Dhammapada verses 167-178 emphasize living in accordance with the Dhamma, avoiding negligence, not embrace wrong view, and not indulging in the world. One should rise up, live with good conduct, and not live with unwholesome conduct. The world is blind, and only a few see clearly. Swans travel the pathway of the sun, and the wise are emancipated from the world.

DHP 167-178  Loka vagga - Chapter 13 - World

167

Hīnaṁ dhammaṁ na seveyya,
pamādena na saṁvase;
Micchādiṭṭhiṁ na seveyya,
na siyā lokavaḍḍhano.

One should not pursue a |base::inferior, low, deficient [hīna]| |way of life::teachings, principles, practices [dhamma]|,
nor should one live with |negligence::carelessly, heedlessly [pamāda]|;
One should not embrace a |wrong view::a distorted perception, an untrue view, a false belief [micchādiṭṭhi]|,
and one should not |indulge in the world::attached to the world, fostering worldliness [lokavaḍḍhana]|.

168

Uttiṭṭhe nappamajjeyya,
dhammaṁ sucaritaṁ care;
Dhammacārī sukhaṁ seti,
asmiṁ loke paramhi ca.

One should rise up and not be negligent,
One should live in accordance with the |Dhamma::teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [dhamma]|, with good conduct;
For living by the Dhamma, one sleeps with |ease::contentment, happiness, pleasant abiding [sukha]|,
both in this world and the next.

169

Dhammaṁ care sucaritaṁ,
na naṁ duccaritaṁ care;
Dhammacārī sukhaṁ seti,
asmiṁ loke paramhi ca.

One should live in accordance with the Dhamma, with good conduct,
and not live with |unwholesome conduct::misbehavior, bad conduct, misconduct [duccarita]|;
Living in accordance with the Dhamma, one rests in |ease::contentment, happiness, pleasant abiding [sukha]|,
both in this world and the next.

170

Yathā pubbuḷakaṁ passe,
yathā passe marīcikaṁ;
Evaṁ lokaṁ avekkhantaṁ,
maccurājā na passati.

As one would see a bubble,
as one would see an |illusion::a mirage, a trick of the eye [marīcika]|;
One who |regards::sees, views [avekkhanta]| the world in this way,
is not seen by the Lord of Death.

171

Etha passathimaṁ lokaṁ,
cittaṁ rājarathūpamaṁ;
Yattha bālā visīdanti,
natthi saṅgo vijānataṁ.

Come, see this world,
adorned like a royal chariot;
Here, the immature |sink [in attachment]::flounder, become dejected [visīdati]|,
but |those who understand::for those who discern [vijānataṃ]| remain unbound.

172

Yo ca pubbe pamajjitvā,
pacchā so nappamajjati;
Somaṁ lokaṁ pabhāseti,
abbhā muttova candimā.

One who, having been negligent before,
is no longer negligent afterward;
|Illuminates::brightens [pabhāseti]| the world,
like the moon freed from clouds.

173

Yassa pāpaṁ kataṁ kammaṁ,
kusalena pidhīyati;
Somaṁ lokaṁ pabhāseti,
abbhā muttova candimā.

For one whose |injurious::harmful, bad, potentially evil [pāpa]| actions,
are |superseded::supplanted [pidhīyati]| by |wholesome::healthy, beneficial, useful [kusala]| actions;
That person illuminates the world,
like the moon freed from clouds.

174

Andhabhūto ayaṁ loko,
tanukettha vipassati;
Sakuṇo jālamuttova,
appo saggāya gacchati.

This world is |blind::ignorant of or misunderstanding the true nature of reality [andhabhūta]|,
only a few here |see clearly::understand with insight [vipassati]|;
Like a bird |freed from the net::escaped from the snare [jālamutta]|,
only a few reach heaven.

175

Haṁsādiccapathe yanti,
ākāse yanti iddhiyā;
Nīyanti dhīrā lokamhā,
jetvā māraṁ savāhiniṁ.

|Swans::metaphorically representing sages [haṁsā]| travel the pathway of the sun,
they move through the sky with their |psychic powers::supernormal abilities, psychic potency, spiritual power [iddhi]|;
The |steadfast::intelligent one, stable, wise [dhīra]| are emancipated from the world,
having conquered |Māra::embodiment of all forces that keeps beings trapped in the cycle of rebirth [māra]| and his army.

176

Ekaṁ dhammaṁ atītassa,
musāvādissa jantuno;
Vitiṇṇaparalokassa,
natthi pāpaṁ akāriyaṁ.

For one who has transgressed a single principle,
a person who engages in |false speech::lying, deliberately speaking falsehood [musāvāda]|;
|Who has disregarded the afterlife::who has rejected, given up or neglected the next world [vitiṇṇaparaloka]|,
there is no injurious action that is |not do-able::impossible to do [akāriya]|.

177

Na ve kadariyā devalokaṁ vajanti,
Bālā have nappasaṁsanti dānaṁ;
Dhīro ca dānaṁ anumodamāno,
Teneva so hoti sukhī parattha.

Truly, the stingy do not go to the heaven,
for |immature persons::childish persons, lacking discernment [bālā]| do not praise giving;
The wise one rejoices in giving,
just by that he finds ease |hereafter::afterwards, later [parattha]|.

178

Pathabyā ekarajjena,
saggassa gamanena vā;
Sabbalokādhipaccena,
sotāpattiphalaṁ varaṁ.

