Sukha Vagga: Happiness (Verses 197–208) – Lyrics in English with Meaning & PDF

GathasTheravadaBuddha

Verses

Susukham vata jivama, verinesu averino; Verinesu manussesu, viharama averino.

What it means

Ah, so happily do we live, without hatred among those who hate! Among men who hate, we dwell free from hatred.

Verse 1

Susukham vata jivama, aturesu anatura; Aduresu manussesu, viharama anatura.

What it means

Ah, so happily do we live, in good health among those who are sick (with defilements)! Among afflicted men, we dwell unafflicted.

Verse 2

Susukham vata jivama, ussukesu anussuka; Ussukesu manussesu, viharama anussuka.

What it means

Ah, so happily do we live, unagitated among those who are anxious and greedy! Among men running after pleasures, we dwell peaceful and uncovetous.

Verse 3

Susukham vata jivama, yesam no natthi kincanam; Pitibhakkha bhavissama, deva abhassara yatha.

What it means

Ah, so happily do we live, we who possess nothing of our own! We shall be nourishers of joy, like the radiant devas of the Ābhassara realm.

Verse 4

Jayam veram pasavati, dukkham seti parajito; Upasanto sukham seti, hitva jayaparajayam.

What it means

Victory breeds hatred; the defeated sleeps in sorrow. The peaceful one sleeps happily, giving up both victory and defeat.

Verse 5

Natthi ragasamo aggi, natthi dosasamo kali; Natthi khandhasama dukkha, natthi santiparam sukham.

What it means

There is no fire like lust; there is no misfortune like anger; there is no suffering like the five aggregates; there is no bliss higher than peace.

Verse 6

Jighacchaparama roga, sankharaparamadukha; Etam natva yathabhutam, nibbanam paramam sukham.

What it means

Hunger is the greatest illness; conditioned existence is the greatest suffering. Knowing this as it truly is, one realizes Nibbāna as the supreme bliss.

Verse 7

Arogyaparama labha, santitthiparama dhanam; Vissasaparama nati, nibbanam paramam sukham.

What it means

Health is the supreme gain; contentment is the supreme wealth; trust is the best kinsman; Nibbāna is the supreme bliss.

Verse 8

Pavivekarasam pitva, rasam upasamassa ca; Niddaro hoti nippapo, dhammapitirasam pivam.

What it means

Having tasted the nectar of solitude and the flavor of inner peace, one becomes free from fear and free from evil, drinking the joyous nectar of the Dhamma.

Verse 9

Sahu dassanam ariyanam, sannivaso sada sukho; Adassanena balanam, niccam eva sukhi siya.

What it means

Good is the sight of the Noble Ones; association with them is always joyful. By not seeing fools, one is perpetually happy.

Verse 10

Balasangatacari hi, digham addhana socati; Dukkho balehi samvaso, amitteneva sabbada; Dhiro ca sukhasamvaso, natinam va samagamo.

What it means

He who walks in the company of fools grieves for a long time; living with fools is sorrowful, always like living with an enemy. But living with the wise is delightful, like reuniting with beloved kin.

Verse 11

Tasma hi: dhiranca pannanca bahussutanca, dhorayhasilam vatavantam ariyam; Tam tadisam sappurisam sumedham, bhajetha nakkhattapatham va candima.

What it means

Therefore: the wise, the discerning, the learned, the enduring, the dutiful, the noble — follow such an upright and intelligent person, as the moon follows the starry sky.

Verse 12

Background

This chapter belongs to the Pali Dhammapada (Khuddaka Nikaya, Pali Canon), Sukha Vagga, verses 197–208. Delivered across Kapilavatthu, Vesālī, and Sāvatthi, this chapter reflects historical reconciliations achieved by the Buddha. Verses 197–199 were pronounced when the Sakyas and Koliyas were on the brink of catastrophic war over the waters of the Rohiṇī river, where the Buddha stood between the armies and asked whether water was more valuable than the blood of noble warriors. Verse 201 was spoken after King Pasenadi of Kosala was defeated in battle by his nephew Ajātasattu, and Verse 204 comforted King Pasenadi when he suffered from overeating.

About this Text

Composed by: Gautama Buddha · Founder of Buddhism · c. 5th–6th century BCE, Northern India/Nepal

Born Siddhartha Gautama in Lumbini, he attained enlightenment and spent the rest of his life teaching the Dhamma across northern India. His discourses (Suttas), preserved orally for generations before being written down in the Pali Canon, form the doctrinal foundation of Buddhism.

More by Gautama Buddha

The Three Refuges: Taking Refuge in the Triple Gem The Discourse on Loving-Kindness (Mettā Sutta)A Dedication of Merit to Departed Relatives The Chapter on the Mind (Cittavagga)The Discourse on the Jewels (Ratana Sutta)The Twin Verses (Yamaka Vagga) from the Dhammapada

Did You Know?

Living Without Hatred (Verses 197–199)

'Susukhaṃ vata jīvāma, verinesu averino'—Ah, delightfully we live, without malice among the hateful, healthy among the spiritually diseased, unagitated among those frantically striving for worldly gain.

Feasting on Joy (Verse 200)

Ah, how blissfully we live who own nothing of our own! Fed upon joyous spiritual rapture (pīti), we shine like the radiant gods of the Ābhassara heaven.

Victory Breeds Enmity (Verse 201)

Conquest and victory spawn bitter hatred; the defeated person sleeps in acute sorrow; but the serene sage who has abandoned both victory and defeat rests in unshakeable peace.

The Fourfold Highest Realities (Verse 204)

'Ārogyaparamā lābhā, santiṭṭhiparamaṃ dhanaṃ; vissāsaparamā ñāti, nibbānaṃ paramaṃ sukhaṃ'—Health is the supreme gain; contentment is the supreme treasure; trust is the supreme kin; and Nibbāna is the supreme bliss.

The Moon Following the Starry Sky (Verse 208)

Just as the brilliant moon follows the luminous path of constellations across the night sky, so one should consistently associate with and follow the wise, virtuous, and steadfast seeker.

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