Dhammapada verses 90-99 describe the qualities and conduct of the Arahant, a fully awakened being who has reached the end of the path. Free from defilements and clinging, their actions leave no trace, like birds in the sky. At peace and delighting in solitude, wherever they dwell becomes a place of beauty.
90
Gataddhino visokassa,
vippamuttassa sabbadhi;
Sabbaganthappahīnassa,
pariḷāho na vijjati.
For one who has completed the journey, who is sorrow-free,
fully liberated in all respects;
who has abandoned all bonds—
in such a one, no |fever::mental torment, distress, strong desire, discomfort [pariḷāha]| is found.
91
Uyyuñjanti satīmanto,
na nikete ramanti te;
Haṁsāva pallalaṁ hitvā,
okamokaṁ jahanti te.
The |mindful::attentive, fully present [satīmant]| ones |depart::set out, go away, leave home [uyyuñjanti]|,
they do not delight in a home;
like swans leaving a pond behind,
they give up home after home.
92
Yesaṁ sannicayo natthi,
ye pariññātabhojanā;
Suññato animitto ca,
vimokkho yesaṁ gocaro;
Ākāseva sakuntānaṁ,
gati tesaṁ durannayā.
Those who |accumulate::hoard, stockpile [sannicaya]| nothing,
who completely comprehend |nutriment::nourishment, food, fuel of existence [bhojana]|;
whose |field of activity::grazing ground, domain [gocara]| is liberation—
|empty::without essence, abiding of emptiness [suññata]| and |free of signs::signless, featureless, free of mental images [animitto]|;
like birds in the sky,
their |path::going, passing on, course, destination [gati]| is hard to trace.
93
Yassāsavā parikkhīṇā,
āhāre ca anissito;
Suññato animitto ca,
vimokkho yassa gocaro;
Ākāseva sakuntānaṁ,
padaṁ tassa durannayaṁ.
One whose |taints::outflows, discharges; (comm) mental defilements [āsavā]| are completely exhausted,
who is not dependent on |nourishment::sustenance, food [āhāra]|;
whose |field of activity::grazing ground, domain [gocara]| is liberation—
empty and free of signs;
like birds in the sky,
their steps are hard to trace.
94
Yassindriyāni samathaṅgatāni,
Assā yathā sārathinā sudantā;
Pahīnamānassa anāsavassa,
Devāpi tassa pihayanti tādino.
One whose senses have become tranquil,
like horses |well-tamed::well trained, well controlled [sudanta]| by a charioteer;
who has dispelled |conceit::self-view expressed as comparison—seeing oneself as superior, inferior, or equal; the persistent “I am” conceit (asmimāna) that underlies identification [māna]| and is free from taints—
even the gods |covet::desire, endeavour for, long for [pihayati]| such a steadfast person.
95
Pathavisamo no virujjhati,
Indakhilupamo tādi subbato;
Rahadova apetakaddamo,
Saṁsārā na bhavanti tādino.
Like the earth, such a one is undisturbed,
virtuous and firm as a |city post::a strong pillar [indakhīla]|;
like a lake cleansed of mud—
for such a one, |cyclic existence::wandering on from one state of existence to another, the cycle of birth and death, moving on continuously [saṁsāra]| is no more.
96
Santaṁ tassa manaṁ hoti,
santā vācā ca kamma ca;
Sammadaññāvimuttassa,
upasantassa tādino.
Calm is the mind,
calm are the words and deeds;
of one liberated by true understanding,
perfectly tranquil and steadfast.
97
Assaddho akataññū ca,
sandhicchedo ca yo naro;
Hatāvakāso vantāso,
sa ve uttamaporiso.
One who is beyond mere faith, who knows the |unborn::uncreated [akataññū]|,
who has severed connection [to the cycle of existence];
who has destroyed the |opportunity::chance, possibility [avakāsa]|, |given up all wants::given up hope, vomited one’s food [vantāsa]|—
such a one is indeed the best of persons.
98
Gāme vā yadi vāraññe,
Ninne vā yadi vā thale;
Yattha arahanto viharanti,
Taṁ bhūmirāmaṇeyyakaṁ.
Whether in a village or in the forest,
whether on |lowlands::valley [ninna]| or on |highlands::high ground, plateau [thala]|;
wherever the awakened ones dwell,
that place is truly delightful.
99
Ramaṇīyāni araññāni,
yattha na ramatī jano;
Vītarāgā ramissanti,
na te kāmagavesino.
