The Dhammapada · Buddhist Sutras

Chapter 19: The Just

The Dhammapada · 17 verses

Chapter 19 of the Dhammapada — “The Just” — the Buddha's most widely read collection of verses, in a classic public domain translation. It opens: “A man is not just if he carries a matter by violence;” — all 17 verses are below, free to read online.

1A man is not just if he carries a matter by violence;

2no, he who distinguishes both right and wrong, who is learned and leads others, not by violence, but by law and equity, and who is guarded by the law and intelligent, he is called just.

3A man is not learned because he talks much; he who is patient, free from hatred and fear, he is called learned.

4A man is not a supporter of the law because he talks much; even if a man has learnt little, but sees the law bodily, he is a supporter of the law, a man who never neglects the law.

5A man is not an elder because his head is grey; his age may be ripe, but he is called 'Old-in-vain.'

6He in whom there is truth, virtue, love, restraint, moderation, he who is free from impurity and is wise, he is called an elder.

7An envious, greedy, dishonest man does not become respectable by means of much talking only, or by the beauty of his complexion.

8He in whom all this is destroyed, and taken out with the very root, he, when freed from hatred and wise, is called respectable.

9Not by tonsure does an undisciplined man who speaks falsehood become a Samaṇa; can a man be a Samaṇa who is still held captive by desire and greediness?

10He who always quiets the evil, whether small or large, he is called a Samaṇa (a quiet man), because he has quieted all evil.

11A man is not a mendicant (Bhikshu) simply because he asks others for alms; he who adopts the whole law is a Bhikshu, not he who only begs.

12He who is above good and evil, who is chaste, who with knowledge passes through the world, he indeed is called a Bhikshu.

13A man is not a Muni because he observes silence (mona, i.e. mauna), if he is foolish and ignorant;

14but the wise who, taking the balance, chooses the good and avoids evil, he is a Muni, and is a Muni thereby; he who in this world weighs both sides is called a Muni.

15A man is not an elect (Ariya) because he injures living creatures; because he has pity on all living creatures, therefore is a man called Ariya.

16Not only by discipline and vows, not only by much learning, not by entering into a trance, not by sleeping alone, do I earn the happiness of release which no worldling can know.

17Bhikshu, be not confident as long as thou hast not attained the extinction of desires.

17 verses · classic public domain translation

‹ Ch. 18: Impurity Ch. 20: The Way ›

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