The Dhammapada · Buddhist Sutras

Chapter 8: The Thousands

The Dhammapada · 16 verses

Chapter 8 of the Dhammapada — “The Thousands” — the Buddha's most widely read collection of verses, in a classic public domain translation. It opens: “Even though a speech be a thousand (of words), but made up of senseless words, one word of sense is better, which if a man hears,…” — all 16 verses are below, free to read online.

1Even though a speech be a thousand (of words), but made up of senseless words, one word of sense is better, which if a man hears, he becomes quiet.

2Even though a Gāthā (poem) be a thousand (of words), but made up of senseless words, one word of a Gāthā is better, which if a man hears, he becomes quiet.

3Though a man recite a hundred Gāthās made up of senseless words, one word of the law is better, which if a man hears, he becomes quiet.

4If one man conquer in battle a thousand times thousand men, and if another conquer himself, he is the greatest of conquerors.

5One's own self conquered is better than all other people;

6not even a god, a Gandharva, not Māra with Brahman could change into defeat the victory of a man who has vanquished himself, and always lives under restraint.

7If a man for a hundred years sacrifice month after month with a thousand, and if he but for one moment pay homage to a man whose soul is grounded (in true knowledge), better is that homage than sacrifice for a hundred years.

8If a man for a hundred years worship Agni (fire) in the forest, and if he but for one moment pay homage to a man whose soul is grounded (in true knowledge), better is that homage than sacrifice for a hundred years.

9Whatever a man sacrifice in this world as an offering or as an oblation for a whole year in order to gain merit, the whole of it is not worth a quarter (a farthing); reverence shown to the righteous is better.

10He who always greets and constantly reveres the aged, four things will increase to him, viz. life, beauty, happiness, power.

11But he who lives a hundred years, vicious and unrestrained, a life of one day is better if a man is virtuous and reflecting.

12And he who lives a hundred years, ignorant and unrestrained, a life of one day is better if a man is wise and reflecting.

13And he who lives a hundred years, idle and weak, a life of one day is better if a man has attained firm strength.

14And he who lives a hundred years, not seeing beginning and end, a life of one day is better if a man sees beginning and end.

15And he who lives a hundred years, not seeing the immortal place, a life of one day is better if a man sees the immortal place.

16And he who lives a hundred years, not seeing the highest law, a life of one day is better if a man sees the highest law.

16 verses · classic public domain translation

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