0.1
Khuddakanikāya
Minor Collection
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Dhammapada
Sayings of the Dhamma 320–333
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Nāgavagga
23. Elephants
1
Ahaṁ nāgova saṅgāme,
Like an elephant struck
2
cāpato patitaṁ saraṁ;
with arrows in battle,
3
Ativākyaṁ titikkhissaṁ,
I shall endure abuse,
4
dussīlo hi bahujjano.
for so many folk are badly behaved.
1
Dantaṁ nayanti samitiṁ,
The well-tamed beast is the one led to the crowd;
2
dantaṁ rājābhirūhati;
the tamed elephant’s the one the king mounts;
3
Danto seṭṭho manussesu,
the tamed person who endures abuse
4
yotivākyaṁ titikkhati.
is the best of human beings.
1
Varamassatarā dantā,
Those who have tamed themselves are better
2
ājānīyā ca sindhavā;
than fine tamed mules,
3
Kuñjarā ca mahānāgā,
thoroughbreds from Sindh,
4
attadanto tato varaṁ.
or giant tuskers.
0
Hatthācariyapubbakabhikkhuvatthu
1
Na hi etehi yānehi,
For not on those mounts
2
gaccheyya agataṁ disaṁ;
would you go to the untrodden place,
3
Yathāttanā sudantena,
whereas, with the help of one <j>whose self is well tamed,
4
danto dantena gacchati.
you go there, tamed by the tamed.
0
Parijiṇṇabrāhmaṇaputtavatthu
1
Dhanapālo nāma kuñjaro,
The tusker named Dhanapāla
2
Kaṭukabhedano dunnivārayo;
is musky in rut, hard to control.
3
Baddho kabaḷaṁ na bhuñjati,
Bound, he eats not a morsel,
4
Sumarati nāgavanassa kuñjaro.
for he misses the elephant forest.
1
Middhī yadā hoti mahagghaso ca,
One who gets drowsy from overeating,
2
Niddāyitā samparivattasāyī;
fond of sleep, rolling round the bed
3
Mahāvarāhova nivāpapuṭṭho,
like a great hog stuffed with grain:
4
Punappunaṁ gabbhamupeti mando.
that dullard returns to the womb again and again.
1
Idaṁ pure cittamacāri cārikaṁ,
In the past my mind wandered
2
Yenicchakaṁ yatthakāmaṁ yathāsukhaṁ;
how it wished, where it liked, as it pleased.
3
Tadajjahaṁ niggahessāmi yoniso,
Now I’ll carefully guide it,
4
Hatthippabhinnaṁ viya aṅkusaggaho.
as a trainer with a hook guides a rutting elephant.
1
Appamādaratā hotha,
Delight in diligence!
2
sacittamanurakkhatha;
Take good care of your mind!
3
Duggā uddharathattānaṁ,
Pull yourself out of this pit,
4
paṅke sannova kuñjaro.
like an elephant sunk in a bog.
1
Sace labhetha nipakaṁ sahāyaṁ,
If you find an alert companion,
2
Saddhiṁ caraṁ sādhuvihāridhīraṁ;
an attentive friend to live happily together,
3
Abhibhuyya sabbāni parissayāni,
then, overcoming all adversities,
4
Careyya tenattamano satīmā.
wander with them, joyful and mindful.
1
No ce labhetha nipakaṁ sahāyaṁ,
If you find no alert companion,
2
Saddhiṁ caraṁ sādhuvihāridhīraṁ;
no attentive friend to live happily together,
3
Rājāva raṭṭhaṁ vijitaṁ pahāya,
then, like a king who flees his conquered realm,
4
Eko care mātaṅgaraññeva nāgo.
wander alone like a tusker in the wilds.
1
Ekassa caritaṁ seyyo,
It’s better to wander alone,
2
Natthi bāle sahāyatā;
there’s no fellowship with fools.
3
Eko care na ca pāpāni kayirā,
Wander alone and do no wrong,
4
Appossukko mātaṅgaraññeva nāgo.
at ease like a tusker in the wilds.
1
Atthamhi jātamhi sukhā sahāyā,
A friend in need is a blessing;
2
Tuṭṭhī sukhā yā itarītarena;
it’s a blessing to be content with whatever;
3
Puññaṁ sukhaṁ jīvitasaṅkhayamhi,
good deeds are a blessing at the end of life,
4
Sabbassa dukkhassa sukhaṁ pahānaṁ.
and giving up all suffering is a blessing.
1
Sukhā matteyyatā loke,
In this world it’s a blessing to serve
2
atho petteyyatā sukhā;
one’s mother and one’s father.
3
Sukhā sāmaññatā loke,
And it’s a blessing also to serve
4
atho brahmaññatā sukhā.
ascetics and brahmins.
1
Sukhaṁ yāva jarā sīlaṁ,
It’s a blessing to keep precepts until you grow old;
2
sukhā saddhā patiṭṭhitā;
a blessing to be grounded in faith;
3
Sukho paññāya paṭilābho,
the getting of wisdom’s a blessing;
4
pāpānaṁ akaraṇaṁ sukhaṁ.
and it’s a blessing to avoid doing wrong.
Tripiṭaka