XX. Maggavagga ~ The Path
1. maggānaṭṭhaṅgiko seṭṭho, saccānaṃ caturo padā.
virāgo seṭṭho dhammānaṃ, dvipadānañca cakkhumā.
Of all the paths the Eightfold Path is the best; of all the truths the Four Noble Truths are the best; of all things passionlessness is the best: of men the Seeing One (the Buddha) is the best.
virāgo seṭṭho dhammānaṃ, dvipadānañca cakkhumā.
Of all the paths the Eightfold Path is the best; of all the truths the Four Noble Truths are the best; of all things passionlessness is the best: of men the Seeing One (the Buddha) is the best.
273
2. eseva maggo natthañño, dassanassa visuddhiyā.
etañhi tumhe paṭipajjatha, mārassetaṃ pamohanaṃ.
This is the only path; there is none other for the purification of insight. Tread this path, and you will bewilder Mara.
etañhi tumhe paṭipajjatha, mārassetaṃ pamohanaṃ.
This is the only path; there is none other for the purification of insight. Tread this path, and you will bewilder Mara.
274
3. etañhi tumhe paṭipannā, dukkhassantaṃ karissatha.
akkhāto vo mayā maggo, aññāya sallakantanaṃ.
Walking upon this path you will make an end of suffering. Having discovered how to pull out the thorn of lust, I make known the path.
akkhāto vo mayā maggo, aññāya sallakantanaṃ.
Walking upon this path you will make an end of suffering. Having discovered how to pull out the thorn of lust, I make known the path.
275
4. tumhehi kiccamātappaṃ, akkhātāro tathāgatā.
paṭipannā pamokkhanti, jhāyino mārabandhanā.
You yourselves must strive; the Buddhas only point the way. Those meditative ones who tread the path are released from the bonds of Mara.
paṭipannā pamokkhanti, jhāyino mārabandhanā.
You yourselves must strive; the Buddhas only point the way. Those meditative ones who tread the path are released from the bonds of Mara.
276
5. 'sabbe saṅkhārā aniccā'ti, yadā paññāya passati.
atha nibbindati dukkhe, esa maggo visuddhiyā.
"All conditioned things are impermanent" - when one sees this with wisdom, one turns away from suffering. This is the path to purification.
atha nibbindati dukkhe, esa maggo visuddhiyā.
"All conditioned things are impermanent" - when one sees this with wisdom, one turns away from suffering. This is the path to purification.
277
6. 'sabbe saṅkhārā dukkhā'ti, yadā paññāya passati.
atha nibbindati dukkhe, esa maggo visuddhiyā.
"All conditioned things are unsatisfactory" - when one sees this with wisdom, one turns away from suffering. This is the path to purification.
atha nibbindati dukkhe, esa maggo visuddhiyā.
"All conditioned things are unsatisfactory" - when one sees this with wisdom, one turns away from suffering. This is the path to purification.
278
7. 'sabbe dhammā anattā'ti, yadā paññāya passati.
atha nibbindati dukkhe, esa maggo visuddhiyā.
"All things are not-self" - when one sees this with wisdom, one turns away from suffering. This is the path to purification.
atha nibbindati dukkhe, esa maggo visuddhiyā.
"All things are not-self" - when one sees this with wisdom, one turns away from suffering. This is the path to purification.
279
8. uṭṭhānakālamhi anuṭṭhahāno, yuvā balī ālasiyaṃ upeto.
saṃsannasaṅkappamano kusīto, paññāya maggaṃ alaso na vindati.
The idler who does not exert himself when he should, who though young and strong is full of sloth, with a mind full of vain thoughts - such an indolent man does not find the path to wisdom.
saṃsannasaṅkappamano kusīto, paññāya maggaṃ alaso na vindati.
The idler who does not exert himself when he should, who though young and strong is full of sloth, with a mind full of vain thoughts - such an indolent man does not find the path to wisdom.
280
9. vācānurakkhī manasā susaṃvuto, kāyena ca nākusalaṃ kayirā.
ete tayo kammapathe visodhaye, ārādhaye maggamisippaveditaṃ.
Let a man be watchful of speech, well controlled in mind, and not commit evil in bodily action. Let him purify these three courses of action, and win the path made known by the Great Sage.
ete tayo kammapathe visodhaye, ārādhaye maggamisippaveditaṃ.
