The Dhammapada

The Path to the Truth

Yamaka Vagga — Twin Verses Appamāda Vagga — Heedfulness Citta Vagga — The Mind Puppha Vagga — Flowers Bāla Vagga — The Fool Pandita Vagga — The Wise Man Arahanta Vagga — The Worthy Sahassa Vagga — Thousands Pāpa Vagga — Evil Danda Vagga — Punishment Jarā Vagga — Old Age Atta Vagga — Self Loka Vagga — The World	Buddha Vagga — The Buddha Sukha Vagga — Happiness Piya Vagga — Affection Kodha Vagga — Anger Mala Vagga — Impurities Dhammattha Vagga — Righteousness Magga Vagga — The Path Pakinnaka Vagga — Miscellaneous Niraya Vagga — Hell Nāga Vagga — The Elephant Tanhā Vagga — Craving Bhikkhu Vagga — The Monk Brahmana Vagga — The Saint
Editor’s Preface The Dhammapada — The Path to the Truth — is an excellent book to keep in one’s pocket and refer to at leisure. It contains 423 verses in 26 chapters, covering all kinds of topics. In this edition I have included the Pāli text following the Chattha Sangāyana Tipitaka published by the Vipassana Research Institute. The Pāli text is included in the PDF edition, but not in the on-line edition. The PDF edition will not be available until the enitre volume is complete. The translation is based on Venerable Nārada’s, but I have rephrased the English to bring it up to date, and added my own footnotes to explain some difficult translations. A few words cannot adequately be translated into English, so they have been left in the original Pāli. The meaning of the verses is greatly clarified by stories from the commentaries, which put them into context. I have relied heavily on this context to give the most appropriate translation. The long narrative of the commentary served to flesh out the characters, which is fine for story-telling, but it adds little for the modern reader, so I give just the essence of the story. The full translation of the commentary by Burlingame for the Pali Text Society runs to three volumes. I am well aware that this first edition has many defects, but I am sure that the readers will gain some benefit. Later editions may follow to further clarify these valuable verses. The first stage is now complete. All 423 verses in 26 chapters have been edited, with a synopsis of the stories from the commentary. The next stage is to check for inconsistencies, fill in where the story was too brief at first, or edit where the story was too long. The PDF file is 1.02 Mbytes. The file contains bookmarks for convenient navigation to any chapter or verse. An index of verses gives the page number on which the verses appear. The page numbering of the PDF file does not match the page numbering of the index or contents, because page 1 of the book begins on page 15 of the PDF file. This is a limitation of PDF files. The index and contents are generated for a printed book. Add 14 to the page number given in the index or contents to find the relevant page of the PDF file. PDF updated 8/3/2008: Uses the latest version of my Guru font. No other major changes.
Index to Verses
