Brahmadattattheragāthā

Theragāthā 6.12

Verses of the Senior Monks 6.12

Chakkanipāta

The Book of the Sixes

Paṭhamavagga

Chapter One

Brahmadattattheragāthā

Brahmadatta

“Akkodhassa kuto kodho,

Whence anger for one free of anger,

dantassa samajīvino;

tamed, living justly,

Sammadaññāvimuttassa,

freed by right knowledge,

upasantassa tādino.

peaceful and unaffected?

Tasseva tena pāpiyo,

When you get angry at an angry person

yo kuddhaṁ paṭikujjhati;

you just make things worse for yourself.

Kuddhaṁ appaṭikujjhanto,

When you don’t get angry at an angry person

saṅgāmaṁ jeti dujjayaṁ.

you win a battle hard to win.

Ubhinnamatthaṁ carati,

When you know that the other is angry,

attano ca parassa ca;

you act for the good of both

Paraṁ saṅkupitaṁ ñatvā,

yourself and the other

yo sato upasammati.

if you’re mindful and stay calm.

Ubhinnaṁ tikicchantaṁ taṁ,

People inexpert in the teaching

attano ca parassa ca;

consider one who heals both

Janā maññanti bāloti,

oneself and the other

ye dhammassa akovidā.

to be a fool.

Uppajje te sace kodho,

If anger arises in you,

āvajja kakacūpamaṁ;

reflect on the simile of the saw;

Uppajje ce rase taṇhā,

if craving for flavors arises in you,

puttamaṁsūpamaṁ sara.

remember the simile of the child’s flesh.

Sace dhāvati cittaṁ te,

If your mind runs off

kāmesu ca bhavesu ca;

to sensual pleasures and future lives,

Khippaṁ niggaṇha satiyā,

quickly curb it with mindfulness,

kiṭṭhādaṁ viya duppasun”ti.

as one would curb a greedy cow eating grain.

… Brahmadatto thero ….