273
Maggānaṭṭhaṅgiko seṭṭho,
saccānaṁ caturo padā;
Virāgo seṭṭho dhammānaṁ,
dvipadānañca cakkhumā.
Of all the paths, the Eightfold Path is the foremost,
of all the truths, the Four Truths are the foremost;
of all things, the fading of desire is the foremost,
of all the two-footed beings, the clear-eyed one is the foremost.
274
Eseva maggo natthañño,
Dassanassa visuddhiyā;
Etañhi tumhe paṭipajjatha,
Mārassetaṁ pamohanaṁ.
This is the path—there is no other
for the purification of vision;
tread this path,
and you will bewilder Māra.
275
Etañhi tumhe paṭipannā,
dukkhassantaṁ karissatha;
Akkhāto vo mayā maggo,
aññāya sallakantanaṁ.
Walking upon this path,
you will make an end of suffering;
I have declared the path,
for the cutting out of arrows through knowing.
276
Tumhehi kiccamātappaṁ,
akkhātāro tathāgatā;
Paṭipannā pamokkhanti,
jhāyino mārabandhanā.
The effort should be made by you,
the Tathāgatas only show the way;
the meditators who practice this path,
are liberated from Māra’s bonds.
277
“Sabbe saṅkhārā aniccā”ti,
yadā paññāya passati;
Atha nibbindati dukkhe,
esa maggo visuddhiyā.
“All conditioned things are impermanent,”
when one sees this with wisdom;
then one becomes disenchanted with suffering,
this is the path to purification.
278
“Sabbe saṅkhārā dukkhā”ti,
yadā paññāya passati;
Atha nibbindati dukkhe,
esa maggo visuddhiyā.
“All conditioned things are unsatisfactory,”
when one sees this with wisdom;
then one becomes disenchanted with suffering,
this is the path to purification.
279
“Sabbe dhammā anattā”ti,
yadā paññāya passati;
Atha nibbindati dukkhe,
esa maggo visuddhiyā.
“All things are not-self,”
when one sees this with wisdom;
then one becomes disenchanted with suffering,
this is the path to purification.
280
Uṭṭhānakālamhi anuṭṭhahāno,
Yuvā balī ālasiyaṁ upeto;
Saṁsannasaṅkappamano kusīto,
Paññāya maggaṁ alaso na vindati.
One who fails to rise up at the right time for effort,
though young and strong, overcome by laziness;
with a mind weighed down by despondent thoughts, sluggish in action,
such an indolent person does not find the path to wisdom.
281
Vācānurakkhī manasā susaṁvuto,
Kāyena ca nākusalaṁ kayirā;
Ete tayo kammapathe visodhaye,
Ārādhaye maggamisippaveditaṁ.
Guarding one’s speech, well-restrained in mind,
and doing no unwholesome actions with the body;
purify these three modes of action,
and succeed on the path taught by the sage.
282
Yogā ve jāyatī bhūri,
ayogā bhūrisaṅkhayo;
Etaṁ dvedhāpathaṁ ñatvā,
bhavāya vibhavāya ca;
Tathāttānaṁ niveseyya,
yathā bhūri pavaḍḍhati.
Through meditation, wisdom arises,
without meditation, wisdom wanes;
having known these crossroads
of development and decline,
one should establish oneself in such a way
that wisdom continues to grow.
283
Vanaṁ chindatha mā rukkhaṁ,
vanato jāyate bhayaṁ;
Chetvā vanañca vanathañca,
nibbanā hotha bhikkhavo.
Cut off the forest, not just the tree,
for fear arises from the forest;
having cut off both the forest and the undergrowth,
become forestless, bhikkhus.
284
Yāva hi vanatho na chijjati,
Aṇumattopi narassa nārisu;
Paṭibaddhamanova tāva so,
Vaccho khīrapakova mātari.
For as long as the undergrowth is not cut,
even the smallest amount, in a man’s heart towards women;
his mind remains enamoured,
like a calf suckling its mother.
285
Ucchinda sinehamattano,
Kumudaṁ sāradikaṁva pāṇinā;
Santimaggameva brūhaya,
Nibbānaṁ sugatena desitaṁ.
Cut off any fondness for yourself,
like an autumn lotus plucked by hand;
cultivate only the path to peace,
Nibbāna, as taught by the Accomplished One.
286
Idha vassaṁ vasissāmi,
idha hemantagimhisu;
Iti bālo vicinteti,
antarāyaṁ na bujjhati.
‘Here I will dwell during the rains,
here during winter and summer;’
thus the immature person thinks,
not understanding the danger.
287
Taṁ puttapasusammattaṁ,
byāsattamanasaṁ naraṁ;
Suttaṁ gāmaṁ mahoghova,
maccu ādāya gacchati.
That person, besotted with sons and cattle,
with an attached mind;
like a great flood sweeps away a sleeping village,
death seizes and carries them away.
288
Na santi puttā tāṇāya,
na pitā nāpi bandhavā;
Antakenādhipannassa,
natthi ñātīsu tāṇatā.
There are no sons for refuge,
nor father, nor even relatives;
for one seized by the Ender, [1]
there is no refuge among kin.
289
Etamatthavasaṁ ñatvā,
paṇḍito sīlasaṁvuto;
Nibbānagamanaṁ maggaṁ,
khippameva visodhaye.
Understanding the truth of this,
the wise one, restrained by ethical conduct,
should swiftly purify the path
leading to Nibbāna.
The Ender: Antakena. A poetic epithet for Death, the one who brings all worldly things to an end.