A A Devout Monk Illumines the World 382 A Fool Cannot Appreciate the Dhamma 64 A Fool Desires Undue Fame 73-74 A Fool Does Not Think of Death 286 A Moment’s Honour to the Worthy is Best 106 A Monk Has No Attachment 367 A Monk is Fully Controlled 362 A Monk is Peaceful 378 A Monk Radiates Loving-Kindness 368-376 A Monk Should Not Stop Halfway 271-272 A Saint Clings to Nothing 414 A Saint Does Not Enjoy Sensual Pleasures 401 A Saint Does Not Retaliate 390 A Saint Does Not Steal 409 A Saint Gives Offence to None 408 A Saint Goes Ungrieving 294-295 A Saint Has Broken the Straps 398 A Saint Has Destroyed All Fetters 397 A Saint Has Discarded All Bonds 417 A Saint Has Discarded All Evil 388 A Saint Has Discarded All Passions 407 A Saint Has Given Up Craving 416 A Saint Has Given Up Likes and Dislikes 418 A Saint Has Given Up Sense-desires 415 A Saint Has Laid Aside the Burden 402 A Saint Has No Desires 410 A Saint Has No Intimacy with Any 404 A Saint Has No Longings 411 A Saint Has Perfected Himself 423 A Saint Has Reached the Goal 403 A Saint Has Transcended Good and Evil 412 A Saint is Enlightened 422 A Saint is Fearless and Liberated 385 A Saint is Friendly Among the Hostile 406 A Saint is Harmless 405 A Saint is Meditative and Stainless 386 A Saint is Not Attached 419-420 A Saint is Not Wrathful 400 A Saint is Patient 399 A Saint is Pure 413 A Saint is Truthful and Righteous 393 A Saint is Unattached 396 A Saint is Well-restrained 391 A Saint Knows the Uncreated A Saint Meditates Alone in the Forest 395 A Saint Yearns For Nothing 421 A Shameless Life is Easy 244-245 A Shaven Head Does Not Make A Monk 264-265 A Well-directed Mind is of Great Benefit 43 Act As You Instruct Others 159 Adultery Leads to Hell 309-310 Advisers Are Pleasing to the Good 77 Advisers Should Set A Good Example 158 All Conditions Are Impermanent 277 All Conditions Are Unsatisfactory 278 All Phenomena Are Not-self 279 Among the Hateful Be Without Hate 197 Among the Passionate Be Without Passion 199 Among the Sick Be in Good Health 198 An Elephant Longs for the Forest 324 An Evil Deed is Better Not Done 314 An Excellent Man is Not Credulous 97 An Ill-Directed Mind Can Do Great Harm 42 Apply Oneself to the Holy Life 209 Arahants Cannot Be Traced 57 Associate with the Wise or Stay Alone 328-330 Associate with the Wise 208 Associate with the Wise 76 Association with Fools is Sorrowful 207 Attachment is Stronger Than Chains 345-346 Avoid Companionship with the Foolish 61 Avoid the Evil Way 327 B Be Contented 365-366 Be Heedful 26-27 Be Moderate in Eating 325 Be Ashamed of What is Shameful 316-317 Be Pure in Body, Speech, and Mind 231-234 Be Pure Within 394 Be Truthful, Patient, and Generous 224 Be Vigilant 157 Be Without Attachment 283-284 Be Without Impediments 200 Begging Does Not Make A Monk 266-267 Better Than A Century of Fire-sacrifice 107 Better Than A Century of Laziness 112 Better Than A Hundred Years 111 Better Than A Hundred Years 110 Better Than A Thousand Useless Sayings 100 Better Than A Thousand Useless Verses 101 Better Than Sacrificial Slaughter 108 Birth Depends on Actions 126 Bitter is the Fruit of Evil 66 Blemishes of Mankind 356-359 Blessed Are They Who Honour the Elders 109 Blessed is the Sight of the Noble Ones 206 Blind is this World 174 Buddhas Are Dear to All 181 By Harmlessness One Becomes A Noble One 270 By Immorality the Fool Ruins Himself 246-248 By Oneself is Evil Done C Calm Are the Peaceful 96 Cast Off Lust and Hatred 377 Cause No Inconvenience to Anyone 49 Causes of Stains 241 Conquer Anger by Love 223 Conquer Heedlessness by Heedfulness 28 Control the Mind Well 35 Control Your Thoughts 326 Corrupt Lives Entail Suffering 311-313 Corrupt Monks Suffer in Hell 307 Craving Grows in the Heedless 334-337 Craving Grows in the Passionate 349-350 Craving is the Builder of this House 153-154 Craving is the Root of