The Dhammapada · Buddhist Sutras

Chapter 14: The Buddha

The Dhammapada · 18 verses

Chapter 14 of the Dhammapada — “The Buddha” — the Buddha's most widely read collection of verses, in a classic public domain translation. It opens: “He whose conquest is not conquered again, into whose conquest no one in this world enters, by what track can you lead him, the Awakened, the…” — all 18 verses are below, free to read online.

1He whose conquest is not conquered again, into whose conquest no one in this world enters, by what track can you lead him, the Awakened, the Omniscient, the trackless?

2He whom no desire with its snares and poisons can lead astray, by what track can you lead him, the Awakened, the Omniscient, the trackless?

3Even the gods envy those who are awakened and not forgetful, who are given to meditation, who are wise, and who delight in the repose of retirement (from the world).

4Difficult (to obtain) is the conception of men, difficult is the life of mortals, difficult is the hearing of the True Law, difficult is the birth of the Awakened (the attainment of Buddhahood).

5Not to commit any sin, to do good, and to purify one's mind, that is the teaching of (all) the Awakened.

6The Awakened call patience the highest penance, long-suffering the highest Nirvāṇa; for he is not an anchorite (pravraJita) who strikes others, he is not an ascetic (śramaṇa) who insults others.

7Not to blame, not to strike, to live restrained under the law, to be moderate in eating, to sleep and sit alone, and to dwell on the highest thoughts, — this is the teaching of the Awakened.

8There is no satisfying lusts, even by a shower of gold pieces; he who knows that lusts have a short taste and cause pain, he is wise;

9Even in heavenly pleasures he finds no satisfaction, the disciple who is fully awakened delights only in the destruction of all desires.

10Men, driven by fear, go to many a refuge, to mountains and forests, to groves and sacred trees.

11But that is not a safe refuge, that is not the best refuge; a man is not delivered from all pains after having gone to that refuge.

12He who takes refuge with Buddha, the Law, and the Church; he who, with clear understanding, sees the four holy truths: —

13Viz. pain, the origin of pain, the destruction of pain, and the eightfold holy way that leads to the quieting of pain; —

14That is the safe refuge, that is the best refuge; having gone to that refuge, a man is delivered from all pain.

15A supernatural person (a Buddha) is not easily found, he is not born everywhere. Wherever such a sage is born, that race prospers.

16Happy is the arising of the awakened, happy is the teaching of the True Law, happy is peace in the church, happy is the devotion of those who are at peace.

17He who pays homage to those who deserve homage, whether the awakened (Buddha) or their disciples, those who have overcome the host (of evils), and crossed the flood of sorrow,

18he who pays homage to such as have found deliverance and know no fear, his merit can never be measured by anybody.

18 verses · classic public domain translation

‹ Ch. 13: The World Ch. 15: Happiness ›

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