12. The Chapter about the Stick (PDHP195-215)

Patna Dhammapada

12. The Chapter about the Stick

Neither going naked, nor matted hair, nor mud, nor fasting or lying on stony ground,

dusty clothes, or striving while squatting, can purify a mortal who has not removed uncertainty.

Even if he were to adorn himself, but is trained, peaceful, settled, living by Dhamma,

and has put aside the stick towards all living beings, he is a brahmin, an ascetic, a monastic.

Do not speak anything harsh, spoken to they might answer back to you,

for arrogant talk entails misery, and they might strike you back with a stick.

If you make a sound like a gong that is struck,

you will undergo the rounds of births and deaths for a long time.

If you make no sound like a gong that is not struck,

you are like one who has attained Nibbāna, contention is not found in you.

Like a cowherd with a stick drives cattle to pasture,

so do old age and death overpower living beings.

Like a cowherd with a stick protects the owner’s cattle,

so one should watch over oneself, and you should not let the moment pass,

for when the chance has passed they grieve when consigned to the underworld.

Everyone trembles at sticks, for all of them life is dear,

comparing oneself with others, one should not hurt or have them hurt.

One who harms with a stick beings who desire happiness,

while seeking happiness for himself, won’t find happiness after death.

One who harms not with a stick beings who desire happiness,

while seeking happiness for himself, will find happiness after death.

One should not keep company with wicked friends, one should not keep company with the ignoble,

you should keep company with the sage and wise, you should keep company with superior people.

keeping company with such is surely better for you, not worse.

One should regard someone who shows your faults just like one who points out hidden treasure,

one should keep company with such a sagacious person who reproves you;

keeping company with such is surely better for you, not worse.

One should advise and instruct, and forbid whatever is vile,

for this is dear to the good, but it is not dear to the bad.

Therefore the good and the bad from here go to various destinies,

the bad go to the underworld, the good cross over to heaven.

The person of little learning increases in age like an ox,

for although his flesh does increase, his wisdom does not increase.

There are four states the man who is heedless, the man who consorts with other man’s wives, undergoes:

he gains demerit, an uncomfortable bed, blame as third, and rebirth in the underworld as fourth.

Gaining demerit and a bad destiny, and only the little delight of a scared man with a scared woman,

and kings who apply heavy punishment, at the break up of the body he goes to the underworld.

The restrained go to a good destiny, the unrestrained go to a bad destiny,

thinking: “I should not exhibit confidence,” the wise one wanders peacefully.

Do not, elephant, approach the Buddha, for there is suffering, elephant, in approaching the Buddha,

for the one who attacks the Buddha, elephant, does not go from here to a good destiny.

As a lion wanders his mountain fortress, his resort on the mountainside,

do not hurt the man-hero, the one without fear, the one of superior effort.

Like an elephant in battle endures arrows shot from bow

so will I endure abuse, for many people are unvirtuous.

The Chapter about the Stick