The Dhammapada

The Path to the Truth

1. Yamaka Vagga — Twin Verses
2. Appamāda Vagga — Heedfulness
3. Citta Vagga — The Mind
4. Puppha Vagga — Flowers
5. Bāla Vagga — The Fool
6. Pandita Vagga — The Wise Man
7. Arahanta Vagga — The Worthy
8. Sahassa Vagga — Thousands
9. Pāpa Vagga — Evil
10. Danda Vagga — Punishment
11. Jarā Vagga — Old Age
12. Atta Vagga — Self
13. Loka Vagga — The World

14. Buddha Vagga — The Buddha
15. Sukha Vagga — Happiness
16. Piya Vagga — Affection
17. Kodha Vagga — Anger
18. Mala Vagga — Impurities
19. Dhammattha Vagga — Righteousness
20. Magga Vagga — The Path
21. Pakinnaka Vagga — Miscellaneous
22. Niraya Vagga — Hell
23. Nāga Vagga — The Elephant
24. Tanhā Vagga — Craving
25. Bhikkhu Vagga — The Monk
26. 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.

An alterntive translated by Venerable Acharya Buddharakkhita with an introduction by Bhikkhu Bodhi originally published by the Buddhist Publication Society is available for the Kindle in Epub format (source: Reading Faithfully).

This epub edition of the Dhammapada and Commentary on these pages iwas prepared by the author of Reading Faithfully.

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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