1. ko imaṃ pathaviṃ vicessati, yamalokañca imaṃ sadevakaṃ.
ko dhammapadaṃ sudesitaṃ, kusalo pupphamiva pacessati.
Who shall overcome this earth, this realm of Yama and this sphere of men and gods? Who shall bring to perfection the well-taught path of wisdom as an expert garland-maker would his floral design?

2. sekho pathaviṃ vicessati, yamalokañca imaṃ sadevakaṃ.
sekho dhammapadaṃ sudesitaṃ, kusalo pupphamiva pacessati.
A striver-on-the path shall overcome this earth, this realm of Yama and this sphere of men and gods. The striver-on-the-path shall bring to perfection the well-taught path of wisdom, as an expert garland-maker would his floral design.

3. pheṇūpamaṃ kāyamimaṃ viditvā, marīcidhammaṃ abhisambudhāno.
chetvāna mārassa papupphakāni, adassanaṃ maccurājassa gacche.
Realizing that this body is like froth, penetrating its mirage-like nature, and plucking out Mara's flower-tipped arrows of sensuality, go beyond sight of the King of Death!

4. pupphāni heva pacinantaṃ, byāsattamanasaṃ naraṃ.
suttaṃ gāmaṃ mahoghova, maccu ādāya gacchati.
As a mighty flood sweeps away the sleeping village, so death carries away the person of distracted mind who only plucks the flowers (of pleasure).

5. pupphāni heva pacinantaṃ, byāsattamanasaṃ naraṃ.
atittaññeva kāmesu, antako kurute vasaṃ.
The Destroyer brings under his sway the person of distracted mind who, insatiate in sense desires, only plucks the flowers (of pleasure).

6. yathāpi bhamaro pupphaṃ, vaṇṇagandhamaheṭhayaṃ.
paleti rasamādāya, evaṃ gāme munī care.
As a bee gathers honey from the flower without injuring its color or fragrance, even so the sage goes on his alms-round in the village.

7. na paresaṃ vilomāni, na paresaṃ katākataṃ.
attanova avekkheyya, katāni akatāni ca.
Let none find fault with others; let none see the omissions and commissions of others. But let one see one's own acts, done and undone.

8. yathāpi ruciraṃ pupphaṃ, vaṇṇavantaṃ agandhakaṃ.
evaṃ subhāsitā vācā, aphalā hoti akubbato.
Like a beautiful flower full of color but without fragrance, even so, fruitless are the fair words of one who does not practice them.

9. yathāpi ruciraṃ pupphaṃ, vaṇṇavantaṃ sugandhakaṃ.
evaṃ subhāsitā vācā, saphalā hoti kubbato.
Like a beautiful flower full of color and also fragrant, even so, fruitful are the fair words of one who practices them.

10. yathāpi puppharāsimhā, kayirā mālāguṇe bahū.
evaṃ jātena maccena, kattabbaṃ kusalaṃ bahuṃ.
As from a great heap of flowers many garlands can be made, even so should many good deeds be done by one born a mortal.

11. na pupphagandho paṭivātameti, na candanaṃ tagaramallikā.
satañca gandho paṭivātameti, sabbā disā sappuriso pavāyati.
Not the sweet smell of flowers, not even the fragrance of sandal, tagara, or jasmine blows against the wind. But the fragrance of the virtuous blows against the wind. Truly the virtuous man pervades all directions with the fragrance of his virtue.

12. candanaṃ tagaraṃ vāpi, uppalaṃ atha vassikī.
etesaṃ gandhajātānaṃ, sīlagandho anuttaro.
Of all the fragrances - sandal, tagara, blue lotus and jasmine - the fragrance of virtue is the sweetest.

13. appamatto ayaṃ gandho, yvāyaṃ tagaracandanaṃ.
yo ca sīlavataṃ gandho, vāti devesu uttamo.
Faint is the fragrance of tagara and sandal, but excellent is the fragrance of the virtuous, wafting even amongst the gods.

14. tesaṃ sampannasīlānaṃ, appamādavihārinaṃ.
sammadaññā vimuttānaṃ, māro maggaṃ na vindati.
Mara never finds the path of the truly virtuous, who abide in heedfulness and are freed by perfect knowledge.

15-16. yathā saṅkāraṭhānasmiṃ, ujjhitasmiṃ mahāpathe.
padumaṃ tattha jāyetha, sucigandhaṃ manoramaṃ.evaṃ saṅkārabhūtesu, andhabhūte puthujjane.
atirocati paññāya, sammāsambuddhasāvako.
Upon a heap of rubbish in the road-side ditch blooms a lotus, fragrant and pleasing.
Even so, on the rubbish heap of blinded mortals the disciple of the Supremely Enlightened One shines resplendent in wisdom.