DhammaPada verses 197-208 describe the happiness of those who live without hatred, affliction, and anxiety. It includes poetic verses on happiness and Nibbāna, and emphasizes seeing, dwelling, and association with the wise, Noble Ones.
197
Susukhaṁ vata jīvāma,
verinesu averino;
Verinesu manussesu,
viharāma averino.
Truly, we live happily,
|free from hatred::free from animosity, friendly [averī]| among the hateful;
Among those who are hostile,
we dwell free from animosity.
198
Susukhaṁ vata jīvāma,
āturesu anāturā;
Āturesu manussesu,
viharāma anāturā.
Truly, we live happily,
|unafflicted::untroubled, free from suffering [anātura]| among the diseased;
Among those who are afflicted,
we dwell free from suffering.
199
Susukhaṁ vata jīvāma,
ussukesu anussukā;
Ussukesu manussesu,
viharāma anussukā.
Truly, we live happily,
unworried among the |restless::zealously desiring, ambitious, anxiously striving for [ussuka]|;
Among those who are anxious,
we dwell |without anxious striving::not zealously desiring, unagitated [anussuka]|.
200
Susukhaṁ vata jīvāma,
yesaṁ no natthi kiñcanaṁ;
Pītibhakkhā bhavissāma,
devā ābhassarā yathā.
Truly, we live happily,
for those who have nothing to call their own;
We shall be nourished by |joy::heartfelt or intense joy, feeling of love, rapture lit. lovely feeling [pīti]|,
like the |radiant gods::a class of gods in the pure abodes [ābhassarā + devā]|.
201
Jayaṁ veraṁ pasavati,
dukkhaṁ seti parājito;
Upasanto sukhaṁ seti,
hitvā jayaparājayaṁ.
Victory breeds hatred,
for the defeated sleep uncomfortably;
|The composed::calmed, tranquil [upasanta]| sleep with ease,
having abandoned |victory and defeat::conquest and loss [jayaparājaya]|.
202
Natthi rāgasamo aggi,
Natthi dosasamo kali;
Natthi khandhasamā dukkhā,
Natthi santiparaṁ sukhaṁ.
There is no fire like |passion::intense desire, strong emotion, infatuation, obsession, lust [rāga]|,
no |distress::calamity, misfortune [kali]| like hatred;
No suffering like the |aggregates::pile of matter and mind that are held onto as a self [khandha]|,
and no happiness greater than |peace::calm, tranquility [santi]|.
203
Jighacchāparamā rogā,
saṅkhāraparamā dukhā;
Etaṁ ñatvā yathābhūtaṁ,
nibbānaṁ paramaṁ sukhaṁ.
Hunger is the worst disease,
|conditioned phenomena::fabrications, concoctions, intentional constructs, karmic activity [saṅkhārā]| the worst suffering;
for one who knows this as it actually is,
|Nibbāna::complete cooling, letting go of everything, deathless, freedom from calamity, the non-disintegrating [nibbāna]| is the highest bliss.
204
Ārogyaparamā lābhā,
Santuṭṭhiparamaṁ dhanaṁ;
Vissāsaparamā ñāti,
Nibbānaṁ paramaṁ sukhaṁ.
|Health::freedom from disease [ārogya]| is the highest gain,
|contentment::satisfaction [santuṭṭhi]| is the greatest wealth;
|Confidence::trust [vissāsa]| is the ultimate kin,
Nibbāna is the highest bliss.
205
Pavivekarasaṁ pitvā,
rasaṁ upasamassa ca;
Niddaro hoti nippāpo,
dhammapītirasaṁ pivaṁ.
Having sipped the flavor of |seclusion::solitude [paviveka]|,
and savored the taste of peace;
One becomes fearless, and free of |harm::injury causing actions, either to oneself or to others [pāpa]|,
while drinking the joy of the Dhamma.
206
Sāhu dassanamariyānaṁ,
sannivāso sadā sukho;
Adassanena bālānaṁ,
niccameva sukhī siyā.
Good is the sight of the Noble Ones,
dwelling with them is ever blissful;
Not encountering |immature persons::ones lacking in discernment or good sense, child-like in understanding [bāla]|,
one would always be at ease.
207
Bālasaṅgatacārī hi,
dīghamaddhāna socati;
Dukkho bālehi saṁvāso,
amitteneva sabbadā;
Dhīro ca sukhasaṁvāso,
ñātīnaṁva samāgamo.
One who associates with the immature persons,
|sorrows::grieves [socati]| for a long time;
|Living together with::co-habitation with, close association with [saṃvāsa]| the immature is unpleasant,
like being with an enemy;
But living with the |steadfast::firm, stable, wise [dhīra]| is joyful,
like reunion with one’s kin.
208
Tasmā hi—
Dhīrañca paññañca bahussutañca,
Dhorayhasīlaṁ vatavantamariyaṁ;
Taṁ tādisaṁ sappurisaṁ sumedhaṁ,
Bhajetha nakkhattapathaṁva candimā.
