Patna Dhammapada - 15: The Chapter about the Pollutants

Appakā te manuṣyesu ye janā pāragāmino,
Amongst humans few people go beyond,

athāyam itarā prajā tīram evānudhāvati,
the rest of the people run down the bank,

ye ca kho sammad-ākkhāte, Dhamme dhammānuvattino,
but those who live righteously, conforming with this well-taught Dhamma,

te janā pāram ehinti maccudheyaṁ suduttaraṁ.
those folk will go beyond the realm of death, which is very hard to cross.

Appakā te manussesu ye janā pāragāmino,
Amongst humans few people go beyond,

athāyaṁ itarā pajā tīram-evānudhāvati,
the rest of the people run down the bank,

ye ca kho sammad-akkhāte, Dhamme dhammānuvattino,
but those who live righteously, conforming with this well-taught Dhamma,

te janā pāram-essanti maccudheyyaṁ suduttaraṁ.
those folk will go beyond the realm of death, which is very hard to cross.

Kihne dhamme viprahāya, śukre bhāvetha paṇḍitā,
Having abandoned the dark state, the wise ones should develop the bright,

okā anokam āgamma; viveko yattha dūramaṁ,
having gone forth to homelessness from home; in solitude, where it is hard to delight,

tatthābhiratim eṣāṇā, hettā kāme akiñcanā,
one should seek to delight in that place, having given up sense pleasures, and having no possessions,

payⁱrodametha āttānaṁ cittaṁ kⁱleśehi sabbaśo.
he should purify the self of defilements of mind in every way.

Kaṇhaṁ dhammaṁ vippahāya, sukkaṁ bhāvetha paṇḍito,
Having abandoned the dark state, the wise one should develop the bright,

okā anokaṁ āgamma; viveke yattha dūramaṁ,
having gone forth to homelessness from home; in solitude, where it is hard to delight,

tatrābhiratim-iccheyya, hitvā kāme akiñcano,
one should desire to delight in that place, having given up sense pleasures, and having no possessions,

parⁱyodapeyya attānaṁ cittaklesehi paṇḍito.
the wise one should purify the self of defilements of mind.

Yassa sambodhi-aṅgehi samaṁ cittaṁ subhāvitaṁ,
For he The number of the pronoun, here singular, is plural in the pādas that follow. who has well developed with peaceful mind the factors of complete awakening,

āttānapaṭinissagge, anupādāya ye ratā,
having given up the self, those who delight in being unattached,

khīṇāsavā jutīmanto, te loke parinivtā.
pollutant-free, shining forth, are emancipated in the world.

Yesaṁ sambodhi-aṅgesu sammā cittaṁ subhāvitaṁ,
For those who have well developed with right mind the factors of complete awakening,

ādānapaṭinissagge, anupādāya ye ratā,
having given up grasping, those who delight in being unattached,

khīṇāsavā jutimanto, te loke parinibbutā.
pollutant-free, shining forth, are emancipated in the world.

Yad<a>hi kiccaṁ tad apaviddhaṁ, akiccaṁ puna kīrati,
That to be done is rejected, but what is not to be done is done,

unnaddhānāṁ pramattānāṁ, tesaṁ vaddhanti āsavā.
for the insolent, the heedless, their pollutants increase.

Yaṁ hi kiccaṁ tad-apaviddhaṁ, akiccaṁ pana kayⁱrati,
That to be done is rejected, but what is not to be done is done,

unnalānaṁ pamattānaṁ, tesaṁ vaḍḍhanti āsavā.
for the insolent, the heedless, their pollutants increase.

Yesaṁ ca susamāraddhā niccaṁ kāyagatā satī,
But for those who always properly undertake mindfulness of the body

akiccaṁ te na sevanti, kicce sātaccakāriṇo,
who do not practice what is not to be done, persisting in what is to be done,

satānāṁ samprajānānāṁ, tesaṁ khīyanti āsavā.
for those mindful ones, those fully aware, their pollutants are destroyed.

Yesañ-ca susamāraddhā niccaṁ kāyagatā sati,
But for those who always properly undertake mindfulness of the body

akiccaṁ te na sevanti, kicce sātaccakārino,
who do not practice what is not to be done, persisting in what is to be done,

satānaṁ sampajānānaṁ, atthaṁ gacchanti āsavā.
for those mindful ones, those fully aware, the pollutants are laid to rest.

Paravajjānupaśśīnāṁ, niccaṁ ojjhāyasaññinā,
Those who look for others’ fault, who constantly perceive offence,

āsavā tesaṁ vaddhanti, ārā te āsavakkhayā.
for them the pollutants increase, they are far from their destruction.

Paravajjānupassissa, niccaṁ ujjhānasaññino,
The one In Pāḷi the actor throughout is singular. who looks for another’s fault, who constantly perceives offence,

āsavā tassa vaḍḍhanti, ārā so āsavakkhayā.
for him the pollutants increase, he is far from their destruction.

Jāgarikām anuyuttānāṁ, ahorāttānuśikkhiṇāṁ,
For those devoted to being alert, who train both by day and by night,

Nibbāṇe adhimuttānāṁ, atthaṁ gacchanti āsavā.
who are intent on Nibbāna, the pollutants are laid to rest.