Suffering 338-343 Cultivate Concentration and Insight 384 Cultivate Good Friendship 78 Cultivate this Path of Peace 285 Cultivate Wisdom 282 D Death Cannot Be Overcome 128 Death is Near to You 235-236 Death Seizes the Doting Man 287 Decay and Death Are Universal 135 Defilements Multiply in the Conceited 292-293 Defilements Multiply in Fault-finders 253 Delight in Solitude 305 Disregard the Faults of Others 50 Do Good Again and Again 118 Do Not Be Immoral 308 Do Not Disregard Evil 121 Do Not Disregard Merit 122 Do Not Do Evil Repeatedly 117 Do Not Harm A Saint 389-390 Do Not Kill Nor Cause to Kill 129 Do Not Return Hatred with Hatred 291 Do Not Scorn the Noble 164 E Easy to See Are Others’ Faults 252 Eloquence Does Not Make A Gentleman 262-263 Embrace Right Views 318-319 Equanimous Like the Earth 95 Evil Can Be Erased by Good 173 Evil Deeds Lead to Remorse 67 Evil Deeds Take Effect When Ripe 71-72 Evil is Easy to Do 163 Evil Ruins Oneself 240 Evil-doers Come to Grief 69 Evil-doers Grieve Here and Hereafter 15 Evil-doers Lament Here and Hereafter 17 F Few Go Beyond 85-86 Forests Are Delightful to the Passionless 99 Fortify the Mind and Be Non-attached 40 Freedom From Māra 37 From Affection Springs Grief 213 From Craving Springs Grief 216 From Endearment Springs Grief 212 From Lust Springs Grief 215 From Passion Springs Grief 214 G Give Up Affection 210 Give Up Anger 221 Give Up Base Desires 167 Give Up Lesser Happiness for Greater Bliss 290 Good and Evil Are Known by Their Effects 119-120 Good Deeds Cause No Repentance 68 Grey Hair Does Not Make An Elder 260-261 Guard the Mind Well 36 Guard the Senses 360-361 Guard Yourself Like A Fortified City 315	H Happiness is Mind-made 2 Hatred is Conquered by Love 5 Hatred is Never Appeased By Hatred 3 Health is Paramount 204 Heedfulness Leads to Sovereignty 30 Hold Nothing Dear 211 Honour the Worthy 392 Honour the Worthy 195-196 Hunger is the Greatest Affliction 203 I Ignorance is the Greatest Stain 242-243 Insatiate Are Sensual Pleasures 186-187 L Learning Without Practice is No Use 19-20 Let Go! 348 Liars Suffer in Hell 306 Life Ends in Death 148 Life is Dear to All 130 Like A Bubble is this World 170 Like A Mirage is this Body 46 Long is Saṃsāra for the Foolish 60 Lust is A Fire Like No Other 202 Lust Penetrates an Undeveloped Mind 13-14 M Make Haste in Doing Good 116 Many People Are Immoral 320-322 Meditate Constantly 296-301 Merit Welcomes the Doers of Good 219-220 Misers Are Not Happy 177 Modesty is Rare 143-144 Molest None 131-132 Morality Blows Against the Wind 54-55 Morality is the Best Fragrance 56 Much Good Should Be Done 53 N No Evil Without Bad Intention 124 No One Avoids Blame in this World 227-230 No Protection At the Moment of Death 288-289 No Saints Outside of the Buddhadhamma 254-255 No Suffering for the Emancipated 90 Nobody Can Escape the Effects of Kamma 127 Not by Appearance Alone is One A Monk 142 O One is Not One’s Own 62 One is Not Wise Because of Speaking Much 258 One Versed in Dhamma Does Not Speak Much 259 One Who Imbibes the Dhamma is Happy 79 One with Little Learning Lacks Wisdom 152 P Penances Cannot Purify Anyone 141 Practice is Better Than Teaching 51-52 Purify Thoughts, Words, and Deeds 281 Purify Yourself Gradually 239 Purity and Impurity Depend on Oneself 165 Q Quarrels Destroy Both Parties 6 R Realisation is Superior to Fasting 70 Realising Impermanence is Best 113 Realising the Dhamma is Best 115 