17. Udakavarga
The Chapter about Water
(12 Verses)

[355 ≈ Dhp 91]
[stm. + sim.]

Smṛtimantaḥ prayujyante, na nikete ramanti te,
The mindful ones are striving, they do not delight in a dwelling,

haṁsavat palvalaṁ hitvā, hy okam oghaṁ jahante te. 17.1
like a goose abandoning a lake, they abandon the home and the flood.

Smṛtimantaḥ (m. nom. pl.) the mindful ones; prayujyante (3rd. pl. pres. pass.–>act.) they strive; na (indec.) not; nikete (m. loc. sg.) in a dwelling; ramanti (3rd. pl. pres.) they delight; te (m. nom. pl. pers. pron.) they; haṁsa-vat (indec.) like a goose; palvalam (n. acc. sg.) a lake; hitvā (abs.) abandoning; hy (separator); okam (n. acc. sg.) a home; ogham (m. acc. sg.) the flood; jahante (3rd. pl. pres.) they abandon; te (m. nom. pl. pers. pron.) they.

Uyyuñjanti satīmanto na nikete ramanti te,
The mindful ones are striving, they do not delight in a dwelling,

haṁsā va pallalaṁ hitvā, okam-okaṁ jahanti te.
like geese abandoning a lake, they abandon their homes.

[356 ≈ Dhp 175]
[stm. + sim.]

Haṁsādityapathe yānti, ākāśe jīvitendriyāḥ,
Geese go through the path of the sun, through the sky by their life-faculties,

niryānti dhīrā lokān, Mārasainyaṁ pramathya te. 17.2
the steadfast ones are led out from the worlds, after crushing Māra’s army.

Haṁsāḥ (m. nom. pl.) geese; āditya-pathe (m. loc. sg.) in the path of the sun; yānti (3rd. pl. pres.) they go; ākāśe (n. loc. sg.) in the sky; jīvita-indriyāḥ (n. inst. pl.) by the life-faculties; niryānti (3rd. pl. pres.) they are led out; dhīrāḥ (m. nom. pl.) the steadfast ones; lokān (m. acc. pl.) the worlds; Māra-sainyam (n. acc. sg.) Māra’s army; pramathya (abs.) having crushed; te (m. nom. pl. pers. pron.) they.

Haṁsādiccapathe yanti, ākāse yanti iddhiyā,
Geese go through the path of the sun, through the sky by their power,

nīyanti dhīrā lokamhā, jetvā Māraṁ savāhanaṁ.
the steadfast ones are led out of the world, after beating Māra and his host.

[357 ≈ Dhp 155]
[stm. + sim.]

Acaritvā brahmacaryam, alabdhvā yauvane dhanam,
Not having lived the spiritual life, not having gained wealth in their youth,

jīrṇakrauñcaivă dhyāyante ’lpamatsya iva palvale. 17.3
they brood like old herons in a small lake with few fish.

A-caritvā (abs.) not having practiced; brahma-caryam (n. acc. sg.) the spiritual life; a-labdhvā (abs.) not having obtained; yauvane (n. loc. sg.) in youth; dhanam (n. acc. coll. sg.) wealth; jīrṇāḥ (m. nom. pl.) old; krauñcāḥ (m. nom. pl.) herons; iva (indec.) like; dhyāyante (3rd. pl. pres. pass.–>act.) they brood; alpa-matsyāḥ (m. nom. pl.) having few fish; iva (indec.) like; palvale (n. loc. sg.) in a lake.

Acaritvā brahmacariyaṁ, aladdhā yobbane dhanaṁ,
Not having lived the spiritual life, not having gained wealth in their youth,

jiṇṇakoñcā ca jhāyanti khīṇamacche va pallale.
they brood like old herons in a small lake devoid of fish.

[358 ≈ Dhp 156]
[stm. + sim.]

Acaritvā brahmacaryam, alabdhvā yauvane dhanam,
Not having lived the holy life, not having gained wealth in their youth,

śenti cāpātikīrṇā vā, paurāṇāny anucintitāḥ. 17.4
they lie like shafts shot from a bow, brooding about things in the past.

