Patna Dhammapada - 16: The Chapter about Verbalising

Vācānurakkhī manasā susaṁvto,
Verbally guarded, well-restrained in mind,

kāyena yo akuśalaṁ na sevati,
he who does not practice a wrong deed with the body,

ete ttayo kammapathe viśodhiya,
purifying these three paths of action,

prāppojja so śāntipadaṁ anuttaraṁ.
would attain the unsurpassed state of peace.

Vācānurakkhī manasā susaṁvuto,
Verbally guarded, well-restrained in mind,

kāyena ca akusalaṁ na kayⁱrā,
not doing a wrong deed with the body,

ete tayo kammapathe visodhaye,
one should purify these three paths of action,

ārādhaye maggaṁ isippaveditaṁ.
one should undertake the path shown by seers.

Kāyapradoṣaṁ rakkheyā, kāyena saṁvto siyā,
One should guard against bodily faults, one should be restrained bodily,

kāyaduccaritaṁ hettā, kāyena sucaritaṁ care.
abandoning wrong bodily conduct, one should have good bodily conduct.

Kāyappakopaṁ rakkheyya, kāyena saṁvuto siyā,
One should guard against bodily anger, one should be restrained bodily,

kāyaduccaritaṁ hitvā, kāyena sucaritaṁ care.
abandoning wrong bodily conduct, one should have good bodily conduct.

Vācāpradoṣaṁ rakkheyā, vācāya saṁvto siyā,
One should guard against verbal faults, one should be restrained verbally,

vācāduccaritaṁ hettā, vācāya sucaritaṁ care.
abandoning wrong verbal conduct, one should have good verbal conduct.

Vacīpakopaṁ rakkheyya, vācāya saṁvuto siyā,
One should guard against verbal anger, one should be restrained verbally,

vacīduccaritaṁ hitvā, vācāya sucaritaṁ care.
abandoning wrong verbal conduct, one should have good verbal conduct.

Manapradoṣaṁ rakkheyā, manasā saṁvto siyā,
One should guard against mental faults, one should be restrained mentally,

manoduccaritaṁ hettā, manasā sucaritaṁ care.
abandoning wrong mental conduct, one should have good mental conduct.

Manopakopaṁ rakkheyya, manasā saṁvuto siyā,
One should guard against mental anger, one should be restrained mentally,

manoduccaritaṁ hitvā, manasā sucaritaṁ care.
abandoning wrong mental conduct, one should have good mental conduct.

Kāyena saṁvtā dhīrā, vācāya utta cetasā,
The wise are restrained bodily, verbally and also mentally,

sabbattha saṁvtā dhīrā, te ve suparisaṁvtā.
the wise are restrained in every way, they are indeed very well-restrained.

Kāyena saṁvutā dhīrā, atho vācāya saṁvutā,
The wise are restrained bodily, then they are restrained verbally,

manasā saṁvutā dhīrā, te ve suparisaṁvutā.
the wise are restrained mentally, they are indeed very well-restrained.

Porāṇam etaṁ Ādhora, na etaṁ ahunā-r-iva:
This is something of old, Ādhora, this is not something of today:

nindanti tohnim āsīnaṁ, nindanti mitabhāṇikaṁ,
they blame the one who sits silently, they blame the one who talks in moderation,

bahubhāṇikaṁ pi nindanti, nāsti loke anindito.
they blame the one who talks a lot, there is no one in the world not blamed.

Porāṇam-etaṁ, Atula, netaṁ ajjatanām-iva:
This is something of old, Atula, this is not something of today: The word is different in the Pāḷi but the meaning is the same.

nindanti tuṇhim-āsīnaṁ, nindanti bahubhāṇinaṁ,
they blame the one who sits silently, they blame the one who talks a lot,

mitabhāṇim-pi nindanti, natthi loke anindito.
they blame the one who talks in moderation, The line and word order of d and e differs in the Pāḷi verse. there is no one in the world not blamed.

Na cābhu na ca bhaviṣyati, na cetarahi vijjati
There was not and there will not be, and at present there is not found

ekāntanindito poṣo, ekāntaṁ vā praśaṁsito.
a person totally blameworthy, or one totally praiseworthy.

Na cāhu na ca bhavissati, na cetarahi vijjati
There was not and there will not be, and at present there is not found

ekantaṁ nindito poso, ekantaṁ vā pasaṁsito.
a person totally blameworthy, or one totally praiseworthy.

Yañ-ca bālā adhammaṭṭhaṁ pūjeyu garaheyu vā,
He who would worship or reproach the one who is unrighteous,

aviñūṁ avibhāvāya, na taṁ atthāya kāyaci.
a fool with lack of intelligence, that is to no purpose.

