Home Page     Next Vagga

Dhammapada 8: Thousands
(Sahassavaggo)
Translated by Ven Nàrada

 

P1    P2    E1  100. Better than a thousand utterances, comprising useless words, is one single beneficial word, by hearing which one is pacified.

P1    P2    E1  101. Better than a thousand verses, comprising useless words, is one beneficial single line, by hearing which one is pacified.

P1    P2    E1  102. Should one recite a hundred verses, comprising useless words, better is one single word of the Dhamma, by hearing which one is pacified.

P1    P2    E1  103. Though one should conquer a million 1 men in battlefield, yet he, indeed, is the noblest victor who has conquered himself.

P1    P2    E1  104-105. Self-conquest 2 is, indeed, far greater than the conquest of all other folk; neither a god nor a gandhabba, 3 nor Màra 4 with Brahmà, 5 can win back the victory of such a person who is self-subdued and ever lives in restraint.

P1    P2    E1  106. Though month after month with a thousand, one should make an offering for a hundred years, yet, if, only for a moment, one should honour (a Saint) who has perfected himself - that honour is, indeed, better than a century of sacrifice.

P1    P2    E1  107. Though, for a century a man should tend the (sacred) fire in the forest, yet, if, only for a moment, he should honour (a Saint) who has perfected himself -that honour is, indeed, better than a century of fire-sacrifice.

P1    P2    E1  108. In this world whatever gift 6 or alms a person seeking merit should offer for a year, all that is not worth a single quarter of the reverence towards the Upright 7 which is excellent.

P1    P2    E1  109. For one who is in the habit of constantly honouring and respecting the elders, four blessings increase - age, beauty, bliss, and strength.

P1    P2    E1  110. Though one should live a hundred years, immoral and uncontrolled, yet better, indeed, is a single day's life of one who is moral and meditative.

P1    P2    E1  111. Though one should live a hundred years without wisdom and control, yet better, indeed, is a single day's life of one who is wise and meditative.

P1    P2    E1  112. Though one should live a hundred years idle and inactive yet better, indeed, is a single day's life of one who makes an intense effort.

P1    P2    E1  113. Though one should live a hundred years without comprehending how all things rise and pass away, 8 yet better, indeed, is a single day's life of one who comprehends how all things rise and pass away.

P1    P2    E1  114. Though one should live a hundred years without seeing the Deathless State, 9 yet better, indeed, is a single day's life of one who sees the Deathless State.

P1    P2    E1  115. Though one should live a hundred years not seeing the Truth Sublime, 10 yet better, indeed, is a single day's life of one who sees the Truth Sublime.

 

End Notes

1 Sahassaü sahassena, thousand multiplied by a thousand, that is, ten lakhs. (Commentary).

2 Atta -The Buddha often uses this term in the sense of oneself or mind but not in the sense of a soul or special self.

3 A class of beings who are supposed to be heavenly musicians.

4 Here Màra is used in the sense of god.

5 Another class of beings, even superior to the gods in heaven, who have developed the Jhànas (ecstasies).

6 According to the Commentary iññhaü is that which is given on festival occasions, and hutaü is that which is prepared and given either to guests or with a belief in kamma and results. The idea conveyed by this stanza is that reverence paid to a Saint is far superior to gifts and alms given to worldlings.

7 They are the Sotàpannas (Stream-Winners) and others who have attained sanctification.

8 The rise and decay of mind and matter - namely: the impermanence of all conditioned things. A disciple of the Buddha is expected to contemplate the fleeting nature of life, so that he may not be attached to illusory material pleasures.

9 Amataü padaü, the unconditioned state of Nibbàna, free from birth, decay and death.

10 The nine supramundane States - namely: the four Paths, the four Fruits, and Nibbàna.

 

Home Page     Next Vagga