The Dhammapada · Buddhist Sutras

Chapter 21: Miscellaneous

The Dhammapada · 16 verses

Chapter 21 of the Dhammapada — “Miscellaneous” — the Buddha's most widely read collection of verses, in a classic public domain translation. It opens: “If by leaving a small pleasure one sees a great pleasure, let a wise man leave the small pleasure, and look to the great.” — all 16 verses are below, free to read online.

1If by leaving a small pleasure one sees a great pleasure, let a wise man leave the small pleasure, and look to the great.

2He who, by causing pain to others, wishes to obtain pleasure for himself, he, entangled in the bonds of hatred, will never be free from hatred.

3What ought to be done is neglected, what ought not to be done is done; the desires of unruly, thoughtless people are always increasing.

4But they whose whole watchfulness is always directed to their body, who do not follow what ought not to be done, and who steadfastly do what ought to be done, the desires of such watchful and wise people will come to an end.

5A true Brāhmaṇa goes scatheless, though he have killed father and mother, and two valiant kings, though he has destroyed a kingdom with all its subjects.

6A true Brāhmaṇa goes scatheless, though he have killed father and mother, and two holy kings, and an eminent man besides.

7The disciples of Gotama (Buddha) are always well awake, and their thoughts day and night are always set on Buddha.

8The disciples of Gotama are always well awake, and their thoughts day and night are always set on the law.

9The disciples of Gotama are always well awake, and their thoughts day and night are always set on the church.

10The disciples of Gotama are always well awake, and their thoughts day and night are always set on their body.

11The disciples of Gotama are always well awake, and their mind day and night always delights in compassion.

12The disciples of Gotama are always well awake, and their mind day and night always delights in meditation.

13It is hard to leave the world (to become a friar), it is hard to enjoy the world; hard is the monastery, painful are the houses; painful it is to dwell with equals (to share everything in common), and the itinerant mendicant is beset with pain. Therefore let no man be an itinerant mendicant and he will not be beset with pain.

14Whatever place a faithful, virtuous, celebrated, and wealthy man chooses, there he is respected.

15Good people shine from afar, like the snowy mountains; bad people are not seen, like arrows shot by night.

16He alone who, without ceasing, practises the duty of sitting alone and sleeping alone, he, subduing himself, will rejoice in the destruction of all desires alone, as if living in a forest.

16 verses · classic public domain translation

‹ Ch. 20: The Way Ch. 22: The Downward Course ›

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