1. ahaṃ nāgova saṅgāme, cāpato patitaṃ saraṃ.
ativākyaṃ titikkhissaṃ, dussīlo hi bahujjano.
As an elephant in the battlefield withstands arrows shot from bows all around, even so shall I endure abuse. There are many, indeed, who lack virtue.

2. dantaṃ nayanti samitiṃ, dantaṃ rājābhirūhati.
danto seṭṭho manussesu, yotivākyaṃ titikkhati.
A tamed elephant is led into a crowd, and the king mounts a tamed elephant. Best among men is the subdued one who endures abuse.

3. varamassatarā dantā, ājānīyā ca sindhavā.
kuñjarā ca mahānāgā, attadanto tato varaṃ.
Excellent are well-trained mules, thoroughbred Sindhu horses and noble tusker elephants. But better still is the man who has subdued himself.

4. na hi etehi yānehi, gaccheyya agataṃ disaṃ.
yathāttanā sudantena, danto dantena gacchati.
Not by these mounts, however, would one go to the Untrodden Land (Nibbana), as one who is self-tamed goes by his own tamed and well-controlled mind.

5. dhanapālo nāma kuñjaro, kaṭukabhedano dunnivārayo.
baddho kabaḷaṃ na bhuñjati, sumarati nāgavanassa kuñjaro.
Musty during rut, the tusker named Dhanapalaka is uncontrollable. Held in captivity, the tusker does not touch a morsel, but only longingly calls to mind the elephant forest.

6. middhī yadā hoti mahagghaso ca, niddāyitā samparivattasāyī.
mahāvarāhova nivāpapuṭṭho, punappunaṃ gabbhamupeti mando.
When a man is sluggish and gluttonous, sleeping and rolling around in bed like a fat domestic pig, that sluggard undergoes rebirth again and again.

7. idaṃ pure cittamacāri cārikaṃ, yenicchakaṃ yatthakāmaṃ yathāsukhaṃ.
tadajjahaṃ niggahessāmi yoniso, hatthippabhinnaṃ viya aṅkusaggaho.
Formerly this mind wandered about as it liked, where it wished and according to its pleasure, but now I shall thoroughly master it with wisdom as a mahout controls with his ankus an elephant in rut.

8. appamādaratā hotha, sacittamanurakkhatha.
duggā uddharathattānaṃ, paṅke sannova kuñjaro.
Delight in heedfulness! Guard well your thoughts! Draw yourself out of this bog of evil, even as an elephant draws himself out of the mud.

9. sace labhetha nipakaṃ sahāyaṃ, saddhiṃ caraṃ sādhuvihāridhīraṃ.
abhibhuyya sabbāni parissayāni, careyya tenattamano satīmā.
If for company you find a wise and prudent friend who leads a good life, you should, overcoming all impediments, keep his company joyously and mindfully.

10. no ce labhetha nipakaṃ sahāyaṃ, saddhiṃ caraṃ sādhuvihāridhīraṃ.
rājāva raṭṭhaṃ vijitaṃ pahāya, eko care mātaṅgaraññeva nāgo.
If for company you cannot find a wise and prudent friend who leads a good life, then, like a king who leaves behind a conquered kingdom, or like a lone elephant in the elephant forest, you should go your way alone.

11. ekassa caritaṃ seyyo, natthi bāle sahāyatā.
eko care na ca pāpāni kayirā, appossukko mātaṅgaraññeva nāgo.
Better it is to live alone; there is no fellowship with a fool. Live alone and do no evil; be carefree like an elephant in the elephant forest.

12. atthamhi jātamhi sukhā sahāyā, tuṭṭhī sukhā yā itarītarena.
puññaṃ sukhaṃ jīvitasaṅkhayamhi, sabbassa dukkhassa sukhaṃ pahānaṃ.
Good are friends when need arises; good is contentment with just what one has; good is merit when life is at an end, and good is the abandoning of all suffering (through Arahantship).

13. sukhā matteyyatā loke, atho petteyyatā sukhā.
sukhā sāmaññatā loke, atho brahmaññatā sukhā.
In this world, good it is to serve one's mother, good it is to serve one's father, good it is to serve the monks, and good it is to serve the holy men.

14. sukhaṃ yāva jarā sīlaṃ, sukhā saddhā patiṭṭhitā.
sukho paññāya paṭilābho, pāpānaṃ akaraṇaṃ sukhaṃ.
Good is virtue until life's end, good is faith that is steadfast, good is the acquisition of wisdom, and good is the avoidance of evil.