Yaṁ ca viñū praśaṁsanti, anuvicca suve suve,
The one who, after being examined day by day, is praised by the wise,

acchidravattiṁ medhāviṁ, praññāśīlasamāhitaṁ.
faultless in conduct, sagacious, attending to virtue and wisdom,

nikkhaṁ jāmbūnadasseva, ko taṁ ninditum arⁱhati?
one who is like a golden coin, who is there worthy to blame him?

Devā pi naṁ praśansanti, Brahmuṇā pi praśaṁsito.
That one is praised by the gods, and has been praised by the Brahmās too.

Yañ-ce viññū pasaṁsanti, anuvicca suve suve,
The one who, after being examined day by day, is praised by the wise,

acchiddavuttiṁ medhāviṁ, paññāsīlasamāhitaṁ,
faultless in conduct, sagacious, attending to virtue and wisdom,

nekkhaṁ jambonadasseva, ko taṁ ninditum-ar^ahati?
one who is like a golden coin, who is there worthy to blame him?

Devā pi naṁ pasaṁsanti, Brahmunā pi pasaṁsito.
That one is praised by the gods, and has been praised by the Brahmās too.

Na vākkaraṇamātteṇa, vannapukkhalatāya vā,
Not by eloquence only, or by a beautiful complexion,

sādhurūpī naro hoti, iśśukī maccharī śaṭho.
is a person honourable, (if still) jealous, selfish and deceitful.

Na vākkaraṇamattena, vaṇṇapokkharatāya vā,
Not by eloquence only, or by a beautiful complexion,

sādhurūpo naro hoti, issukī maccharī saṭho.
is a person honourable, (if still) jealous, selfish and deceitful.

Yamhi saccaṁ ca Dhammo ca viratī saṁyyamo damo,
In whom is truth, Dhamma, abstinence, restraint and (good) training,

sa vāntadoṣo medhāvī sādhurūpī ti vuccati.
that sage who has thrown out hatred is said to be honourable.

Yamhi saccañ-ca Dhammo ca ahiṁsā saṁyamo damo,
In whom is truth, Dhamma, non-violence, restraint and (good) training,

sa ve vantamalo dhīro thero iti pavuccati.
the wise one who throws out the stain is (truly) called an elder.

————

yassa cetaṁ samucchinnaṁ, mūlaghaccaṁ samūhataṁ,
for the one in whom this is cut off, destroyed at the root, dug up,

sa vantadoso medhāvī sādhurūpo ti vuccati.
that sage who has thrown out hatred is said to be honourable.

Bahuṁ pi ce sahitaṁ bhāṣamāno,
Even though reciting abundant scriptures,

na takkaro hoti naro pramatto,
the heedless fellow, who does not do (what they say),

gopo va gāvo gaṇayaṁ paresaṁ ,
like a cowboy counting other’s cattle,

na bhāgavā śāmaṇṇassa hoti.
does not partake of the ascetic life.

Bahum-pi ce sahitaṁ bhāsamāno,
Even though reciting abundant scriptures,

na takkaro hoti naro pamatto,
the heedless fellow, who does not do (what they say),

gopo va gāvo gaṇayaṁ paresaṁ,
like a cowboy counting other’s cattle,

na bhāgavā sāmaññassa hoti.
does not partake of the ascetic life.

Appaṁ pi ce sahitaṁ bhāṣamāno,
Even though reciting but few scriptures,

Dhammassa hoti anudhammacārī,
but living righteously in accordance with Dhamma,

rāgaṁ ca doṣaṁ ca prahāya mohaṁ,
abandoning greed, hate and delusion,

vimuttacitto akhilo akañcho,
with mind released, completely without doubt,

anupādiyāno iha vā hure vā
that one, unattached here and hereafter,

sa bhāgavā śāmannassa hoti.
(surely) partakes of the ascetic life.

Appam-pi ce sahitaṁ bhāsamāno,
Even though reciting but few scriptures,

Dhammassa hoti anudhammacārī,
but living righteously in accordance with Dhamma,

rāgañ-ca dosañ-ca pahāya mohaṁ,
abandoning greed, hate and delusion,

sammappajāno suvimuttacitto,
understanding aright, with mind well-released,

anupādiyāno idha vā huraṁ vā,
that one, unattached here and hereafter,

sa bhāgavā sāmaññassa hoti.
(surely) partakes of the ascetic life.