Reflect Well Over Food 92 Renunciation is Difficult 302 Returning to Lay Life is Foolish 344 Riches Ruin the Fool 355 Right Thought Leads to Realisation 11-12 Righteousness Does Not Decay 151 S Seeing the Deathless is Best 114 Seek Happiness in Solitude 87-89 Seek Refuge in the Triple Gem 188-192 Seek the Light 146 Self is One’s Refuge 160 Self-conquest is Best 104-105 Self-conquest is the Best Victory 102-103 Self-control Leads to the Goal 323 Self-guarded One Lives Happily 379-380 Sensualists Are Swept Away by Death 47 Sensualists Die Unsatiated 48 Shun Evil Like A Perilous Road 123 Silence Alone Does Not Make A Sage 268-269 Speak Not Harshly 133-134 Straighten the Fickle Mind 33-34 Stream-winning is Better Than Sovereignty 178 Strive for Your Spiritual Welfare 166 Strive with Joy and Faith 381 Success Should Not Be Sought Unjustly 84 Suffering is Mind-made 1 Sweet is His Speech Who Controls His Mouth 363 T The Best Kind of Happiness 194 The Body Will Soon Be Cast Aside 41 The Buddha Cannot Be Fathomed 179-180 The Buddha Shines by Day and Night 387 The Causes of Bliss 331-333 The Corrupt Ruin Themselves 162 The Devout Are Respected Everywhere 303 The Diligent Destroy the Defilements 226 The Eightfold Path is Best 273-276 The Energetic Prosper 24 The Envious Are Not At Peace 249-250 The Evil-doer Destroys Himself 136 The Gift of Truth Excels All Gifts 354 The Good Are Happy Here and Hereafter 18 The Good Are Rare 182 The Good Can Be Seen From Afar 304 The Good Control Themselves 145 The Good Rejoice Here and Hereafter 16 The Harmless Attain the Deathless 225 The Heedful Are Close to Nibbāna 32 The Heedful Far Outstrip the Lazy 29 The Heedful Illuminate the World 172 The Heedful Progress Quickly 31 The Heedless Are Like the Dead 21-23 The Impure Are Not Worthy of the Robe 9-10 The Just Make A Proper Investigation 256-257 The Lustful Are Caught in Their Own Web 347 The Mindful Exert Themselves 91 The Negligent Are Later Remorseful 155-156 The Noble Are Rare 193 The Omniscient One Has No Teacher 353 The Path to Nibbāna 75 The Righteous Are Happy 168-169 The Sense-Controlled Are Dear to All 94 The Slothful Do Not Realise the Path 280 The Teaching of the Buddhas 183-185 The True Charioteer 222 The Unattached Are Bound Upstream 218 The Undefiled Ones Are Free 93 The Vigilant Have No Fear 38-39 The Virtuous Are Dear to All 217 The Weak Succumb to Temptation 7-8 The Wise Appreciate the Dhamma 65 The Wise Are Neither Elated Nor Depressed 83 The Wise Are Not Attached to the World 171 The Wise Are Peaceful 82 The Wise Are Unshaken Like A Rock 81 The Wise Control Themselves 80 The Wise Escape From this World 175 The Wise Fool 63 The Wise Outshine Blind Worldlings 58-59 The Wise Protect Themselves 25 There is No Evil A Liar Cannot Do 176 There is No Fire Like Lust 251 This Body is Made of Flesh and Blood 150 This Decorated Body is Foul 147 V Victory Breeds Hatred 201 W What Delight in Seeing White Bones? 149 Where the Worthy Dwell is Delightful 98 Who Delights in the Dhamma Does Not Fall 364 Who Harms the Innocent Comes to Grief 137-140 Who Harms the Innocent Comes to Grief 125 Who Has Reached the Goal is Fearless 351-352 Who Tastes the Dhamma is Sorrowless 205 Who Will Comprehend this Earth? 44-45

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The Dhammapada

The Path to the Truth

Editor’s Preface

Index to Verses

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

V

W