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Khuddaka Nikāya - The Minor Texts

Dhammapada - Chapter 6: Panditavagga - The Wise Man

76Should one find a man who points out faults and who reproves, let him follow such a wise and sagacious person as one would a guide to hidden treasure. It is always better, and never worse, to cultivate such an association.

77Let him admonish, instruct and shield one from wrong; he, indeed, is dear to the good and detestable to the evil.

78Do not associate with evil companions; do not seek the fellowship of the vile. Associate with the good friends; seek the fellowship of noble men.

79He who drinks deep the Dhamma lives happily with a tranquil mind. The wise man ever delights in the Dhamma made known by the Noble One (the Buddha).

80Irrigators regulate the rivers; fletchers straighten the arrow shaft; carpenters shape the wood; the wise control themselves.

81Just as a solid rock is not shaken by the storm, even so the wise are not affected by praise or blame.

82On hearing the Teachings, the wise become perfectly purified, like a lake deep, clear and still.

83The good renounce (attachment for) everything. The virtuous do not prattle with a yearning for pleasures. The wise show no elation or depression when touched by happiness or sorrow.

84He is indeed virtuous, wise, and righteous who neither for his own sake nor for the sake of another (does any wrong), who does not crave for sons, wealth, or kingdom, and does not desire success by unjust means.

85Few among men are those who cross to the farther shore. The rest, the bulk of men, only run up and down the hither bank.

86But those who act according to the perfectly taught Dhamma will cross the realm of Death, so difficult to cross.

87–88Abandoning the dark way, let the wise man cultivate the bright path. Having gone from home to homelessness, let him yearn for that delight in detachment, so difficult to enjoy. Giving up sensual pleasures, with no attachment, let the wise man cleanse himself of defilements of the mind.


89Those whose minds have reached full excellence in the factors of enlightenment, who, having renounced acquisitiveness, rejoice in not clinging to things — rid of cankers, glowing with wisdom, they have attained Nibbāna in this very life.

76Nidhīnaṁva pavattāraṁ,
yaṁ passe vajjadassinaṁ;
Niggayhavādiṁ medhāviṁ,
tādisaṁ paṇḍitaṁ bhaje;
Tādisaṁ bhajamānassa,
seyyo hoti na pāpiyo.

77Ovadeyyānusāseyya,
asabbhā ca nivāraye;
Satañhi so piyo hoti,
asataṁ hoti appiyo.

78Na bhaje pāpake mitte,
na bhaje purisādhame;
Bhajetha mitte kalyāṇe,
bhajetha purisuttame.

79Dhammapīti sukhaṁ seti,
vippasannena cetasā;
Ariyappavedite dhamme,
sadā ramati paṇḍito.

80Udakañhi nayanti nettikā,
Usukārā namayanti tejanaṁ;
Dāruṁ namayanti tacchakā,
Attānaṁ damayanti paṇḍitā.

81Selo yathā ekaghano,
vātena na samīrati;
Evaṁ nindāpasaṁsāsu,
na samiñjanti paṇḍitā.

82Yathāpi rahado gambhīro,
vippasanno anāvilo;
Evaṁ dhammāni sutvāna,
vippasīdanti paṇḍitā.

83Sabbattha ve sappurisā cajanti,
Na kāmakāmā lapayanti santo;
Sukhena phuṭṭhā atha vā dukhena,
Na uccāvacaṁ paṇḍitā dassayanti.

84Na attahetu na parassa hetu,
Na puttamicche na dhanaṁ na raṭṭhaṁ;
Na iccheyya adhammena samiddhimattano,
Sa sīlavā paññavā dhammiko siyā.

85Appakā te manussesu,
ye janā pāragāmino;
Athāyaṁ itarā pajā,
tīramevānudhāvati.

86Ye ca kho sammadakkhāte,
dhamme dhammānuvattino;
Te janā pāramessanti,
maccudheyyaṁ suduttaraṁ.

87 — 88 Kaṇhaṁ dhammaṁ vippahāya,
Sukkaṁ bhāvetha paṇḍito;
Okā anokamāgamma,
Viveke yattha dūramaṁ.

Tatrābhiratimiccheyya,
hitvā kāme akiñcano;
Pariyodapeyya attānaṁ,
cittaklesehi paṇḍito.


89Yesaṁ sambodhiyaṅgesu,
sammā cittaṁ subhāvitaṁ;
Ādānapaṭinissagge,
anupādāya ye ratā;
Khīṇāsavā jutimanto,
te loke parinibbutā.

Paṇḍitavaggo chaṭṭho.