A deity engages the Buddha in verse on shielding the mind, exploring a teaching on suffering, liberation, and the law of kamma.

SN 1.24 Shielding the Mind

“Yato yato mano nivāraye,
Na dukkhameti naṁ tato tato;
Sa sabbato mano nivāraye,
Sa sabbato dukkhā pamuccatī”ti.

“Na sabbato mano nivāraye,
Na mano saṁyatattamāgataṁ;
Yato yato ca pāpakaṁ,
Tato tato mano nivāraye”ti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Yato yato mano nivāraye,

“Whatever you’ve shielded the mind from

Na dukkhameti naṁ tato tato;

can’t cause you suffering.

Sa sabbato mano nivāraye,

So you should shield the mind from everything,

Sa sabbato dukkhā pamuccatī”ti.

then you’re freed from all suffering.”

“Na sabbato mano nivāraye,

“You need not shield the mind from everything,

Na mano saṁyatattamāgataṁ;

nor has the mind gained self-control.

Yato yato ca pāpakaṁ,

The mind need only be shielded

Tato tato mano nivāraye”ti.

from where the bad things come.”