Sadā jāgaramānānaṁ, ahorattānusikkhinaṁ,
For those who are always wakeful, who train both by day and by night,

Nibbānaṁ adhimuttānaṁ, atthaṁ gacchanti āsavā.
who are intent on Nibbāna, the pollutants are laid to rest.

Yesāsavā parikkhīṇā, āhāre ca aniśśitā,
For those whose pollutants are destroyed, who are not dependent on the foods,

śuññatā ānimitto ca vimogho yesa’ gocaro,
for those whose resort is the liberation Reading vimogho < vimokho. that is empty or signless,

ākāśe va śakuntānāṁ, padaṁ tesaṁ durannayaṁ,
like the birds in the sky, their footprint is hard to find.

Yassāsavā parikkhīṇā, āhāre ca anissito,
For him In Pāḷi the actor throughout is singular. whose pollutants are destroyed, who is not dependent on the foods,

suññato animitto ca vimokkho yassa gocaro,
for him whose resort is the liberation that is empty or signless,

ākāse va sakuntānaṁ, padaṁ tassa durannayaṁ.
like the birds in the sky, his footprint is hard to find.

Na hi śīlavrateneva, bāhuśoccena vā puna,
Not even through virtue or vows, or again through great learning,

atha vā samādhilābhena, vivittaśayanena vā,
or through the attainment of concentration, or through a secluded dwelling,

phusāma nekkhammasukhaṁ, apthujjanasevitaṁ;
do we attain the happiness of renunciation, not practised by worldly people;

bhikkhū viśśāsa’ māpādi aprāpyāsavakkhayaṁ.
let a monastic not be confident (as long as) the destruction of the pollutants is unattained.

Na sīlabbatamattena, bāhusaccena vā pana,
Not merely through virtue or vows, or through great learning,

atha vā samādhilābhena, vivittasayanena vā,
or through the attainment of concentration, or through a secluded dwelling,

phusāmi nekkhammasukhaṁ, aputhujjanasevitaṁ;
do I attain the happiness of renunciation, not practised by worldly people;

bhikkhu vissāsa’ māpādi appatto āsavakkhayaṁ.
let a monastic not be confident (as long as) the destruction of the pollutants is unattained.

Nāyaṁ pramajjituṁ kālo, ’prāpyāsavakkhayaṁ,
This is not the time to be heedless, while the destruction of the pollutants is unattained,

pramattaṁ dukham anneti, sīhaṁ vā mgamātikā,
heedless he follows suffering, like the mother of deer (follows) the lion.

Nāyaṁ pramādakālaḥ, syād aprāpte hy āsravakṣaye,
This is not the time to be heedless, perhaps the destruction of the pollutants is unattained,

Māraḥ pramattam anveti, siṁhaṁ vā mgramātkā.
heedless he follows Māra, like the mother of deer (follows) the lion.

Gabbham eke okrammanti, nirayaṁ pāpakammuṇo,
Some fall back into the womb, (but) those who are wicked in the underworld,

saggaṁ sugatino yānti, parinivvānti anāsavā.
the righteous go to heaven, those who are pollutant-free are emancipated.

Gabbham-eke ’papajjanti, nirayaṁ pāpakammino,
Some are reborn in the womb, (but) those who are wicked in the underworld,

saggaṁ sugatino yanti, parinibbanti anāsavā.
the righteous go to heaven, those who are pollutant-free are emancipated.

Yathā hrado ’ssa gambhīro, viprasanno anāvilo,
Like a lake that is deep, clear and unruffled,

evaṁ Dhammāṇi śottāna viprasīdanti paṇḍitā.
just so the wise are confident There is a play on the two meanings of viprasīdati, calm and confident. after listening to Dhamma.

Yathā pi r^ahado gambhīro, vippasanno anāvilo,
Like a lake that is deep, clear and unruffled,

evaṁ Dhammāni sutvāna vippasīdanti paṇḍitā.
just so the wise are confident after listening to Dhamma.

Yassa jitaṁ nāppajjīyati,
He whose victory cannot be undone,

jitam assā na upeti antako,
whose victory does not come to an end,

taṁ Buddham anomanikramaṁ,
the Buddha, the one of superior effort,

apadaṁ kena padena nehisi?
by what path will you lead the pathless one?

Yassa jitaṁ nāvajīyati,
He whose victory cannot be undone,

jitaṁ assa no yāti koci loke,
whose victory no one here approaches,

tam-Buddham-anantagocaraṁ,
the Buddha, whose range is endless,

apadaṁ kena padena nessatha?
by what path can you lead the pathless one?

Yassa jālinī visattikā,
° For him there is no desire, attachment,

tahnā nāsti kahiñci netaye,
or craving to lead (him) anywhere,

taṁ Buddham anantagocaraṁ,
the Buddha, whose range is endless,

apadaṁ kena padena nehisi.
by what path will you lead the pathless one?

Yassa jālinī visattikā,
° For him there is no desire, attachment,

taṇhā natthi kuhiñci netave,
or craving to lead (him) anywhere,

tam-Buddham-anantagocaraṁ,
the Buddha, whose range is endless,

apadaṁ kena padena nessatha?
by what path can you lead the pathless one?