Therefore—
One should associate with the stable, wise, and well-learned,
the |patient::enduring [dhorayhasīla]|, virtuous, and noble;
Seek and follow such a person,
as the moon follows the path of the zodiac.
197
Truly, we live happily,
|free from hatred::free from animosity, friendly [averī]| among the hateful;
Among those who are hostile,
we dwell free from animosity.
198
Truly, we live happily,
|unafflicted::untroubled, free from suffering [anātura]| among the diseased;
Among those who are afflicted,
we dwell free from suffering.
199
Truly, we live happily,
unworried among the |restless::zealously desiring, ambitious, anxiously striving for [ussuka]|;
Among those who are anxious,
we dwell |without anxious striving::not zealously desiring, unagitated [anussuka]|.
200
Truly, we live happily,
for those who have nothing to call their own;
We shall be nourished by |joy::heartfelt or intense joy, feeling of love, rapture lit. lovely feeling [pīti]|,
like the |radiant gods::a class of gods in the pure abodes [ābhassarā + devā]|.
201
Victory breeds hatred,
for the defeated sleep uncomfortably;
|The composed::calmed, tranquil [upasanta]| sleep with ease,
having abandoned |victory and defeat::conquest and loss [jayaparājaya]|.
202
There is no fire like |passion::intense desire, strong emotion, infatuation, obsession, lust [rāga]|,
no |distress::calamity, misfortune [kali]| like hatred;
No suffering like the |aggregates::pile of matter and mind that are held onto as a self [khandha]|,
and no happiness greater than |peace::calm, tranquility [santi]|.
203
Hunger is the worst disease,
|conditioned phenomena::fabrications, concoctions, intentional constructs, karmic activity [saṅkhārā]| the worst suffering;
for one who knows this as it actually is,
|Nibbāna::complete cooling, letting go of everything, deathless, freedom from calamity, the non-disintegrating [nibbāna]| is the highest bliss.
204
|Health::freedom from disease [ārogya]| is the highest gain,
|contentment::satisfaction [santuṭṭhi]| is the greatest wealth;
|Confidence::trust [vissāsa]| is the ultimate kin,
Nibbāna is the highest bliss.
205
Having sipped the flavor of |seclusion::solitude [paviveka]|,
and savored the taste of peace;
One becomes fearless, and free of |harm::injury causing actions, either to oneself or to others [pāpa]|,
while drinking the joy of the Dhamma.
206
Good is the sight of the Noble Ones,
dwelling with them is ever blissful;
Not encountering |immature persons::ones lacking in discernment or good sense, child-like in understanding [bāla]|,
one would always be at ease.
207
One who associates with the immature persons,
|sorrows::grieves [socati]| for a long time;
|Living together with::co-habitation with, close association with [saṃvāsa]| the immature is unpleasant,
like being with an enemy;
But living with the |steadfast::firm, stable, wise [dhīra]| is joyful,
like reunion with one’s kin.
208
Therefore—
One should associate with the stable, wise, and well-learned,
the |patient::enduring [dhorayhasīla]|, virtuous, and noble;
Seek and follow such a person,
as the moon follows the path of the zodiac.
Susukhaṁ vata jīvāma,
verinesu averino;
Verinesu manussesu,
viharāma averino.
Susukhaṁ vata jīvāma,
āturesu anāturā;
Āturesu manussesu,
viharāma anāturā.
Susukhaṁ vata jīvāma,
ussukesu anussukā;
Ussukesu manussesu,
viharāma anussukā.
Susukhaṁ vata jīvāma,
yesaṁ no natthi kiñcanaṁ;
Pītibhakkhā bhavissāma,
devā ābhassarā yathā.
Jayaṁ veraṁ pasavati,
dukkhaṁ seti parājito;
Upasanto sukhaṁ seti,
hitvā jayaparājayaṁ.
Natthi rāgasamo aggi,
Natthi dosasamo kali;
Natthi khandhasamā dukkhā,
Natthi santiparaṁ sukhaṁ.
Jighacchāparamā rogā,
saṅkhāraparamā dukhā;
Etaṁ ñatvā yathābhūtaṁ,
nibbānaṁ paramaṁ sukhaṁ.
Ārogyaparamā lābhā,
Santuṭṭhiparamaṁ dhanaṁ;
Vissāsaparamā ñāti,
Nibbānaṁ paramaṁ sukhaṁ.
Pavivekarasaṁ pitvā,
rasaṁ upasamassa ca;
Niddaro hoti nippāpo,
dhammapītirasaṁ pivaṁ.
Sāhu dassanamariyānaṁ,
sannivāso sadā sukho;
Adassanena bālānaṁ,
niccameva sukhī siyā.
Bālasaṅgatacārī hi,
dīghamaddhāna socati;
Dukkho bālehi saṁvāso,
amitteneva sabbadā;
Dhīro ca sukhasaṁvāso,
ñātīnaṁva samāgamo.
Tasmā hi—
Dhīrañca paññañca bahussutañca,
Dhorayhasīlaṁ vatavantamariyaṁ;
Taṁ tādisaṁ sappurisaṁ sumedhaṁ,
Bhajetha nakkhattapathaṁva candimā.