A-caritvā (abs.) not having practiced; brahma-caryam (n. acc. sg.) the spiritual life; a-labdhvā (abs.) not having obtained; yauvane (n. loc. sg.) in youth; dhanam (n. acc. coll. sg.) wealth; śenti (3rd. pl. pres.) they lie; cāpāti-kīrṇāḥ (m. nom. pl. pp.) scattered from a bow; vā (indec.) like; paurāṇāni (n. acc. pl.) things in the past; anucintitāḥ (m. nom. pl. pp.) brooding about.

Acaritvā brahmacariyaṁ, aladdhā yobbane dhanaṁ,
Not having lived the holy life, not having gained wealth in their youth,

senti cāpātikhittā va, purāṇāni anutthunaṁ.
they lie like shafts shot from a bow, wailing about things in the past.

[359 ≈ Dhp 121]
[adm. + sim.]

Nālpaṁ manyeta pāpasya: Naitaṁ mām āgamiṣyati,
One should not consider it a little demerit (thinking): It will not come to me,

udabindunipātena mahākumbho ’pi pūryate,
through the falling of water drops a great water-pot is filled,

pūryanti bālāḥ pāpair hi, stokastokaṁ kṛtair api. 17.5
the fool becomes filled with demerit, even by making it bit by bit.

Na (indec.) not; alpam (n. acc. sg.) a little; manyeta (3rd. sg. opt.) one should consider; pāpasya (n. gen. sg.) of demerit; na (indec.) not; etam (n. nom. sg. dem. pron.) this ; mām (acc. sg. dem. pron.) me; āgamiṣyati (3rd. sg. fut.) it will come; uda-bindu-nipātena (m. inst. sg.) by the falling of a water-drop; mahā-kumbhaḥ (m. nom. sg.) a great water-pot; api (indec.) even; pūryate (3rd. sg. pres. pass.) is filled; pūryanti (3rd. pl. pres.) they are filled; bālāḥ (m. nom. pl.) fools; pāpaiḥ (n. inst. pl.) with demerit; hi (metrical filler); stoka-stokam (indec.) little by little; kṛtaiḥ (n. inst. pl. pp.) by those done; api (indec.) even.

Māpamaññetha pāpassa: Na maṁ taṁ āgamissati,
One should not consider it a little demerit (thinking): It will not come to me,

udabindunipātena udakumbho pi pūrati,
through the falling of water drops the water-pot is filled,

bālo pūrati pāpassa, thokaṁ thokam-pi ācinaṁ.
the foolish one becomes filled with demerit, accumulating bit by bit.

[360 ≈ Dhp 122]
[adm. + sim.]

Nālpaṁ manyeta puṇyasya: Naitaṁ mām āgamiṣyati,
One should not consider it a little merit (thinking): It will not come to me,

udabindunipātena mahākumbho ’pi pūryate,
through the falling of water drops the water-pot is filled,

pūryanti dhīrāḥ puṇyair hi stokastokaṁ kṛtair api. 17.6
the steadfast ones becomes filled with merit, even by making it bit by bit.

Na (indec.) not; alpam (n. acc. sg.) a little; manyeta (3rd. sg. opt.) one should consider; puṇyasya (n. gen. sg.) of merit; na (indec.) not; etam (n. nom. sg. dem. pron.) this ; mām (acc. sg. dem. pron.) me; āgamiṣyati (3rd. sg. fut.) it will come; uda-bindu-nipātena (m. inst. sg.) by the falling of a water-drop; mahā-kumbhaḥ (m. nom. sg.) a great water-pot; api (indec.) even; pūryate (3rd. sg. pres. pass.) is filled; pūryanti (3rd. pl. pres.) they are filled; dhīrāḥ (m. nom. pl.) the steadfast ones; puṇyaiḥ (n. inst. pl.) with merit; hi (metrical filler); stoka-stokam (indec.) little by little; kṛtaiḥ (n. inst. pl. pp.) by those done; api (indec.) even.

