SCRIPTURA

The Buddha · The Dhammapada · 24 of 26

Craving · Dhp 334–359

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato

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Dhp 334

Dhp 334 · Kapilamacchavatthu

When a man lives heedlessly,craving grows in them like a camel’s foot creeper.They jump from one thing to the next, like a langurgreedy for fruit in a forest grove.

Manujassa pamattacārino,Taṇhā vaḍḍhati māluvā viya;So plavatī hurā huraṁ,Phalamicchaṁva vanasmi vānaro.

Dhp 335

Dhp 335

Whoever is beaten by this wretched craving,this attachment to the world,their sorrow grows,like grass in the rain.

Yaṁ esā sahate jammī,taṇhā loke visattikā;Sokā tassa pavaḍḍhanti,abhivaṭṭhaṁva bīraṇaṁ.

Dhp 336

Dhp 336

But whoever prevails over this wretched craving,so hard to get over in the world,their sorrows fall from them,like a drop from a lotus-leaf.

Yo cetaṁ sahate jammiṁ,taṇhaṁ loke duraccayaṁ;Sokā tamhā papatanti,udabinduva pokkharā.

Dhp 337

Dhp 337

I say this to you, good people,all those who have gathered here:dig up the root of craving,as you’d dig up grass in search of roots.Don’t let Māra break you again and again,like a stream breaking a reed.

Taṁ vo vadāmi bhaddaṁ vo,yāvantettha samāgatā;Taṇhāya mūlaṁ khaṇatha,usīratthova bīraṇaṁ;Mā vo naḷaṁva sotova,māro bhañji punappunaṁ.

Dhp 338

Dhp 338 · Sūkarapotikāvatthu

A tree grows back even when cut down,so long as its roots are strong and undamaged;suffering springs up again and again,so long as the tendency to craving is not pulled out.

Yathāpi mūle anupaddave daḷhe,Chinnopi rukkho punareva rūhati;Evampi taṇhānusaye anūhate,Nibbattatī dukkhamidaṁ punappunaṁ.

Dhp 339

Dhp 339

A person of low viewsin whom the thirty-six streamsthat flow to pleasure are mighty,is swept away by lustful thoughts.

Yassa chattiṁsati sotā,manāpasavanā bhusā;Mahāvahanti duddiṭṭhiṁ,saṅkappā rāganissitā.

Dhp 340

Dhp 340

The streams flow everywhere;a weed springs up and remains.Seeing this weed that has been born,cut the root with wisdom.

Savanti sabbadhi sotā,latā uppajja tiṭṭhati;Tañca disvā lataṁ jātaṁ,mūlaṁ paññāya chindatha.

Dhp 341

Dhp 341

A personage’s joysflow from senses and cravings.Seekers of happiness, bent on pleasure,continue to be reborn and grow old.

Saritāni sinehitāni ca,Somanassāni bhavanti jantuno;Te sātasitā sukhesino,Te ve jātijarūpagā narā.

Dhp 342

Dhp 342

People governed by thirst,crawl about like a trapped rabbit.Bound and fettered, for a long timethey return to pain time and again.

Tasiṇāya purakkhatā pajā,Parisappanti sasova bandhito;Saṁyojanasaṅgasattakā,Dukkhamupenti punappunaṁ cirāya.

Dhp 343

Dhp 343

People governed by thirst,crawl about like a trapped rabbit.That’s why one who longs for dispassionshould dispel thirst.

Tasiṇāya purakkhatā pajā,Parisappanti sasova bandhito;Tasmā tasiṇaṁ vinodaye,Ākaṅkhanta virāgamattano.

Dhp 344

Dhp 344 · Vibbhantabhikkhuvatthu

Unsnarled, they set out for the jungle,then they run right back to the jungle they left behind.Just look at this individual!Freed, they run to bondage.

Yo nibbanatho vanādhimutto,Vanamutto vanameva dhāvati;Taṁ puggalametha passatha,Mutto bandhanameva dhāvati.

Dhp 345

Dhp 345 · Bandhanāgāravatthu

The attentive say that shackle is not strongthat’s made of iron, wood, or knots.But obsession with jeweled earrings,concern for your partners and children:

Na taṁ daḷhaṁ bandhanamāhu dhīrā,Yadāyasaṁ dārujapabbajañca;Sārattarattā maṇikuṇḍalesu,Puttesu dāresu ca yā apekkhā.

Dhp 346

Dhp 346

this, say the attentive, is a strong shackledragging the indulgent down, hard to escape.Having cut this one too they go forth,unconcerned, having given up sensual pleasures.

Etaṁ daḷhaṁ bandhanamāhu dhīrā,Ohārinaṁ sithilaṁ duppamuñcaṁ;Etampi chetvāna paribbajanti,Anapekkhino kāmasukhaṁ pahāya.

