The Thousands
>  
16 Verses | Page 1 / 1
(John Richards version)


Show / Hide
(Ⅰ)
(Ⅱ)
(Ⅴ)


8. 100  
Better than a thousand pointless words is one saying to the point on hearing which one finds peace.
- A single word full of meaning, hearing which one becomes at peace, is better than a thousand words which are empty of meaning. (Ⅰ)
- sahassam api che vaachaa anattha-pada-saMhitaa
ekaM attha-padaM seyyo yaM sutvaa upasammati.
(Ⅴ)
8. 101  
Better than a thousand pointless verses is one stanza on hearing which one finds peace.
- A single couplet pregnant with meaning, hearing which one becomes at peace, is better than a thousand couplets composed of meaningless words. (Ⅰ)
- sahassam api che gaathaa anattha-pada-saMhitaa
ekaM gaathaa-padaM seyyo yaM sutvaa upasammati.
(Ⅴ)
8. 102  
Better than reciting a hundred pointless verses is one verse of the teaching (one dhammapada) on hearing which one finds peace.
- One word of the Dhamma, hearing which one becomes at peace, is better than the utterance of a hundred verses which consist of superficial words. (Ⅰ)
- yo che gaathaa sataM bhaase anattha-pada-saMhitaM
ekaM dhamma-padaM seyyo yaM sutvaa upasammati.
(Ⅴ)
8. 103  
Though one were to defeat thousands upon thousands of men in battle, if another were to overcome just one - himself, he is the supreme victor.
- Though one were to conquer a million men in battle, that man who conquers himself is the greater victor. (Ⅰ)
- yo sahassaM sahassena sangaame maasuse jine
ekaM cha jeyyaM attaanaM sa ve sangama-j'uttamo.
(Ⅴ)
8. 104  
Victory over oneself is better than that over others.
- To overcome one's own self is indeed better than to conquer others. (Ⅰ)
- attaa ha've jitaM seyyo yaa ch'aayaM itaraa pajaa
atta-dantassa posassa nichchaM saññata-chaarino.
(Ⅴ)
8. 105  
When a man has conquered himself and always acts with self-control, neither devas, spirits, Mara or Brahma can reverse the victory of a man like that.
- Neither god nor demigod, nor Mara with Brahma, can undo the victory of him who has subjugated himself and who practices self-restraint. (Ⅰ)
- n'eva devo na gandhabbo na maaro saha braahmunaa
jitaM apajitaM kayiraa tathaa-ruupassa jantuno.
(Ⅴ)
8. 106  
Though one were to perform sacrifices by the thousand month after month for a hundred years, if another were to pay homage to a single inwardly perfected man for just a moment, that homage is better than the hundred years of sacrifices.
- Were a man month after month for a hundred years to offer sacrifices by the thousands, and were he to pay homage even for a moment to one who is self-governed, that homage is superior to the sacrifices of a hundred years. (Ⅰ)
- maase maase sahassena yo yajetha sataM samaM
ekaM cha bhaavit'attaanaM muhuttam api puujaye
saa yeva puujanaa seyyo yaM che vassasataM hutaM.
(Ⅴ)
8. 107  
Though one were to tend the sacrificial fire for a hundred years in the forest, if another were to pay homage to a single inwardly perfected man for just a moment, that homage is better than the hundred years of sacrifice.
- Were a man for a hundred years to tend the sacrificial fire in the forest, and were he to pay homage even for a moment to one who is self-governed, that homage is superior to the fire-sacrifice of a hundred years. (Ⅰ)
- yo cha vassa-sataM jantu aggiM parichare vane
ekaM cha bhaavit'attaanaM muhuttam api puujaye
saa yeva puujanaa seyyo yaM che vassa-sataM hutaM.
(Ⅴ)
8. 108  
All the sacrifices and offerings a man desiring merit could make in a year in the world are not worth a quarter of the better merit of homage to the righteous.
- Whatever offering or sacrifice a person, who is desirous of gaining merit, may make throughout the course of a year, that is not worth one fourth of the merit acquired by homage paid to one of upright life. (Ⅰ)
- yaM kiñchi yiTThaM va hutaM va loke
saMvachchharaM yajetha puñña-pekkho
sabbam pi taM na chatu-bhaagam eti
abhivaadanaa ujju-gatesu seyyo.
(Ⅴ)
8. 109  
Four principal things increase in the man who is respectful and always honours his elders - length of life, good looks, happiness and health.
- In him, who always honors and respects the aged, four conditions will increase: longevity, beauty, happiness and strength. (Ⅰ)
- abhivaadana-siilissa nichchaM vuDDhaa'pachaayino
chattaaro dhammaa vaDDhanti aayu vaNNo sukhaM balaM.
(Ⅴ)
8. 110  
Though one were to live a hundred years immoral and with a mind unstilled by meditation, the life of a single day is better if one is moral and practises meditation.
- One day's life of an Arhat who is virtuous and contemplative is better than a hundred years of life of one who is dissolute and of uncontrolled mind. (Ⅰ)
- yo cha vassa-sataM jiive dussiilo asamaahito
ek'aahaM jiivitaM seyyo siilavantasssa jhaayino.
(Ⅴ)
8. 111  
Though one were to live a hundred years without wisdom and with a mind unstilled by meditation, the life of a single day is better if one is wise and practises meditation.
- One day's life of him who is wise and contemplative is better than a life of a hundred years of one who is unwise and of uncontrolled mind. (Ⅰ)
- yo cha vassa-sataM jiive duppañño asamaahito
ek'aahaM jiivitaM seyyo paññavantassa jhaayino.
(Ⅴ)
8. 112  
Though one were to live a hundred years lazy and effortless, the life of a single day is better if one makes a real effort.
- One day's life of a person who is vigorous and resolute is better than a life of a hundred years of him who is weak and indolent. (Ⅰ)
- yo cha vassa-sataM jiive kusiito hiina-viiriyo
ek'aahaM jiivitaM seyyo viriyam aarabhato daLhaM.
(Ⅴ)
8. 113  
Though one were to live a hundred years without seeing the rise and passing of things, the life of a single day is better if one sees the rise and passing of things.
- A single day's life of one who clearly sees the origin and cessation (of all composite things), is better than a hundred years of life of him who does not perceive the origin and cessation of things. (Ⅰ)
- yo cha vassa-sataM jiive apassaM udaya-bbayaM
ek'aahaM jiivitaM seyyo passato udaya-bbayaM.
(Ⅴ)
8. 114  
Though one were to live a hundred years without seeing the deathless state, the life of a single day is better if one sees the deathless state.
- A single day's life of one who perceives the immortal state is far better than if one were to live a hundred years without perceiving this state. (Ⅰ)
- yo cha vassa-sataM jiive apassaM amataM padaM
ek'aahaM jiivitaM seyyo passato amataM padaM.
(Ⅴ)
8. 115  
Though one were to live a hundred years without seeing the supreme truth, the life of a single day is better if one sees the supreme truth.
- A single day's life of one who realizes the Sublime Truth is indeed better than a life of a hundred years of one who does not realize the Sublime Truth. (Ⅰ)
- yo cha vassa-sataM jiive apassaM dhammam uttamaM
ek'aahaM jiivitaM seyyo passato dhammam uttamaM.
(Ⅴ)


Page: 1
8