The Dhammapada is a collection of 423 verses. These verses contain the Buddha’s essential teachings delivered on over 305 occasions for the benefit of a wide range of human beings. This collection is also called the “Treasury of the Truth”.
These sayings are very beautiful and valuable to people all over the globe who wish to develop their spiritual knowledge, and to bring happiness and peace.
The stanzas are arranged according to different subjects and divided into 26 chapters.
Suffering follows the evil doer
Mano‧pubbaṅgamā dhammā – Mano‧seṭṭhā mano‧mayā
Manasā ce paduṭṭhena – Bhāsati vā karoti vā
Tato naṃ dukkham anveti – Cakkaṃ’va vahato padaṃ
All that we experience begins with thought. Our words and deeds spring from thought. If we speak or act with evil thoughts, unpleasant circumstances and experiences inevitably result. Wherever we go, we create bad circumstances because we carry bad thoughts. This is very much like the wheel of a cart following the hoofs of the ox yoked to the cart. The cart-wheel, along with the heavy load of the cart, keeps following the draught oxen. The animal is bound to this heavy load and cannot leave it.
Happiness follows the doer of good
Mano‧pubbaṅgamā dhammā – Mano‧seṭṭhā mano‧mayā
Manasā ce pasannena – Bhāsati vā karoti vā
Tato naṃ sukham anveti – Chāyā’va anapāyinī
All that man experiences springs out of his thoughts. If his thoughts are good, the words and the deeds will also be good. The result of good thoughts, words and deeds will be happiness. This happiness will never leave the person whose thoughts are good. Happiness will always follow him like his shadow that never leaves him.
Think of others as your own self
Sabbe tasanti daṇḍassa – sabbe bhāyanti maccuno
Attānaṁ upamaṁ katvā – na haneyya na ghātaye
All tremble at violence, all fear death. Comparing one with others; do not harm, do not kill.
Hatred is overcome only by non-hatred
Na hi verena verāni – sammantīdha kudācanaṁ
Averena ca sammanti – esa dhammo sanantano
Those who attempt to conquer hatred by hatred are like warriors who take weapons to overcome others who bear arms. This does not end hatred, but gives it room to grow. But, ancient wisdom has advocated a different timeless strategy to overcome hatred. This eternal wisdom is to meet hatred with non-hatred. The method of overcoming hatred through non-hatred is eternally effective. That is why that method is described as eternal wisdom.
Saluting venerable yields four benefits
Abhivādanasīlissa – niccaṁ vaddhāpacāyino
Cattāro dhammā vaḍḍhanti – āyu vaṇṇo sukhaṁ balaṁ
If a person is in the habit of constantly honoring and respecting those who are developed and mature, their lives improve in four ways. Their life span soon increases. Their complexion becomes clearer. Their good health and comfort will improve. Their vigor and stamina too will increase.
Freedom is difficult
Appamādo amatapadaṁ – pamādo maccuno padaṁ
Appamattā na mīyanti – ye pamattā yathā matā
The path to the deathless is the perpetual awareness of experience. The deathless does not imply a physical state where the body does not die. When an individual becomes totally aware of the process of experiencing, he is freed from the continuity of existence. Those who do not have that awareness are like the dead, even if they are physically alive.
Glory of the mindful increase
Uṭṭhānavato satīmato, sucikammassa nisammakārino
Saññatassa ca dhammajīvino, appamattassa yasobhivaḍḍhati
If a person is persevering, attention focused within, if his physical and spiritual actions are unblemished, if he is restrained and if he is living in accordance with the Teaching and is sane, his glory will grow.
Happy about both victory and defeat
Jayaṁ veraṁ pasavati dukkhaṁ seti parājito
Upasanto sukhaṁ seti hitvā jayaparājayaṁ
Victory brings hatred into being. The defeated person lives in misery. But the person whose mind is calm and tranquil lives happily as he has risen above both victory and defeat.