Saccaṁ bhaṇe, na kujjheyā, deyā appā pi yācito,
One should speak out the truth, one should not get angry, when requested you should give, if only a little,

etehi ttihi ṭṭhāṇehi gacche devāna’ santike.
through these three conditions one can go to the presence of the gods.

Saccaṁ bhaṇe, na kujjheyya, dajjāppasmim-pi yācito,
One should speak out the truth, one should not get angry, when requested give, if only a little,

etehi tīhi ṭhānehi gacche devāna’ santike.
through these three conditions one can go to the presence of the gods.

Na ve kadāryyā devalokaṁ vrajanti,
The miserly go not to the world of the gods,

bālā hi bhe na praśaṁsanti dānaṁ,
fools surely do not praise giving,

dhīro tu dānaṁ anumodamāno,
but the wise one rejoices in giving,

teneva so devalokaṁ pareti.
and through that he goes to the world of the gods.

Na ve kadarⁱyā devalokaṁ vajanti,
The miserly go not to the world of the gods,

bālā have nappasaṁsanti dānaṁ,
fools surely do not praise giving,

dhīro ca dānaṁ anumodamāno,
but the wise one rejoices in giving,

teneva so hoti sukhī parattha.
and through that he is happy hereafter.

Śīlavantaṁ śuciṁ dacchaṁ, dhammaṭṭhaṁ saccavādinaṁ,
Having virtue, being pure and clever, principled, knowing the truths,

āttano kārakaṁ śantaṁ, taṁ jano kurute priyaṁ.
the good one doing (the deeds that are) his own, that one the people love.

Sīladassanasampannaṁ, dhammaṭṭhaṁ saccavedinaṁ,
Endowed with virtue and insight, principled, knowing the truths,

attano kamma’ kubbānaṁ, taṁ jano kurute piyaṁ.
doing the deeds that are his own, that one the people love.

Śreyo ayoguḍā bhuttā tattā, aggiśikhopamā,
It’s better to have eaten glowing iron balls, like flames of fire,

yaṁ ca bhuñjeya duśśīlo rāṣṭapiṇḍaṁ asaṁyyato.
than that (the monastic) who is unrestrained and unvirtuous should enjoy the country’s almsfood.

Seyyo ayoguḷo bhutto tatto, aggisikhūpamo,
It’s better to have eaten a glowing iron ball, like a flame of fire,

yañ-ce bhuñjeyya dussīlo raṭṭhapiṇḍaṁ asaññato.
than that (the monastic) who is unrestrained and unvirtuous should enjoy the country’s almsfood.

Kuśo yathā dugghīto hastam evānukantati,
As kusa grass, wrongly grasped, cuts into the hand,

śāmannaṁ dupparāmāṭṭhaṁ, nirayāya upakaṭṭati.
so does the ascetic life, wrongly grasped, drag one down to the underworld.

Kuso yathā duggahito hattham-evānukantati,
As kusa grass, wrongly grasped, cuts into the hand,

sāmaññaṁ dupparāmaṭṭhaṁ, nirayāyupakaḍḍhati.
so does the ascetic life, wrongly grasped, drag one down to the underworld.

Ekadhammam atītassa, muṣāvādissa jantuno,
For the person speaking falsely, who has transgressed in this one thing,

vitinnaparalokassa, nāsti pāpaṁ akāriyaṁ.
who has abandoned the next world, there is no wickedness left undone.

Ekaṁ dhammaṁ atītassa, musāvādissa jantuno,
For the person speaking falsely, who has transgressed in this one thing,

vitiṇṇaparalokassa, natthi pāpaṁ akāriyaṁ.
who has abandoned the next world, there is no wickedness left undone.

Na hi śastaṁ suniśitaṁ, viṣaṁ hālāhalaṁ tathā,
For not a well-sharpened sword, (or) even deadly poison,

evaṁ khipraṁ atipāteti vācā dubbhāṣitā yathā.
destroy quite as quickly as words that are badly spoken.

Na hi satthaṁ sunisitaṁ, visaṁ halāhalaṁ iva,
For not a well-sharpened sword, (or) even Reading iva = eva, m.c. deadly poison,

evaṁ nikaṭṭhe pāteti vācā dubbhāsitā yathā.
make one fall quite so low as words that are badly spoken.

Puruṣassa jāyamānassa kuṭhārī jāyate mukhe,
For with the birth of a man an axe is born in his mouth,

yāya chindati āttānaṁ vācaṁ dubbhāṣitaṁ bhaṇaṁ.
with which he cuts himself speaking a word that is badly spoken.

