383
With continuous effort, cut off the stream,
dispel sensual desires, O |sage::Brāhmaṇa, a title used by the Buddha for an Arahant, an awakened being [brāhmaṇa]|;
Having known the |wearing away::exhaustion, depletion, gradual destruction [khaya]| of |conditioned phenomena::fabrications, concoctions, intentional constructions, karmic activity [saṅkhārā]|,
be one who knows the |unmade::not created [akata]|.
384
When a sage, through the two qualities [of collectedness and insight],
has gone beyond;
Then all |fetters::bondages, associations, attachments, involvements [saṁyogā]| come to an end,
for one who knows fully.
385
One for whom the far shore, the near shore,
as well as the |far and near shore::other world and this world, duality [pārāpāra]| are not present;
Fearless and |disentangled::disengaged, unfettered [visaṁyutta]|,
him, I call a true sage.
386
One who is meditative, |unblemished::pure, stainless [viraja]| and settled,
|taint-less::undefiled, free from effluents [anāsava]|, having done what needed to be done;
who has reached the ultimate goal,
him I call a true sage.
387
The sun shines by day,
the moon brightens the night;
The warrior shines in his armor,
the sage in meditation;
The Buddha shines resplendent,
all day and all night.
388
One who has renounced evil is called a sage,
through even conduct, he is called an ascetic;
Having cast off his own defilements,
he is thus called one who has gone forth.
389
One should not strike a sage,
nor should a sage retaliate;
Shame on the one who harms a sage,
greater shame still on the one who retaliates.
390
Nothing is better for a sage than,
restraining the mind from what is |dear::beloved [piya]|;
To the extent the intent to harm wears away,
to that extent |suffering::discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, i.e. mild or intense suffering [dukkha]| subsides.
391
One who has no wrongdoing,
in body, speech, or mind;
Who is fully |restrained::guarded, controlled [saṃvuta]| in all three,
him I call a sage.
392
From whom one would learn the |Dhamma::teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [dhamma]|,
as taught by the perfectly Awakened One;
That one should be revered with respect,
like a brahmin [priest] honors the sacred fire.
393
Not by matted hair, nor by lineage,
nor by birth does one become a sage;
In whom truth and Dhamma dwell,
he is pure, he is truly a sage.
394
What use are your matted locks, O |undiscerning one::one lacking discernment, who has not cultivated wisdom, unwise [dummedha]|?
What of your fur garment?
Within you is the |tangle::thicket, jungle, lit. grasping [gahana]| [of passion],
yet you only groom the outside.
395
A rag-robed wanderer,
lean, with veins standing out;
Meditating alone in the forest,
him I call a true sage.
396
I do not call him a sage,
merely because of his lineage or high-born mother;
Such a one is simply called |bhovādi::‘bhovādi’ serves as a label for a person identified as a Brahmin by birth or social convention, based on such characteristic social markers like using this form of address.|,
If he has |worldly attachments::baggage, possessions [sakiñcana]|;
But he who is |with nothing::possession-less [akiñcana]| and |not grasping::not taking anything as one‘s own [anādāna]| at anything,
him I call a true sage.
397
He who has severed every fetter,
who is not perturbed by anything;
Who overcoming |attachments::clinging [saṅgā]|, is |disentangled::detached [visaṃyutta]|,
him I call a true sage.
398
He who has cut off the strap [hatred] and the leather tie [craving],
the halter along with bridle and rein;
He who has lifted the obstacle [ignorance],
him I call a true sage.
399
He who bears without being offended,
abuse, beating, and imprisonment;
whose power, real might, is patience,
him I call a true sage.
400
|Without anger::not cranky, not irritable [akkodhana]|, dutiful,
|virtuous::ethical, moral [sīlavant]|, and |humble::not arrogant, lit. not sinking up [anussada]|;
|Tamed::trained, mastered [danta]|, and bearing the final body,
him I call a true sage.
401
Like water on a lotus leaf,
or a mustard seed on a needle’s tip—
He who does not cling to sensual pleasures,
him I call a true sage.
402
One who knows clearly the wearing away of suffering,
right here and now, within himself;
Who has cast off the burden, is disentangled,
him I call a true sage.
403
One of deep wisdom, |who has cultivated discernment::who has good judgement [medhāvī]|,
who is skilled in knowing what is and what is not the path;
Who has arrived at the |ultimate goal::summum bonum; supreme goal; epithet of Nibbāna [uttamattha]|,
him I call a true sage.
404
Who is |not entangled with::not mixed-up with, aloof from [asaṃsaṭṭha]| householders,
as well as homeless wanderers;
Who does not delight in a dwelling place,
him I call a true sage.