Māppamaññetha puññassa: Na maṁ taṁ āgamissati.
One should not consider it a little merit (thinking): It will not come to me,

udabindunipātena udakumbho pi pūrati,
through the falling of water drops the water-pot is filled,

dhīro pūrati puññassa, thokathokam-pi ācinaṁ.
the steadfast one becomes filled with merit, accumulating bit by bit.

[361 ≈ Ud 8.6:3]
[stm. + sim.]

Ye taranty ārṇavaṁ nityaṁ, kolaṁ baddhvā janāḥ śubham,
Those people who, after binding a good raft, continously cross over a sea,

na te taranti saritāṁ, tīrṇā medhāvino janāḥ. 17.7
they are (still) crossing the waters, not the intelligent people, who have crossed over.

Ye (m. nom. pl. rel. pron.) those who; taranti (3rd. pl. pres.) they cross; ārṇavam (m. acc. sg.) the sea; nityam (indec.) continously; kolam (m. acc. sg.) a raft; baddhvā (abs.) after binding; janāḥ (m. nom. pl.) people; śubham (m. acc. sg.) good; na (indec.) not; For it to make sense, we have to understand na as being attached to the second pāda. te (m. nom. pl. pers. pron.) they; taranti (3rd. pl. pres.) they cross; saritām (f. acc. pl.) waters; tīrṇāḥ (m. nom. pl. pp.) having crossed over; medhāvinaḥ (m. nom. pl.) intelligent; janāḥ (m. nom. pl.) people.

Ye taranti aṇṇavaṁ saraṁ, setuṁ katvāna, visajja pallalāni,
Those who cross over a sea or a lake, after making a bridge, and leaving ponds behind,

kullaṁ hi jano pabandhati, tiṇṇā medhāvino janā.
(while) those people are binding a raft, intelligent people have crossed over (to the far shore). The explanation is based on the Pāḷi commentary, tiṇṇā paratīre patiṭṭhitāti, crossed over and established on the far shore.

[362 cf. previous verse]
[stm. + ana.]

Uttīrṇo Bhagavāṁ Buddhaḥ, sthale tiṣṭhati Brāhmaṇaḥ,
The Fortunate Buddha has crossed over, the Brahmin is established on the (far) shore,

bhikṣavaḥ snānti caivātra, kolaṁ badhnanti cāpare. 17.8
there I.e. there on the far shore. the monastics bathe, (while) others Or outsiders. are (still) binding a raft.

Uttīrṇaḥ (m. nom. sg. pp.) one who has crossed over; Bhagavān (m. nom. sg.) the Fortunate One; Buddhaḥ (m. nom. sg.) the Buddha; sthale (n. loc. sg.) on the shore; tiṣṭhati (3rd. sg. pres.) is established; Brāhmaṇaḥ (m. nom. sg.) a Brahmin; bhikṣavaḥ (m. nom. pl.) the monastics; snānti (3rd. pl. pres.) they bathe; ca (indec.) and; eva (indec.) indeed; atra (indec.) there; kolam (m. acc. sg.) a raft; badhnanti (3rd. pl. pres.) they bind; ca (indec.) and; apare (m. nom. pl.) others.

[363 ≈ Ud 7.9]
[rh.q.]

Kiṁ kuryād udapānena, yatrāpaḥ sarvato bhavet?
What would one do with a well, if there were waters everywhere?

Tṛṣṇāyā mūlam uddhṛtya, kasya paryeṣaṇāṇ caret? 17.9
Having uprooted the root of craving, what would he wander about looking for?

Kim (n. nom. sg. inter. pron.) what?; kuryāt (3rd. sg. opt.) would do; udapānena (m. inst. sg.) with a well; yatra (indec.) where; āpaḥ (f. nom. pl.) waters; sarvataḥ (indec.) everywhere; bhavet (3rd. sg. opt.) there were; tṛṣṇāyāḥ (f. gen. sg.) of craving; mūlam (n. acc. sg.) the root; uddhṛtya (abs.) having uprooted; kasya (m. gen. sg. inter. pron.) for what?; paryeṣaṇām (f. acc. sg.) looking; caret (3rd. sg. opt.) he would wander about.

Kiṁ kayirā udapānena, āpā ce sabbadā siyuṁ?
What will one do with a well, if there were water at all times?

