Bhikkhuvagga

Khuddakanikāya

Minor Collection

Dhammapada

Sayings of the Dhamma 360–382

Bhikkhuvagga

25. Mendicants

Pañcabhikkhuvatthu

Cakkhunā saṁvaro sādhu,

Restraint of the eye is good;

sādhu sotena saṁvaro;

good is restraint of the ear;

Ghānena saṁvaro sādhu,

restraint of the nose is good;

sādhu jivhāya saṁvaro.

good is restraint of the tongue.

Kāyena saṁvaro sādhu,

Restraint of the body is good;

sādhu vācāya saṁvaro;

good is restraint of speech;

Manasā saṁvaro sādhu,

restraint of mind is good;

sādhu sabbattha saṁvaro;

everywhere, restraint is good.

Sabbattha saṁvuto bhikkhu,

The mendicant restrained everywhere

sabbadukkhā pamuccati.

is released from all suffering.

Haṁsaghātakabhikkhuvatthu

Hatthasaṁyato pādasaṁyato,

One restrained in hand and foot,

Vācāsaṁyato saṁyatuttamo;

and in speech, the supreme restraint;

Ajjhattarato samāhito,

happy inside, serene,

Eko santusito tamāhu bhikkhuṁ.

solitary, content, I call a mendicant.

Kokālikavatthu

Yo mukhasaṁyato bhikkhu,

When a mendicant of restrained mouth,

mantabhāṇī anuddhato;

thoughtful in counsel, not restless,

Atthaṁ dhammañca dīpeti,

explains the text and its meaning,

madhuraṁ tassa bhāsitaṁ.

their words are sweet.

Dhammārāmattheravatthu

Dhammārāmo dhammarato,

Delighting in the teaching, enjoying the teaching,

dhammaṁ anuvicintayaṁ;

contemplating the teaching,

Dhammaṁ anussaraṁ bhikkhu,

a mendicant who recollects the teaching

saddhammā na parihāyati.

doesn’t fall away from the true teaching.

Vipakkhasevakabhikkhuvatthu

Salābhaṁ nātimaññeyya,

A well-off mendicant ought not look down

nāññesaṁ pihayaṁ care;

on others, nor should they be envious.

Aññesaṁ pihayaṁ bhikkhu,

A mendicant who envies others

samādhiṁ nādhigacchati.

does not achieve immersion.

Appalābhopi ce bhikkhu,

If a mendicant is poor in offerings,

salābhaṁ nātimaññati;

the well-to-do ought not look down on them.

Taṁ ve devā pasaṁsanti,

For the gods indeed praise them,

suddhājīviṁ atanditaṁ.

who are tireless and pure of livelihood.

Pañcaggadāyakabrāhmaṇavatthu

Sabbaso nāmarūpasmiṁ,

One who has no sense of ownership

yassa natthi mamāyitaṁ;

in the whole realm of name and form,

Asatā ca na socati,

who does not grieve for that which is not,

sa ve “bhikkhū”ti vuccati.

is said to be a mendicant.

Sambahulabhikkhuvatthu

Mettāvihārī yo bhikkhu,

A mendicant who meditates on love,

pasanno buddhasāsane;

devoted to the Buddha’s teaching,

Adhigacche padaṁ santaṁ,

would realize the peaceful state,

saṅkhārūpasamaṁ sukhaṁ.

the blissful stilling of conditions.

Siñca bhikkhu imaṁ nāvaṁ,

Bail out this boat, mendicant!

sittā te lahumessati;

When bailed out it will float lightly.

Chetvā rāgañca dosañca,

Having cut off desire and hate,

tato nibbānamehisi.

you shall reach extinguishment.

Pañca chinde pañca jahe,

Five to cut, five to drop,

pañca cuttari bhāvaye;

and five more to develop.

Pañca saṅgātigo bhikkhu,

When a mendicant slips five chains

“oghatiṇṇo”ti vuccati.

they’re said to have crossed the flood.

