Verses
290. If by renouncing a lesser pleasure one sees a great, boundless happiness, let the wise person relinquish that lesser pleasure, keeping his eyes firmly on the greater joy.
Verse 1
291. He who seeks his own happiness by causing suffering to others, entangled in the snares of enmity, is never freed from hatred.
Verse 2
292. What ought to be done is neglected, and what ought not to be done is done; in the arrogant and negligent, their mental defilements steadily multiply.
Verse 3
293. But those who constantly practice mindfulness of the body with firm resolve, who do not pursue what is unwholesome, and steadfastly accomplish what is wholesome—in these mindful, fully aware ones, all defilements come to an end.
Verse 4
294. Having slain mother (craving) and father (conceit), and two warrior kings (eternalism and nihilism), and having destroyed the kingdom (the senses and objects) together with its collector of taxes (attachment)—untroubled walks the holy sage.
Verse 5
295. Having slain mother and father, and two learned (brahmin) kings, and having destroyed the five hindrances as perilous as tigers—untroubled walks the holy sage.
Verse 6
296. Truly awakened do Gotama's disciples awaken, whose mindfulness is constantly focused day and night on the Buddha.
Verse 7
297. Truly awakened do Gotama's disciples awaken, whose mindfulness is constantly focused day and night on the Dhamma.
Verse 8
298. Truly awakened do Gotama's disciples awaken, whose mindfulness is constantly focused day and night on the Sangha.
Verse 9
299. Truly awakened do Gotama's disciples awaken, whose mindfulness is constantly focused day and night on the contemplation of the body.
Verse 10
300. Truly awakened do Gotama's disciples awaken, whose mind delights day and night in harmlessness and universal compassion.
Verse 11
301. Truly awakened do Gotama's disciples awaken, whose mind delights day and night in spiritual mental cultivation (bhāvanā / meditation).
Verse 12
302. Hard is monkhood and hard is it to find delight therein; yet household life is also hard and painful. Painful is association with the uncongenial, and painful is the long wandering in samsara. Therefore be not a perpetual wanderer, do not be an inheritor of sorrow!
Verse 13
303. Endowed with faith and virtuous conduct, possessed of fame and righteous wealth—whichever region he visits, right there is he honored.
Verse 14
304. The virtuous shine from afar, like the snowy Himalayas; but the unrighteous are not seen, like arrows shot in the dark night.
Verse 15
305. Sitting alone, resting alone, walking alone unslothful, solitary taming oneself—let one find joy at the edge of the tranquil forest.
Verse 16
Background
This is the Pakinnaka Vagga, chapter 21 of the Dhammapada in the Pali Canon. Delivered across Rājagaha, Vesālī and Sāvatthi, this chapter addresses various practical dilemmas of lay and monastic life. Verse 290 was spoken at Veḷuvana in Rājagaha, when monks marvelled at the great honours the Buddha received on his journey to Vesālī; he explained that they flowed from his own former deed, when as the brahmin Saṅkha he gave up a small comfort to honour the shrine of his son, a Paccekabuddha. Verses 294–295 were delivered to an assembly of monks who were startled by the paradoxical metaphorical phrasing until the Buddha explained that 'mother' is craving (which births rebirth), 'father' is pride, the 'two kings' are views of eternalism and annihilationism, and the 'kingdom' represents the twelve sense bases. Verses 296–301 were addressed to a wood-gatherer's son in Rājagaha who miraculously survived peril through mindfulness of the Triple Gem.
About this Text
Composed by: Attributed to the Buddha
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Did You Know?
Renouncing Lesser Pleasure (Verse 290)
If by renouncing a limited measure of pleasure one sees a vast, immeasurable happiness, let the wise person renounce the lesser pleasure in consideration of the greater joy.
The Paradox of Slaying Parents (Verses 294–295)
Having slain mother (craving, which births rebirth) and father (the conceit of 'I am'), and having destroyed the two warrior kings (eternalism and nihilism) along with the kingdom and its tax-collector (the senses and clinging)—untroubled goes the true holy sage!
The Sixfold Wakefulness of Gotama's Disciples (Verses 296–301)
Truly awakened do the disciples of Gotama awaken, whose mindfulness is constantly focused day and night on: (1) the Buddha, (2) the Dhamma, (3) the Sangha, (4) the body (kāyagatāsati), (5) delight in harmlessness/compassion, and (6) delight in meditation.
Radiance of the Righteous (Verse 304)
The virtuous shine from afar like the snow-capped Himalayan peaks; but the unrighteous are invisible even when close at hand, like arrows shot in the blackness of the night.
The Bliss of Solitude (Verse 305)
Sitting alone, resting alone, walking alone unwearied, solitary taming oneself—let one find pure delight in the edge of the forest.
Buddha
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