Taṇhāya mūlato chetvā, kissa pariyesanaṁ care?
Having cut off craving at the root, what would he be looking for?

[364 ≈ Dhp 80]
[stm. + sim.]

Udakena nijanti nejakā, iṣukārā namayanti tejasā,
Irrigators channel water, fletchers shape (arrows) with heat,

dāruṁ namayanti takṣakā, hy ātmānaṁ damayanti paṇḍitāḥ. 17.10
carpenters shape wood, the wise train the self.

Udakena (n. inst. sg.) with water; nijanti (3rd. pl. pres.) they channel; nejakāḥ (m. nom. pl.) irrigators; iṣukārāḥ (m. nom. pl.) fletchers; namayanti (3rd. pl. caus. pres.) they shape; tejasā (n. inst. sg.) with heat; dārum (n. acc. sg.) wood; namayanti (3rd. pl. caus. pres.) they shape; takṣakāḥ (m. nom. pl.) carpenters; hy (separator); ātmānam (m. acc. sg. dem. pron.) himself; damayanti (3rd. pl. caus. pres.) they train; paṇḍitāḥ (m. nom. pl.) the wise.

Udakaṁ hi nayanti nettikā, usukārā namayanti tejanaṁ,
Irrigators channel water, fletchers shape an arrow,

dāruṁ namayanti tacchakā, attānaṁ damayanti paṇḍitā.
carpenters shape wood, the wise train the self.

[365 ≈ Dhp 82]
[stm. + sim.]

Yathā hradaḥ sugambhīro, viprasanno hy anāvilaḥ,
Just as a lake that is very deep, clear, and undisturbed,

evaṁ śrutvā hi Saddharmaṁ viprasīdanti paṇḍitāḥ. 17.11
so the wise become clear having heard the True Dharma.

Yathā (indec.) just as; hradaḥ (m. nom. sg.) a lake; su-gambhīraḥ (m. nom. sg.) very deep; viprasannaḥ (m. nom. sg.) very clear; hy (separator); an-āvilaḥ (m. nom. sg.) undisturbed; evam (indec.) so; śrutvā (abs.) having heard; hi (metrical filler); Sad-dharmam (m. acc. sg.) the True Dharma; viprasīdanti (3rd. pl. pres.) they become clear; paṇḍitāḥ (m. nom. pl.) the wise.

Yathā pi rahado gambhīro, vippasanno anāvilo,
Just as a lake that is deep, clear, and undisturbed,

evaṁ Dhammāni sutvāna vippasīdanti paṇḍitā.
so the wise become clear having heard the Dhamma.

[366 ≈ Dhp 95]
[stm. + sim.]

Pṛthivīsadṛśo na lipyate, tāyī kīlavad aprakampayaḥ,
One like the earth is not soiled, such a one, like a pillar, is unshakable,

hrada iva hi vinītakardamo, niṣkaluṣā hi bhavanti paṇḍitāḥ. 17.12
the wise become unstained like a lake whose mud has been removed.

Pṛthivī-sadṛśaḥ (m. nom. sg.) like the earth; na (indec.) not; lipyate (3rd. sg. pres. pass.) is soiled; tāyī (m. nom. sg.) such a one; kīla-vat (indec.) like a pillar; a-prakampayaḥ (m. nom. sg.) unshakable; hradaḥ (m. nom. sg.) a lake; iva (indec.) like; hi (metrical filler); vinīta-kardamaḥ (m. nom. sg.) one whose mud is removed; niṣ-kaluṣāḥ (m. nom. pl.) unstained; hi (metrical filler); bhavanti (3rd. pl. pres.) they become; paṇḍitāḥ (m. nom. pl.) the wise.

Paṭhavisamo no virujjhati, indakhīlūpamo tādi subbato,
One like the earth is not troubled, such a virtuous one is like a city-post,

rahado va apetakaddamo, saṁsārā na bhavanti tādino.
such a one continues not in transmigration, he is like a lake whose mud has been removed.

Udakavargaḥ, 17
The Chapter about Water, the Seventeenth