Jhāya bhikkhu mā pamādo,

Practice absorption, don’t be negligent!

Mā te kāmaguṇe ramessu cittaṁ;

Don’t let the mind delight in the senses!

Mā lohaguḷaṁ gilī pamatto,

Don’t heedlessly swallow a hot iron ball!

Mā kandi “dukkhamidan”ti dayhamāno.

And when it burns, don’t cry, “Oh, the pain!”

Natthi jhānaṁ apaññassa,

No absorption for one without wisdom,

paññā natthi ajhāyato;

no wisdom for one without absorption.

Yamhi jhānañca paññā ca,

But one with absorption and wisdom—

sa ve nibbānasantike.

they have truly drawn near to extinguishment.

Suññāgāraṁ paviṭṭhassa,

A mendicant who enters an empty hut

santacittassa bhikkhuno;

with mind at peace

Amānusī rati hoti,

finds a superhuman delight

sammā dhammaṁ vipassato.

as they rightly discern the Dhamma.

Yato yato sammasati,

Whenever they are mindful

khandhānaṁ udayabbayaṁ;

of the rise and fall of the aggregates,

Labhatī pītipāmojjaṁ,

they feel rapture and joy:

amataṁ taṁ vijānataṁ.

that is freedom from death for one who knows.

Tatrāyamādi bhavati,

This is the very start of the path

idha paññassa bhikkhuno;

for a wise mendicant here:

Indriyagutti santuṭṭhi,

guarding the senses, contentment,

pātimokkhe ca saṁvaro.

and restraint in the monastic code.

Mitte bhajassu kalyāṇe,

Mix with spiritual friends,

suddhājīve atandite;

who are tireless and pure of livelihood.

Paṭisanthāravutyassa,

Share what you have with others,

ācārakusalo siyā;

being skillful in your conduct.

Tato pāmojjabahulo,

And when you’re full of joy,

dukkhassantaṁ karissati.

you’ll make an end to suffering.

Pañcasatabhikkhuvatthu

Vassikā viya pupphāni,

As a jasmine sheds

maddavāni pamuñcati;

its withered flowers,

Evaṁ rāgañca dosañca,

O mendicants,

vippamuñcetha bhikkhavo.

shed greed and hate.

Santakāyattheravatthu

Santakāyo santavāco,

Calm in body, calm in speech,

santavā susamāhito;

peaceful and serene;

Vantalokāmiso bhikkhu,

a mendicant who’s spat out the world’s bait

“upasanto”ti vuccati.

is said to be one at peace.

Naṅgalakulattheravatthu

Attanā codayattānaṁ,

Urge yourself on,

paṭimaṁsetha attanā;

reflect on yourself.

So attagutto satimā,

A mendicant self-controlled and mindful

sukhaṁ bhikkhu vihāhisi.

will always dwell in happiness.

Attā hi attano nātho,

Self is indeed the lord of self,

ko hi nātho paro siyā;

for who else would be one’s lord?

Attā hi attano gati,

Self is indeed the home of self,

tasmā saṁyamamattānaṁ;

so restrain yourself,

Assaṁ bhadraṁva vāṇijo.

as a merchant his thoroughbred steed.

Vakkalittheravatthu

Pāmojjabahulo bhikkhu,

A monk full of joy

pasanno buddhasāsane;

trusting in the Buddha’s teaching,

Adhigacche padaṁ santaṁ,

would realize the peaceful state,

saṅkhārūpasamaṁ sukhaṁ.

the blissful stilling of conditions.

Sumanasāmaṇeravatthu

Yo have daharo bhikkhu,

A young mendicant

yuñjati buddhasāsane;

devoted to the Buddha’s teaching,

Somaṁ lokaṁ pabhāseti,

shines upon this world,

abbhā muttova candimā.

like the moon freed from clouds.

Bhikkhuvaggo pañcavīsatimo.