21
Appamādo amatapadaṁ,
pamādo maccuno padaṁ;
Appamattā na mīyanti,
ye pamattā yathā matā.
|Diligence::quality of wishing to do one’s work or duty well, with alertness, carefulness and care [appamāda]| is the path to the |deathless::deathless state, epithet of Nibbāna [amata]|,
|negligence::carelessness, heedlessness [pamāda]| is the path to death.
The diligent do not die,
the negligent are as if dead.
22
Evaṁ visesato ñatvā,
appamādamhi paṇḍitā;
Appamāde pamodanti,
ariyānaṁ gocare ratā.
Understanding this distinction clearly,
the |wise::astute, intelligent, learned, skilled [paṇḍita]| excel in diligence;
they rejoice in diligence,
|delighting in::devoted to [rata]| the domain of the |Noble Ones::distinguished, an ethically noble person, an awakened being [ariya]|.
23
Te jhāyino sātatikā,
niccaṁ daḷhaparakkamā;
Phusanti dhīrā nibbānaṁ,
yogakkhemaṁ anuttaraṁ.
Those |meditators::yogis [jhāyi]|, practicing continuously,
consistently firm in effort;
the |steadfast ones::intelligent ones, stable, wise [dhīrā]| attain |Nibbāna::complete cooling, letting go of everything, deathless, freedom from calamity, the non-disintegrating; lit. blowing away [nibbāna]|,
the |unsurpassed::highest, incomparable [anuttara]| safety from [all] |bonds::yoke, attachment, which binds one to the cyclical existence [yoga]|.
24
Uṭṭhānavato satīmato,
Sucikammassa nisammakārino;
Saññatassa dhammajīvino,
Appamattassa yasobhivaḍḍhati.
For one who is |energetic::ready for action [uṭṭhānavant]| and |mindful::attentive, fully present [satīmant]|,
pure in actions, who acts calmly;
|self-controlled::self restrained [attadanta]| and living ethically,
the |fame::glory, prestige [yasa]| of such a diligent one steadily grows.
25
Uṭṭhānenappamādena,
saṁyamena damena ca;
Dīpaṁ kayirātha medhāvī,
yaṁ ogho nābhikīrati.
By initiative and diligence,
with |restraint::self-control [saṁyama]| and |discipline::taming [dama]|;
the |wise one::who has good judgement [medhāvī]| should make an island
which no flood can submerge.
26
Pamādamanuyuñjanti,
bālā dummedhino janā;
Appamādañca medhāvī,
dhanaṁ seṭṭhaṁva rakkhati.
|Immature::lacking in discernment or good sense, child-like in understanding [bāla]|, |unwise::one lacking discernment, who has not cultivated wisdom [dummedhī]| persons
indulge in negligence;
but the wise one guards diligence
like the |greatest::best, foremost [seṭṭha]| wealth.
27
Mā pamādamanuyuñjetha,
mā kāmaratisanthavaṁ;
Appamatto hi jhāyanto,
pappoti vipulaṁ sukhaṁ.
Do not indulge in negligence,
do not seek intimacy with sensual delights;
for the diligent one, meditating,
attains expansive |happiness::contentment, ease, pleasant abiding [sukha]|.
28
Pamādaṁ appamādena,
yadā nudati paṇḍito;
Paññāpāsādamāruyha,
asoko sokiniṁ pajaṁ;
Pabbataṭṭhova bhūmaṭṭhe,
dhīro bāle avekkhati.
When the wise one dispels negligence,
by means of diligence;
ascending the palace of wisdom,
free from sorrow, they look upon the sorrowing masses;
like one standing on a mountain sees those on the ground,
the steadfast one looks upon the |immature persons::lacking in discernment or good sense, child-like in understanding [bāle]|.
29
Appamatto pamattesu,
suttesu bahujāgaro;
Abalassaṁva sīghasso,
hitvā yāti sumedhaso.
Diligent among the negligent,
wide awake among those asleep;
like a swift horse leaving a weak one behind,
the wise one advances.
30
Appamādena maghavā,
devānaṁ seṭṭhataṁ gato;
Appamādaṁ pasaṁsanti,
pamādo garahito sadā.
Through diligence, |Maghavant::Indra, the chief of the gods|
attained eminence among the gods;
diligence is always praised,
negligence is always blamed.
31
Appamādarato bhikkhu,
pamāde bhayadassi vā;
Saṁyojanaṁ aṇuṁ thūlaṁ,
ḍahaṁ aggīva gacchati.
A bhikkhu who delights in diligence,
and sees danger in negligence;
advances like a blazing fire,
burns all |fetters::chains, bonds, things which binds [saṁyojanā]|, both |subtle::fine [aṇu]| and |gross::coarse [thūla]|.
32
Appamādarato bhikkhu,
pamāde bhayadassi vā;
Abhabbo parihānāya,
nibbānasseva santike.
A bhikkhu who delights in diligence,
and sees danger in negligence;
is incapable of |decline::regression, deterioration [parihāna]|,
and is near to |Nibbāna::complete cooling, letting go of everything, deathless, freedom from calamity, the non-disintegrating; lit. blowing away [nibbāna]|.