Dhammapada

No escape from bad deeds

The monk Cakkhupāla determined to fulfil his practice even at the cost of his eyes and eventually he attained Awakening; the Buddha explained the deed he did in the past which caused his loss of sight in the present, and he summarized the teaching with this verse.

1. Manopubbaṅgamā dhammā, manoseṭṭhā manomayā,
manasā ce paduṭṭhena bhāsati vā karoti vā,
tato naṁ dukkham-anveti cakkaṁ va vahato padaṁ.

Mind precedes thoughts, mind is their chief,
their quality is made by mind,
if with base mind one speaks or acts
through that suffering follows one
like a wheel follows ox’s foot.

The reward of good deeds

Maṭṭhakuṇḍali, the son of a miser, died after paying his respects to the Buddha and was reborn in Heaven; later he came and showed his father the reward of good deeds, and his father was converted; the Buddha explained the matter with this verse.

2. Manopubbaṅgamā dhammā, manoseṭṭhā manomayā,
manasā ce pasannena bhāsati vā karoti vā,
tato naṁ sukham-anveti chāyā va anapāyinī.

Mind precedes thoughts, mind is their chief,
their quality is made by mind,
if with pure mind one speaks or acts
through that happiness follows one
like shadow which does not depart.

Hatred is not overcome by dwelling on it

Tissa, an older relative of the Buddha ordained and was vain and obstinate; the Buddha showed how he was also obstinate in a previous life and almost lost his head, and then he taught the monks with these verses.

3. “Akkocchi maṁ, avadhi maṁ, ajini maṁ, ahāsi me”,
ye ca taṁ upanayhanti, veraṁ tesaṁ na sammati.

“He abused me, he struck at me,
he overcame me, he robbed me,”
those who bear ill-will towards this,
their hatred is never appeased.

4. “Akkocchi maṁ, avadhi maṁ, ajini maṁ, ahāsi me”,
ye taṁ na upanayhanti, veraṁ tesūpasammati.

“He abused me, he struck at me,
he overcame me, he robbed me,”
those who bear not ill-will towards this,
their hatred is surely appeased.

Hatred is overcome by kindness

A barren woman brings home a young woman for her husband, but every time the young wife conceives the barren wife contrives an abortion; through life after life they consume each other’s children, until brought to the Buddha, who taught them with this verse.

5. Na hi verena verāni sammantīdha kudācanaṁ,
averena ca sammanti, esa dhammo sanantano.

For not by hatred do hatreds
cease at any time in this place,
they only cease with non-hatred,
this truth is surely eternal.

One should listen to admonition

The followers of two monks of Kosambi fell into a dispute and despite the Buddha’s admonitions, refused to be reconciled; the Buddha retired to Pārileyyaka forest and was served by an elephant and a monkey; meanwhile the lay people refused to attend on the monks till they came to their senses; eventually they asked for forgiveness and the Buddha taught them with this verse.