Appamādavagga

Khuddakanikāya

Minor Collection

Dhammapada

Sayings of the Dhamma 21–32

Appamādavagga

2. Diligence

Sāmāvatīvatthu

Appamādo amatapadaṁ,

Heedfulness is the state free of death;

pamādo maccuno padaṁ;

heedlessness is the state of death.

Appamattā na mīyanti,

The heedful do not die,

ye pamattā yathā matā.

while the heedless are like the dead.

Evaṁ visesato ñatvā,

Understanding this distinction

appamādamhi paṇḍitā;

when it comes to heedfulness,

Appamāde pamodanti,

the astute rejoice in heedfulness,

ariyānaṁ gocare ratā.

happy in the noble ones’ domain.

Te jhāyino sātatikā,

They who regularly meditate,

niccaṁ daḷhaparakkamā;

always staunchly vigorous;

Phusanti dhīrā nibbānaṁ,

the attentive realize extinguishment,

yogakkhemaṁ anuttaraṁ.

the supreme sanctuary from the yoke.

Kumbaghosakaseṭṭhivatthu

Uṭṭhānavato satīmato,

For the hard-working and mindful,

Sucikammassa nisammakārino;

pure of deed and attentive,

Saññatassa dhammajīvino,

restrained, living righteously, and diligent,

Appamattassa yasobhivaḍḍhati.

their reputation only grows.

Cūḷapanthakavatthu

Uṭṭhānenappamādena,

By hard work and diligence,

saṁyamena damena ca;

by restraint and by self-control,

Dīpaṁ kayirātha medhāvī,

a smart person would build an island

yaṁ ogho nābhikīrati.

that the floods cannot overflow.

Bālanakkhattasaṅghuṭṭhavatthu

Pamādamanuyuñjanti,

Fools and simpletons

bālā dummedhino janā;

devote themselves to negligence.

Appamādañca medhāvī,

But the wise protect diligence

dhanaṁ seṭṭhaṁva rakkhati.

as their best treasure.

Mā pamādamanuyuñjetha,

Don’t devote yourself to negligence,

mā kāmaratisanthavaṁ;

or delight in erotic intimacy.

Appamatto hi jhāyanto,

For if you’re diligent and meditate,

pappoti vipulaṁ sukhaṁ.

you’ll attain abundant happiness.

Mahākassapattheravatthu

Pamādaṁ appamādena,

When the astute dispel negligence

yadā nudati paṇḍito;

by means of diligence,

Paññāpāsādamāruyha,

ascending the palace of wisdom,

asoko sokiniṁ pajaṁ;

sorrowless, they behold this generation of sorrow,

Pabbataṭṭhova bhūmaṭṭhe,

as an attentive one on a mountain top

dhīro bāle avekkhati.

beholds the fools below.

Pamattāpamattadvesahāyakabhikkhuvatthu

Appamatto pamattesu,

Heedful among the heedless,

suttesu bahujāgaro;

wide awake while others sleep—

Abalassaṁva sīghasso,

a true sage leaves them behind,

hitvā yāti sumedhaso.

like a swift horse passing a feeble.

Maghavatthu

Appamādena maghavā,

Maghavā became chief of the gods

devānaṁ seṭṭhataṁ gato;

by means of diligence.

Appamādaṁ pasaṁsanti,

People praise diligence,

pamādo garahito sadā.

while negligence is always deplored.

Aññatarabhikkhuvatthu

Appamādarato bhikkhu,

A mendicant who loves diligence,

pamāde bhayadassi vā;

seeing fear in negligence—

Saṁyojanaṁ aṇuṁ thūlaṁ,

advances like fire,

ḍahaṁ aggīva gacchati.

burning up fetters big and small.

Nigamavāsitissattheravatthu

Appamādarato bhikkhu,

A mendicant who loves diligence,

pamāde bhayadassi vā;

seeing fear in negligence—

Abhabbo parihānāya,

such a one can’t decline,

nibbānasseva santike.

and has drawn near to extinguishment.

Appamādavaggo dutiyo.