Let a man be watchful of speech, well controlled in mind, and not commit evil in bodily action. Let him purify these three courses of action, and win the path made known by the Great Sage.
281
10. yogā ve jāyatī bhūri, ayogā bhūrisaṅkhayo.
etaṃ dvedhāpathaṃ ñatvā, bhavāya vibhavāya ca.
tathāttānaṃ niveseyya, yathā bhūri pavaḍḍhati.
Wisdom springs from meditation; without meditation wisdom wanes. Having known these two paths of progress and decline, let a man so conduct himself that his wisdom may increase.
etaṃ dvedhāpathaṃ ñatvā, bhavāya vibhavāya ca.
tathāttānaṃ niveseyya, yathā bhūri pavaḍḍhati.
Wisdom springs from meditation; without meditation wisdom wanes. Having known these two paths of progress and decline, let a man so conduct himself that his wisdom may increase.
282
11. vanaṃ chindatha mā rukkhaṃ, vanato jāyate bhayaṃ.
chetvā vanañca vanathañca, nibbanā hotha bhikkhavo.
Cut down the forest (lust), but not the tree; from the forest springs fear. Having cut down the forest and the underbrush (desire), be passionless, O monks!
chetvā vanañca vanathañca, nibbanā hotha bhikkhavo.
Cut down the forest (lust), but not the tree; from the forest springs fear. Having cut down the forest and the underbrush (desire), be passionless, O monks!
283
12. yāva hi vanatho na chijjati, aṇumattopi narassa nārisu.
paṭibaddhamanova tāva so, vaccho khīrapakova mātari.
For so long as the underbrush of desire, even the most subtle, of a man towards a woman is not cut down, his mind is in bondage, like the sucking calf to its mother.
paṭibaddhamanova tāva so, vaccho khīrapakova mātari.
For so long as the underbrush of desire, even the most subtle, of a man towards a woman is not cut down, his mind is in bondage, like the sucking calf to its mother.
284
13. ucchinda sinehamattano kumudaṃ sāradikaṃva.
santimaggameva brūhaya, nibbānaṃ sugatena desitaṃ.
Cut off your affection in the manner of a man who plucks with his hand an autumn lotus. Cultivate only the path to peace, Nibbana, as made known by the Exalted One.
santimaggameva brūhaya, nibbānaṃ sugatena desitaṃ.
Cut off your affection in the manner of a man who plucks with his hand an autumn lotus. Cultivate only the path to peace, Nibbana, as made known by the Exalted One.
285
14. idha vassaṃ vasissāmi, idha hemantagimhisu.
iti bālo vicinteti, antarāyaṃ na bujjhati.
"Here shall I live during the rains, here in winter and summer" - thus thinks the fool. He does not realize the danger (that death might intervene).
iti bālo vicinteti, antarāyaṃ na bujjhati.
"Here shall I live during the rains, here in winter and summer" - thus thinks the fool. He does not realize the danger (that death might intervene).
286
15. taṃ puttapasusammattaṃ, byāsattamanasaṃ naraṃ.
suttaṃ gāmaṃ mahoghova, maccu ādāya gacchati.
As a great flood carries away a sleeping village, so death seizes and carries away the man with a clinging mind, doting on his children and cattle.
suttaṃ gāmaṃ mahoghova, maccu ādāya gacchati.
As a great flood carries away a sleeping village, so death seizes and carries away the man with a clinging mind, doting on his children and cattle.
287
16. na santi puttā tāṇāya, na pitā nāpi bandhavā.
antakenādhipannassa, natthi ñātīsu tāṇatā.
For him who is assailed by death there is no protection by kinsmen. None there are to save him - no sons, nor father, nor relatives.
antakenādhipannassa, natthi ñātīsu tāṇatā.
For him who is assailed by death there is no protection by kinsmen. None there are to save him - no sons, nor father, nor relatives.
288
17. etamatthavasaṃ ñatvā, paṇḍito sīlasaṃvuto.
nibbānagamanaṃ maggaṃ, khippameva visodhaye.
Realizing this fact, let the wise man, restrained by morality, hasten to clear the path leading to Nibbana.
nibbānagamanaṃ maggaṃ, khippameva visodhaye.
Realizing this fact, let the wise man, restrained by morality, hasten to clear the path leading to Nibbana.
289