405
One who has renounced violence,
toward all beings, whether |frail::trembling, with craving [tasa]| or |firm::stable, stationary, without craving [thāvara]|;
who neither |kills::beats, strikes, thrashes, stabs, executes [hanati]| nor causes to kill,
him I call a true sage.
406
Friendly amidst the hostile,
peaceful amidst the violent;
Not grasping where others grasp,
him I call a true sage.
407
One for whom |passion::intense desire, strong emotion, infatuation, obsession, lust [rāga]| and |aversion::ill will, hate, hatred, fault, resentment [dosa]|,
and |pride::conceit, egotism, superiority, comparing oneself [māna]| and |contempt::ungratefulness, depreciation, denigration, disrespect, belittlement, disparagement [makkha]| have fallen away;
Like a mustard seed from the tip of a needle,
him I call a true sage.
408
He who utters gentle, instructive,
and truthful words;
|Without insulting::without angrily cursing, without abusing [nābhisajati]| anyone,
him I call a true sage.
409
Whoever in this world does not take what is not given,
whether long or short;
Small or large, attractive or repulsive,
him I call a true sage.
410
Who has no |longing::wish, desire, hope, expectation [āsā]|,
in this world or the next;
Who is |without expectation::fulfilled, free from hope, desireless [nirāsāsa]| and unbound,
him I call a true sage.
411
One in whom there is no attachment,
who through |final knowledge::spiritual insight [aññā]| harbors no doubt;
Who has arrived at the deathless,
him I call a true sage.
412
Whoever here has overcome |bonds::ties, clinging, attachment, holding on [saṅga]| to,
both |merit::good deed, spiritual wealth [puñña]| and |demerit::injurious action, action that leads to harm [pāpa]|;
Who is |sorrow-free::free from sadness [asoka]|, |unblemished::untainted, stainless [viraja]|, and pure,
him I call a true sage.
413
Like the moon—|stainless::spotless, unblemished [vimala]|, pure,
|clear, settled, and tranquil::calm, undisturbed, serene [vippasannamanāvila]|;
Who has eradicated enjoyment in existence,
him I call a true sage.
414
Whoever has crossed this difficult, obstructed path,
of |cyclic existence::wandering on, moving on continuously, passing from one state of existence to another, stream of existence [saṃsāra]|, overcoming |illusion::delusion, hallucination, misapprehension, distorted view; that which fuels further confusion and doubt [moha]|;
The meditator who has crossed over to the far shore,
|unshakeable::unperturbed, unmoved [aneja]|, |without doubt::without confusion [akathaṅkathī]|;
|Without any clinging remaining::not holding onto anything, not grasping at anything, not taking possession of anything [anupādāya]|, |quenched::liberated from mental defilements [nibbuta]|,
him I call a true sage.
415
Whoever here has abandoned sense pleasures,
and lives the wandering life as a homeless one;
Finished with |sensual existence::existence in the realm of sensual desire [kāmabhava]|,
him I call a true sage.
416
Whoever here has abandoned |craving::wanting, yearning, longing, attachment, lit. thirst [taṇha]|,
and lives the wandering life as a homeless one;
Who has |exhausted craving for existence::extinguished craving for renewed existence [taṇhābhavaparikkhīṇa]|,
him I call a true sage.
417
Having abandoned the human |yoke::harness, a wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to the plow or cart that they are to pull [yoga]|,
transcending the divine yoke;
Unyoked from all yokes,
him I call a true sage.
418
Having abandoned |delight::relish, liking, pleasure [rati]| and |dissatisfaction::dislike, discontent, aversion, boredom [arati]|,
who is cooled and free from clinging;
A hero who has conquered the whole world,
him I call a true sage.
419
Whoever knows the passing away of beings,
and their rebirth in every way;
Unattached, fortunate, awake,
him I call a true sage.
420
Whose |trajectory::going, passing on, path, course, destination [gati]| is unknown,
to gods, |gandhabbas::stream of consciousness impelled to be reborn [gandhabba]|, and humans;
|Whose mental defilements have ended::who is awakened through the complete exhaustion of the mental effluents, taints [khīṇāsava]|, an Arahant,
him I call a true sage.
421
For whom there is nothing before and after,
and no attachment to the present either;
Who is |with nothing::possession-less [akiñcana]| and |not grasping::not taking anything as one’s own [anādāna]| at anything,
him I call a true sage.
422
A distinguished leader, heroic,
a great seer, a conquerer;
unshakeable, purified, awakened,
him I call a true sage.
423
He who knows his former births,
who sees heaven and hell;
Who has reached the |end of birth::wearing away of rebirth [jātikkhaya]|,
who has attained perfect understanding;
Who has reached the summit of spiritual excellence,
him I call a true sage.