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Khuddakanikāya Collection of Minor Texts Minor Collection
Dhammapada Verses of Dhamma Sayings of the Dhamma 320–333
Nāgavagga The Elephant Chapter 23. Elephants
Attadantavatthu
Ahaṁ nāgova saṅgāme, Like an elephant in battle Like an elephant struck
cāpato patitaṁ saraṁ; struck by an arrow from a bow, with arrows in battle,
Ativākyaṁ titikkhissaṁ, I will endure criticism I shall withstand abuse,
dussīlo hi bahujjano. from the immoral multitude. for so many folk are badly behaved.
Dantaṁ nayanti samitiṁ, One who is trained can be led through a crowd, The well-tamed beast is the one led to the crowd;
dantaṁ rājābhirūhati; one who is trained can be mounted by a king; the tamed elephant’s the one the king mounts;
Danto seṭṭho manussesu, a trained person is the best among humans, the tamed person who withstands abuse
yotivākyaṁ titikkhati. one who endures criticism. is the best of human beings.
Varamassatarā dantā, Excellent are trained mules, Those who have tamed themselves are better
ājānīyā ca sindhavā; well-bred Sindhi horses, than fine tamed mules,
Kuñjarā ca mahānāgā, and enormous elephants; thoroughbreds from Sindh,
attadanto tato varaṁ. but more excellent that those is one who is self-trained. or giant tuskers.
Hatthācariyapubbakabhikkhuvatthu
Na hi etehi yānehi, For it is not by means of those vehicles For not on those mounts
gaccheyya agataṁ disaṁ; that one goes in the direction one has never gone; would you go to the untrodden place,
Yathāttanā sudantena, where one who is self-trained, well-trained, whereas, with the help of one whose self is well tamed,
danto dantena gacchati. can go by means of that training. you go there, tamed by the tamed.
Parijiṇṇabrāhmaṇaputtavatthu
Dhanapālo nāma kuñjaro, The elephant named Dhanapāla The tusker named Dhanapāla
Kaṭukabhedano dunnivārayo; is bitter about being separated, and is hard to restrain; is musky in rut, hard to control.
Baddho kabaḷaṁ na bhuñjati, captive, he does not eat, Bound, he eats not a morsel,
Sumarati nāgavanassa kuñjaro. as he misses the elephant forest. for he misses the elephant forest.
Pasenadikosalavatthu
Middhī yadā hoti mahagghaso ca, Lethargic and gluttonous, One who gets drowsy from overeating,
Niddāyitā samparivattasāyī; languid, lazing about, fond of sleep, rolling round the bed
Mahāvarāhova nivāpapuṭṭho, like an oversized pig that has taken the bait, like a great hog stuffed with grain:
Punappunaṁ gabbhamupeti mando. the fool arrives again and again in the womb. that dullard returns to the womb again and again.
Sānusāmaṇeravatthu
Idaṁ pure cittamacāri cārikaṁ, In the past this mind would wander, In the past my mind wandered
Yenicchakaṁ yatthakāmaṁ yathāsukhaṁ; going wherever it wished, wherever it desired, wherever it found pleasure. how it wished, where it liked, as it pleased.
Tadajjahaṁ niggahessāmi yoniso, Today I will subdue it with a wise understanding of causality, Now I’ll carefully guide it,
Hatthippabhinnaṁ viya aṅkusaggaho. like an elephant-trainer subduing a rampaging elephant. as a trainer with a hook guides a rutting elephant.
Pāveyyakahatthivatthu
Appamādaratā hotha, Approve of non-negligence, Delight in diligence!
sacittamanurakkhatha; and guard your own mind. Take good care of your mind!
Duggā uddharathattānaṁ, Lift yourself up from the harmful path, Pull yourself out of this pit,
paṅke sannova kuñjaro. like an elephant lifting itself up from the mud. like an elephant sunk in a bog.
Sambahulabhikkhuvatthu
Sace labhetha nipakaṁ sahāyaṁ, If you can get a prudent companion If you find an alert companion,
Saddhiṁ caraṁ sādhuvihāridhīraṁ; to travel with, a steadfast person who lives an excellent life, an attentive friend to live happily together,
Abhibhuyya sabbāni parissayāni, then leave behind all your problems then, overcoming all adversities,
Careyya tenattamano satīmā. and go with them, satisfied and mindful. wander with them, joyful and mindful.
No ce labhetha nipakaṁ sahāyaṁ, If you can not get a prudent companion If you find no alert companion,
Saddhiṁ caraṁ sādhuvihāridhīraṁ; to travel with, a steadfast person who lives an excellent life, no attentive friend to live happily together,
Rājāva raṭṭhaṁ vijitaṁ pahāya, then like a king leaving behind a conquered realm, then, like a king who flees his conquered realm,
Eko care mātaṅgaraññeva nāgo. go alone, like an elephant in its wilderness habitat. wander alone like a tusker in the wilds.
Ekassa caritaṁ seyyo, It is best to go alone; It’s better to wander alone,
Natthi bāle sahāyatā; there is no companionship with a fool. there’s no fellowship with fools.
Eko care na ca pāpāni kayirā, One who lives alone and does nothing harmful Wander alone and do no wrong,
Appossukko mātaṅgaraññeva nāgo. will be at ease, like an elephant in its wilderness habitat. at ease like a tusker in the wilds.
Māravatthu
Atthamhi jātamhi sukhā sahāyā, It is pleasant to have companions when the need arises, A friend in need is a blessing;
Tuṭṭhī sukhā yā itarītarena; it is pleasant to be content with whatever comes, it’s a blessing to be content with whatever;
Puññaṁ sukhaṁ jīvitasaṅkhayamhi, it is pleasant to have merit when life comes to an end, good deeds are a blessing at the end of life,
Sabbassa dukkhassa sukhaṁ pahānaṁ. it is pleasant to leave behind all suffering. and giving up all suffering is a blessing.
Sukhā matteyyatā loke, It is pleasant to be a mother in this world, In this world it’s a blessing to serve
atho petteyyatā sukhā; it is pleasant to be a father; one’s mother and one’s father.
Sukhā sāmaññatā loke, it is pleasant to be a contemplative in this world, And it’s a blessing also to serve
atho brahmaññatā sukhā. it is pleasant to be spiritual. ascetics and brahmins.
Sukhaṁ yāva jarā sīlaṁ, It is pleasant to have virtue that lasts into old age, It’s a blessing to keep precepts until you grow old;
sukhā saddhā patiṭṭhitā; it is pleasant to have established faith, a blessing to be grounded in faith;
Sukho paññāya paṭilābho, it is pleasant to have attained wisdom, the getting of wisdom’s a blessing;
pāpānaṁ akaraṇaṁ sukhaṁ. it is pleasant to do no evil. and it’s a blessing to avoid doing wrong.
Nāgavaggo tevīsatimo.