Purisassa hi jātassa kuṭhāri jāyate mukhe,
For with the birth of a man an axe is born in his mouth,

yāya chindati attānaṁ bālo dubbhāsitaṁ bhaṇaṁ.
with which a fool cuts himself speaking (a word) that is badly spoken.

Yo hi nindiye praśaṁsati ,
He who praises the blameworthy,

uttavā nindati yo praśaṁsiye,
or he who blames the praiseworthy,

vicināti mukhena so kaliṁ,
piles up bad fortune with his mouth,

kalinā tena sukhaṁ na vindati.
and because of that bad fortune he does not find happiness.

Yo nindiyaṁ pasaṁsati,
He who praises the blameworthy,

taṁ vā nindati yo pasaṁsiyo,
or he who blames the praiseworthy,

vicināti mukhena so kaliṁ,
piles up bad fortune with his mouth,

kalinā tena sukhaṁ na vindati.
and because of that bad fortune he does not find happiness.

Appāmātto ayaṁ kalī yo akkhehi dhanaṁ parājaye,
(Compared to) he who has a small measure of bad fortune through dice and loses his wealth,

sabbassaṁ pi sahāpi āttanā;
everything (he owns), together with his self;

ayam eva mahataro kalī: yo sugatesu manaṁ pradūṣaye.
this is indeed a far greater bad fortune: he who has a corrupt mind aimed at those faring well.

Appamatto ayaṁ kali yo akkhesu dhanaparājayo,
(Compared to) he who has a small measure of bad fortune in dice and loses his wealth,

sabbassāpi sahāpi attanā;
everything (he owns), together with his self;

ayam-eva mahantaro kali: yo sugatesu manaṁ padosaye.
this is indeed a far greater bad fortune: he who has a corrupt mind aimed at those faring well.

Śataṁ sahasrāṇi nirabbudānāṁ
° For one hundred and thirty-six thousand

chattrīśatiṁ, pañca ca abbudāni,
nirabbudas, and five abbudas, Vast numbers of inconceivable size.

yaṁ ayⁱragar^ahī nirayaṁ upeti,
he goes to hell through reproaching the noble ones,

vācaṁ manaṁ ca praṇidhāya pāpikāṁ.
having wicked verbal and mental intentions.

Sataṁ sahassānaṁ nirabbudānaṁ
° For one hundred and thirty-six thousand

chattiṁsati, pañca ca abbudāni,
nirabbudas, and five abbudas,

yam arⁱyagar^ahī nirayaṁ upeti,
he goes to hell through reproaching the noble ones,

vācaṁ manañ-ca paṇidhāya pāpakaṁ.
having wicked verbal and mental intentions.

Kallāṇim eva bhāṣeyā, na ’ssa mucceya pāpikā,
He should speak wholesomely, he should not speak wickedly,

mokkho kallāṇiye śreyo, muttā tapati pāpikāṁ.
the speaking of what is wholesome is best, having spoken wickedly he suffers.

Kalyāṇim-eva muñceyya, na hi muñceyya pāpikaṁ,
He should speak Although the verb is different the meaning is defined in the commentary as the same: Tattha kalyāṇim-eva muñceyyā ti catudosavinimuttaṁ kalyāṇiṁ sundaraṁ anavajjaṁ vācam-eva muñceyya vissajjeyya katheyya. wholesomely, he should not speak wickedly,

mokkho kalyāṇiyā sādhu, mutvā tappati pāpikaṁ.
the speaking of what is wholesome is good, having spoken wickedly he suffers.

Kallāṇim eva seveyā, na ’ssa mucceya pāpikā,
He should practice wholesomely, he should not speak wickedly,

mokkho kallāṇiye śreyo, muttā tapati pāpikāṁ.
the speaking of what is wholesome is best, having spoken wickedly he suffers.

Kalyāṇim-eva muñceyya, na hi muñceyya pāpikaṁ,
He should speak wholesomely, he should not speak wickedly,

mokkho kalyāṇiyā sādhu, mutvā tappati pāpikaṁ.
the speaking of what is wholesome is good, having spoken wickedly he suffers.

Vācaṁ bhāṣeyā kallāṇiṁ, na ’ssa mucceya pāpikā,
He should speak wholesome words, he should not speak wickedly,

jātaṁ krodhaṁ nivāreyā, so biṣabbhi nirujjhati.
arisen anger he should constrain, he ceases from hatred.

Kalyāṇim-eva muñceyya, na hi muñceyya pāpikaṁ,
He should speak wholesomely, he should not speak wickedly,

mokkho kalyāṇiyā sādhu, mutvā tappati pāpikaṁ.
the speaking of what is wholesome is good, having spoken wickedly he suffers.