Better than sole sovereignty over the earth,
better than going to heaven;
Better than |lordship over all the worlds::rulership over the entire universe [sabbalokādhipacca]|,
is the fruit of |entering the stream::stream-entry, first stage of enlightenment [sotāpatti]|.

167

One should not pursue a |base::inferior, low, deficient [hīna]| |way of life::teachings, principles, practices [dhamma]|,
nor should one live with |negligence::carelessly, heedlessly [pamāda]|;
One should not embrace a |wrong view::a distorted perception, an untrue view, a false belief [micchādiṭṭhi]|,
and one should not |indulge in the world::attached to the world, fostering worldliness [lokavaḍḍhana]|.

168

One should rise up and not be negligent,
One should live in accordance with the |Dhamma::teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [dhamma]|, with good conduct;
For living by the Dhamma, one sleeps with |ease::contentment, happiness, pleasant abiding [sukha]|,
both in this world and the next.

169

One should live in accordance with the Dhamma, with good conduct,
and not live with |unwholesome conduct::misbehavior, bad conduct, misconduct [duccarita]|;
Living in accordance with the Dhamma, one rests in |ease::contentment, happiness, pleasant abiding [sukha]|,
both in this world and the next.

170

As one would see a bubble,
as one would see an |illusion::a mirage, a trick of the eye [marīcika]|;
One who |regards::sees, views [avekkhanta]| the world in this way,
is not seen by the Lord of Death.

171

Come, see this world,
adorned like a royal chariot;
Here, the immature |sink [in attachment]::flounder, become dejected [visīdati]|,
but |those who understand::for those who discern [vijānataṃ]| remain unbound.

172

One who, having been negligent before,
is no longer negligent afterward;
|Illuminates::brightens [pabhāseti]| the world,
like the moon freed from clouds.

173

For one whose |injurious::harmful, bad, potentially evil [pāpa]| actions,
are |superseded::supplanted [pidhīyati]| by |wholesome::healthy, beneficial, useful [kusala]| actions;
That person illuminates the world,
like the moon freed from clouds.

174

This world is |blind::ignorant of or misunderstanding the true nature of reality [andhabhūta]|,
only a few here |see clearly::understand with insight [vipassati]|;
Like a bird |freed from the net::escaped from the snare [jālamutta]|,
only a few reach heaven.

175

|Swans::metaphorically representing sages [haṁsā]| travel the pathway of the sun,
they move through the sky with their |psychic powers::supernormal abilities, psychic potency, spiritual power [iddhi]|;
The |steadfast::intelligent one, stable, wise [dhīra]| are emancipated from the world,
having conquered |Māra::embodiment of all forces that keeps beings trapped in the cycle of rebirth [māra]| and his army.

176

For one who has transgressed a single principle,
a person who engages in |false speech::lying, deliberately speaking falsehood [musāvāda]|;
|Who has disregarded the afterlife::who has rejected, given up or neglected the next world [vitiṇṇaparaloka]|,
there is no injurious action that is |not do-able::impossible to do [akāriya]|.

177

Truly, the stingy do not go to the heaven,
for |immature persons::childish persons, lacking discernment [bālā]| do not praise giving;
The wise one rejoices in giving,
just by that he finds ease |hereafter::afterwards, later [parattha]|.

178

Better than sole sovereignty over the earth,
better than going to heaven;
Better than |lordship over all the worlds::rulership over the entire universe [sabbalokādhipacca]|,
is the fruit of |entering the stream::stream-entry, first stage of enlightenment [sotāpatti]|.

Hīnaṁ dhammaṁ na seveyya,
pamādena na saṁvase;
Micchādiṭṭhiṁ na seveyya,
na siyā lokavaḍḍhano.

Uttiṭṭhe nappamajjeyya,
dhammaṁ sucaritaṁ care;
Dhammacārī sukhaṁ seti,
asmiṁ loke paramhi ca.

Dhammaṁ care sucaritaṁ,
na naṁ duccaritaṁ care;
Dhammacārī sukhaṁ seti,
asmiṁ loke paramhi ca.

Yathā pubbuḷakaṁ passe,
yathā passe marīcikaṁ;
Evaṁ lokaṁ avekkhantaṁ,
maccurājā na passati.

Etha passathimaṁ lokaṁ,
cittaṁ rājarathūpamaṁ;
Yattha bālā visīdanti,
natthi saṅgo vijānataṁ.

Yo ca pubbe pamajjitvā,
pacchā so nappamajjati;
Somaṁ lokaṁ pabhāseti,
abbhā muttova candimā.

Yassa pāpaṁ kataṁ kammaṁ,
kusalena pidhīyati;
Somaṁ lokaṁ pabhāseti,
abbhā muttova candimā.

Andhabhūto ayaṁ loko,
tanukettha vipassati;
Sakuṇo jālamuttova,
appo saggāya gacchati.

Haṁsādiccapathe yanti,
ākāse yanti iddhiyā;
Nīyanti dhīrā lokamhā,
jetvā māraṁ savāhiniṁ.

Ekaṁ dhammaṁ atītassa,
musāvādissa jantuno;
Vitiṇṇaparalokassa,
natthi pāpaṁ akāriyaṁ.

Na ve kadariyā devalokaṁ vajanti,
Bālā have nappasaṁsanti dānaṁ;
Dhīro ca dānaṁ anumodamāno,
Teneva so hoti sukhī parattha.

Pathabyā ekarajjena,
saggassa gamanena vā;
Sabbalokādhipaccena,
sotāpattiphalaṁ varaṁ.

Last updated on September 13, 2025

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