
Let us live on the food of joy, like the Bright Gods.

201

Victory produces hatred; he that is defeated is afflicted with suffering;
He that has renounced both victory and defeat lives in tranquillity and happiness.

202

There is no fire like the fire of lust;
There is no sin like the sin of hatred;
There are no sufferings like the sufferings of existence;
There is no happiness like Supreme Tranquillity.

203

Hunger is the greatest of afflictions; the Aggregates of Being are the principal source of suffering;
If a man thoroughly understand this, he has attained Nibbāna, Supreme Happiness.

204

Health is the greatest acquisition, contentment is the greatest wealth,
Confidence is the best of relatives, Nibbāna is the greatest happiness.

205

He who has tasted the sweetness of solitude and the sweetness of tranquillity,
Such a one is free from fear and free from sin, for he drinks the sweetness of the joy of the Law.

206, 207, 208

It is a good thing to look upon the Noble, and to live with them is ever pleasant;
It would be pleasant, might one never look upon a simpleton at all.

For he who walks in the company of simpletons suffers a long time;
Pleasant is it to live with the steadfast, even as is a meeting of kinsfolk.

One should follow the steadfast, the wise, the learned, the patient, the dutiful, the Noble;
One should follow so good and intelligent a man, as the moon follows the path of the stars.