100
Sahassamapi ce vācā,
anatthapadasaṁhitā;
Ekaṁ atthapadaṁ seyyo,
yaṁ sutvā upasammati.
Better than a thousand words
comprising meaningless statements
is one meaningful word
hearing which one is calmed.
101
Sahassamapi ce gāthā,
anatthapadasaṁhitā;
Ekaṁ gāthāpadaṁ seyyo,
yaṁ sutvā upasammati.
Better than a thousand verses
comprising meaningless statements
is one line of verse
hearing which one is calmed.
102
Yo ca gāthā sataṁ bhāse,
anatthapadasaṁhitā;
Ekaṁ dhammapadaṁ seyyo,
yaṁ sutvā upasammati.
Though one may recite a hundred verses
comprising meaningless statements,
better is one verse of the Dhamma
hearing which one is calmed.
103
Yo sahassaṁ sahassena,
saṅgāme mānuse jine;
Ekañca jeyyamattānaṁ,
sa ve saṅgāmajuttamo.
Even if one were to conquer a thousand men,
with a thousand others in battle;
yet if one conquers oneself alone,
that one indeed is the supreme victor in battle.
104
Attā have jitaṁ seyyo,
yā cāyaṁ itarā pajā;
Attadantassa posassa,
niccaṁ saññatacārino.
Self-conquest is truly better
than conquering others;
for one who has mastered oneself
continuously dwells with restraint.
105
Neva devo na gandhabbo,
na māro saha brahmunā;
Jitaṁ apajitaṁ kayirā,
tathārūpassa jantuno.
Neither a god, nor a celestial being,
nor Māra together with Brahmā;
can undo the victory of such a person,
who has conquered oneself.
106
Māse māse sahassena,
yo yajetha sataṁ samaṁ;
Ekañca bhāvitattānaṁ,
muhuttamapi pūjaye;
Sāyeva pūjanā seyyo,
yañce vassasataṁ hutaṁ.
Even if one were to make a thousand offerings every month,
consistently for a hundred years;
and yet, if one were to honor for even a moment,
a single person who is awakened;
that honor is indeed better
than a hundred years of offerings.
107
Yo ca vassasataṁ jantu,
aggiṁ paricare vane;
Ekañca bhāvitattānaṁ,
muhuttamapi pūjaye;
Sāyeva pūjanā seyyo,
yañce vassasataṁ hutaṁ.
Even if one were to attend to the [sacred] fire in the forest
for a hundred years;
and yet, if one were to honor for even a moment,
a single person who is awakened;
that honor is indeed better
than a hundred years of offerings.
108
Yaṁ kiñci yiṭṭhaṁ va hutaṁ va loke,
Saṁvaccharaṁ yajetha puññapekkho;
Sabbampi taṁ na catubhāgameti,
Abhivādanā ujjugatesu seyyo.
Whatever is given or offered in the world,
if one were to give that throughout the year, seeking merit;
all of that does not amount to a fourth part
of the honor given to the steadfast, which is indeed better.
109
Abhivādanasīlissa,
niccaṁ vuḍḍhāpacāyino;
Cattāro dhammā vaḍḍhanti,
āyu vaṇṇo sukhaṁ balaṁ.
For one who is respectful,
and regularly honors the elders;
four qualities grow:
life span, beauty, happiness, and strength.
110
Yo ca vassasataṁ jīve,
dussīlo asamāhito;
Ekāhaṁ jīvitaṁ seyyo,
sīlavantassa jhāyino.
Even if one were to live a hundred years,
unprincipled and distracted;
better is a single day of life
of a virtuous person who meditates.
111
Yo ca vassasataṁ jīve,
duppañño asamāhito;
Ekāhaṁ jīvitaṁ seyyo,
paññavantassa jhāyino.
Even if one were to live a hundred years,
undiscerning and distracted;
better is a single day of life
of a wise person who meditates.
112
Yo ca vassasataṁ jīve,
kusīto hīnavīriyo;
Ekāhaṁ jīvitaṁ seyyo,
vīriyamārabhato daḷhaṁ.
Even if one were to live a hundred years,
lazy and weak in effort;
better is a single day of life
of one who makes steady effort.
113
Yo ca vassasataṁ jīve,
apassaṁ udayabbayaṁ;
Ekāhaṁ jīvitaṁ seyyo,
passato udayabbayaṁ.
Even if one were to live a hundred years,
without seeing arising and passing away;
better is a single day of life
of one who sees arising and passing away.
114
Yo ca vassasataṁ jīve,
apassaṁ amataṁ padaṁ;
Ekāhaṁ jīvitaṁ seyyo,
passato amataṁ padaṁ.
Even if one were to live a hundred years,
without seeing the deathless state;
better is a single day of life
of one who sees the deathless state.
115
Yo ca vassasataṁ jīve,
apassaṁ dhammamuttamaṁ;
Ekāhaṁ jīvitaṁ seyyo,
passato dhammamuttamaṁ.
Even if one were to live a hundred years,
without seeing the ultimate truth;
better is a single day of life
of one who sees the ultimate truth.