290
Mattāsukhapariccāgā,
passe ce vipulaṁ sukhaṁ;
Caje mattāsukhaṁ dhīro,
sampassaṁ vipulaṁ sukhaṁ.
If, by giving up a limited happiness,
one sees a vast happiness;
the wise one should renounce the limited happiness,
seeing the vast happiness.
291
Paradukkhūpadhānena,
attano sukhamicchati;
Verasaṁsaggasaṁsaṭṭho,
verā so na parimuccati.
One who seeks their own happiness
by imposing suffering on another;
entangled in the bonds of animosity,
is not freed from animosity.
292
Yañhi kiccaṁ apaviddhaṁ,
akiccaṁ pana karīyati;
Unnaḷānaṁ pamattānaṁ,
tesaṁ vaḍḍhanti āsavā.
When what should be done is neglected,
and what should not be done is done instead;
for those who are arrogant and negligent,
their taints grow.
293
Yesañca susamāraddhā,
niccaṁ kāyagatā sati;
Akiccaṁ te na sevanti,
kicce sātaccakārino;
Satānaṁ sampajānānaṁ,
atthaṁ gacchanti āsavā.
For those whose mindfulness of the body
is resolutely undertaken;
who do not pursue what should not be done,
and are persistent in what should be done;
for those mindful and clearly aware,
their mental defilements come to an end.
294
Mātaraṁ pitaraṁ hantvā,
rājāno dve ca khattiye;
Raṭṭhaṁ sānucaraṁ hantvā,
anīgho yāti brāhmaṇo.
Having slain mother and father,
and two warrior kings;
having wiped out the kingdom along with its treasurer,
the brahmin proceeds untroubled. [1]
295
Mātaraṁ pitaraṁ hantvā,
rājāno dve ca sotthiye;
Veyagghapañcamaṁ hantvā,
anīgho yāti brāhmaṇo.
Having slain mother and father,
and two brahman kings;
and a tiger as the fifth, [2]
the brahmin proceeds untroubled.
296
Suppabuddhaṁ pabujjhanti,
sadā gotamasāvakā;
Yesaṁ divā ca ratto ca,
niccaṁ buddhagatā sati.
The disciples of Gotama,
always wake up thoroughly [refreshed];
Those who day and night,
are continuously immersed in the Buddha.
297
Suppabuddhaṁ pabujjhanti,
sadā gotamasāvakā;
Yesaṁ divā ca ratto ca,
niccaṁ dhammagatā sati.
The disciples of Gotama
always wake up thoroughly refreshed;
those who day and night,
are continuously immersed in the Dhamma.
298
Suppabuddhaṁ pabujjhanti,
sadā gotamasāvakā;
Yesaṁ divā ca ratto ca,
niccaṁ saṅghagatā sati.
The disciples of Gotama,
always wake up thoroughly refreshed;
those who day and night,
are continuously immersed in the Saṅgha.
299
Suppabuddhaṁ pabujjhanti,
sadā gotamasāvakā;
Yesaṁ divā ca ratto ca,
niccaṁ kāyagatā sati.
The disciples of Gotama,
always wake up thoroughly refreshed;
those who day and night,
are continuously immersed in the mindfulness of body.
300
Suppabuddhaṁ pabujjhanti,
sadā gotamasāvakā;
Yesaṁ divā ca ratto ca,
ahiṁsāya rato mano.
The disciples of Gotama,
always wake up thoroughly refreshed;
those who day and night,
have a mind that delights in non-violence.
301
Suppabuddhaṁ pabujjhanti,
sadā gotamasāvakā;
Yesaṁ divā ca ratto ca,
bhāvanāya rato mano.
The disciples of Gotama,
always wake up thoroughly refreshed;
those who day and night,
have a mind that delights in cultivation.
302
Duppabbajjaṁ durabhiramaṁ,
Durāvāsā gharā dukhā;
Dukkhosamānasaṁvāso,
Dukkhānupatitaddhagū;
Tasmā na caddhagū siyā,
Na ca dukkhānupatito siyā.
Difficult is the homeless life, difficult to delight in;
difficult and unpleasant is the household life;
painful is living with those of unequal temperament; [3]
suffering pursues the traveler [wandering in the cyclic existence];
therefore, do not be [an aimless] traveler,
do not let suffering pursue you.
303
Saddho sīlena sampanno,
yasobhogasamappito;
Yaṁ yaṁ padesaṁ bhajati,
tattha tattheva pūjito.
One who is endowed with faith and virtue,
possessing fame and wealth;
whatever place they visit,
there they are honored.
304
Dūre santo pakāsenti,
himavantova pabbato;
Asantettha na dissanti,
rattiṁ khittā yathā sarā.
The peaceful shine from afar,
like the Himalayan peaks;
but the unpeaceful are not seen,
like arrows shot in the night.
305
Ekāsanaṁ ekaseyyaṁ,
eko caramatandito;
Eko damayamattānaṁ,
vanante ramito siyā.
Sitting alone, sleeping alone,
wandering alone, energetic;
restraining oneself alone,
one will find delight in the wilderness.
Slain mother and father: This verse and the following use shocking, violent metaphors to describe the path to full awakening. Here, "mother" represents craving (which gives birth to existence), "father" is conceit, the "two kings" are the two extreme views of eternalism and annihilationism, and the "kingdom and treasurer" represent the sense bases and attachment. To "slay" them is to eradicate them entirely, leaving the Arahant (the true brahmin) untroubled.
A tiger as the fifth: Veyagghapañcamaṁ. A tiger-like peril, representing the Five Hindrances (sensual desire, ill will, dullness and drowsiness, restlessness and worry, and skeptical doubt), which stalk and devour a meditator’s progress.
Unequal temperament: Asamāna. People whose moral conduct, views, and spiritual goals clash with one's own, causing friction and suffering.