Dhp 347

Dhp 347 · Khemātherīvatthu

Besotted by lust they fall into the stream,like a spider caught in the web she wove.The attentive proceed, having cut this one too,unconcerned, having given up all suffering.

Ye rāgarattānupatanti sotaṁ,Sayaṅkataṁ makkaṭakova jālaṁ;Etampi chetvāna vajanti dhīrā,Anapekkhino sabbadukkhaṁ pahāya.

Dhp 348

Dhp 348 · Uggasenavatthu

Let go of the past, let go of the future,let go of the present, having gone beyond rebirth.With your heart freed in every respect,you’ll not come again to rebirth and old age.

Muñca pure muñca pacchato,Majjhe muñca bhavassa pāragū;Sabbattha vimuttamānaso,Na punaṁ jātijaraṁ upehisi.

Dhp 349

Dhp 349 · Cūḷadhanuggahapaṇḍitavatthu

For a personage churned by thoughts,very lustful, focusing on beauty,their craving grows and grows,tying them with a stout bond.

Vitakkamathitassa jantuno,Tibbarāgassa subhānupassino;Bhiyyo taṇhā pavaḍḍhati,Esa kho daḷhaṁ karoti bandhanaṁ.

Dhp 350

Dhp 350

But one who loves to calm their thoughts,developing perception of ugliness, ever mindful,will surely eliminate that craving,cutting off the bonds of Māra.

Vitakkūpasame ca yo rato,Asubhaṁ bhāvayate sadā sato;Esa kho byanti kāhiti,Esa checchati mārabandhanaṁ.

Dhp 351

Dhp 351 · Māravatthu

One who is confident, unafraid,rid of craving, free of blemish,having struck down the arrows flying to future lives,this bag of bones is their last.

Niṭṭhaṅgato asantāsī,vītataṇho anaṅgaṇo;Acchindi bhavasallāni,antimoyaṁ samussayo.

Dhp 352

Dhp 352

Rid of craving, free of grasping,expert in the definition of terms,knowing the correctstructure and sequence of syllables,they are said to be one who bears their final body,one of great wisdom, a great person.

Vītataṇho anādāno,Niruttipadakovido;Akkharānaṁ sannipātaṁ,Jaññā pubbāparāni ca;Sa ve “antimasārīro,Mahāpañño mahāpuriso”ti vuccati.

Dhp 353

Dhp 353 · Upakājīvakavatthu

I am the vanquisher of all, the knower of all,unsullied in the midst of all things.I’ve given up all, freed in the ending of craving.Since I know for myself, whose follower should I be?

Sabbābhibhū sabbavidūhamasmi,Sabbesu dhammesu anūpalitto;Sabbañjaho taṇhakkhaye vimutto,Sayaṁ abhiññāya kamuddiseyyaṁ.

Dhp 354

Dhp 354 · Sakkapañhavatthu

The gift of the teaching surmounts all other gifts;the taste of the teaching surmounts all other tastes;the joy of the teaching surmounts all other joys;the ending of craving surmounts all suffering.

Sabbadānaṁ dhammadānaṁ jināti,Sabbarasaṁ dhammaraso jināti;Sabbaratiṁ dhammarati jināti,Taṇhakkhayo sabbadukkhaṁ jināti.

Dhp 355

Dhp 355 · Aputtakaseṭṭhivatthu

Riches ruin a simpleton,but not a seeker of the far shore.From craving for wealth, a simpletonruins themselves and others.

Hananti bhogā dummedhaṁ,no ca pāragavesino;Bhogataṇhāya dummedho,hanti aññeva attanaṁ.

Dhp 356

Dhp 356 · Aṅkuravatthu

Weeds are the bane of crops,but greed is these folk’s bane.That’s why a gift to one rid of greedis so very fruitful.

Tiṇadosāni khettāni,rāgadosā ayaṁ pajā;Tasmā hi vītarāgesu,dinnaṁ hoti mahapphalaṁ.

Dhp 357

Dhp 357

Weeds are the bane of crops,but hate is these folk’s bane.That’s why a gift to one rid of hateis so very fruitful.

Tiṇadosāni khettāni,dosadosā ayaṁ pajā;Tasmā hi vītadosesu,dinnaṁ hoti mahapphalaṁ.

Dhp 358

Dhp 358

Weeds are the bane of crops,but delusion is these folk’s bane.That’s why a gift to one rid of delusionis so very fruitful.

Tiṇadosāni khettāni,mohadosā ayaṁ pajā;Tasmā hi vītamohesu,dinnaṁ hoti mahapphalaṁ.

Dhp 359

Dhp 359

Weeds are the bane of crops,but desire is these folk’s bane.That’s why a gift to one rid of desireis so very fruitful.

Tiṇadosāni khettāni,icchādosā ayaṁ pajā;Tasmā hi vigaticchesu,dinnaṁ hoti mahapphalaṁ.

Taṇhāvaggo catuvīsatimo.