Delightful are the forests,
where the worldly find no delight;
|those free from passion::free from desires, without lust [vītarāgā]| will delight there,
for they do not seek sensual pleasures.
90
For one who has completed the journey, who is sorrow-free,
fully liberated in all respects;
who has abandoned all bonds—
in such a one, no |fever::mental torment, distress, strong desire, discomfort [pariḷāha]| is found.
91
The |mindful::attentive, fully present [satīmant]| ones |depart::set out, go away, leave home [uyyuñjanti]|,
they do not delight in a home;
like swans leaving a pond behind,
they give up home after home.
92
Those who |accumulate::hoard, stockpile [sannicaya]| nothing,
who completely comprehend |nutriment::nourishment, food, fuel of existence [bhojana]|;
whose |field of activity::grazing ground, domain [gocara]| is liberation—
|empty::without essence, abiding of emptiness [suññata]| and |free of signs::signless, featureless, free of mental images [animitto]|;
like birds in the sky,
their |path::going, passing on, course, destination [gati]| is hard to trace.
93
One whose |taints::outflows, discharges; (comm) mental defilements [āsavā]| are completely exhausted,
who is not dependent on |nourishment::sustenance, food [āhāra]|;
whose |field of activity::grazing ground, domain [gocara]| is liberation—
empty and free of signs;
like birds in the sky,
their steps are hard to trace.
94
One whose senses have become tranquil,
like horses |well-tamed::well trained, well controlled [sudanta]| by a charioteer;
who has dispelled |conceit::self-view expressed as comparison—seeing oneself as superior, inferior, or equal; the persistent “I am” conceit (asmimāna) that underlies identification [māna]| and is free from taints—
even the gods |covet::desire, endeavour for, long for [pihayati]| such a steadfast person.
95
Like the earth, such a one is undisturbed,
virtuous and firm as a |city post::a strong pillar [indakhīla]|;
like a lake cleansed of mud—
for such a one, |cyclic existence::wandering on from one state of existence to another, the cycle of birth and death, moving on continuously [saṁsāra]| is no more.
96
Calm is the mind,
calm are the words and deeds;
of one liberated by true understanding,
perfectly tranquil and steadfast.
97
One who is beyond mere faith, who knows the |unborn::uncreated [akataññū]|,
who has severed connection [to the cycle of existence];
who has destroyed the |opportunity::chance, possibility [avakāsa]|, |given up all wants::given up hope, vomited one’s food [vantāsa]|—
such a one is indeed the best of persons.
98
Whether in a village or in the forest,
whether on |lowlands::valley [ninna]| or on |highlands::high ground, plateau [thala]|;
wherever the awakened ones dwell,
that place is truly delightful.
99
Delightful are the forests,
where the worldly find no delight;
|those free from passion::free from desires, without lust [vītarāgā]| will delight there,
for they do not seek sensual pleasures.
Gataddhino visokassa,
vippamuttassa sabbadhi;
Sabbaganthappahīnassa,
pariḷāho na vijjati.
Uyyuñjanti satīmanto,
na nikete ramanti te;
Haṁsāva pallalaṁ hitvā,
okamokaṁ jahanti te.
Yesaṁ sannicayo natthi,
ye pariññātabhojanā;
Suññato animitto ca,
vimokkho yesaṁ gocaro;
Ākāseva sakuntānaṁ,
gati tesaṁ durannayā.
Yassāsavā parikkhīṇā,
āhāre ca anissito;
Suññato animitto ca,
vimokkho yassa gocaro;
Ākāseva sakuntānaṁ,
padaṁ tassa durannayaṁ.
Yassindriyāni samathaṅgatāni,
Assā yathā sārathinā sudantā;
Pahīnamānassa anāsavassa,
Devāpi tassa pihayanti tādino.
Pathavisamo no virujjhati,
Indakhilupamo tādi subbato;
Rahadova apetakaddamo,
Saṁsārā na bhavanti tādino.
Santaṁ tassa manaṁ hoti,
santā vācā ca kamma ca;
Sammadaññāvimuttassa,
upasantassa tādino.
Assaddho akataññū ca,
sandhicchedo ca yo naro;
Hatāvakāso vantāso,
sa ve uttamaporiso.
Gāme vā yadi vāraññe,
Ninne vā yadi vā thale;
Yattha arahanto viharanti,
Taṁ bhūmirāmaṇeyyakaṁ.
Ramaṇīyāni araññāni,
yattha na ramatī jano;
Vītarāgā ramissanti,
na te kāmagavesino.