29. Spreading Extensively (T210.29)

Though the happiness in giving may be small
Its retribution is very great.
The wise one, from a small giving,
Sees in retribution, a great blessing.

He who by causing hardship to others
Seeks to gain blessing
Misfortune will befall him,
Having himself befriended enemies widely.

For one has done various things,
Including the improper ones,
And is sporty and heedless;
His corruptions increase day by day.

He who vigorously practices meditation,
Who pursues the proper and gives up the improper,
Who cultivates himself and is mindful,
Is indeed one endowed with the right practice.

For one who being intelligent,
Is moreover keen to learn;
[His knowledge] will gradually expand,
Like ghee when thrown into water.

For one who being unintelligent,
Is moreover not keen to learn;
His knowledge will contract and get less,
Like curd when thrown into water.

The names of the spiritual cultivators shine forth
Like snow on high mountains.
Those with no spirituality remain obscure
Like arrows shot at night.

The disciples of the Buddha,
Are ever awake and self-aware.
Day and night the recollect the Buddha,
Reflect on the Dharma, and are mindful of the Saṅgha.

The disciples of the Buddha
Are ever awake and self-aware.
Day and night they think of meditating,
And delight in contemplation and one-mindedness.

One should maintain mindfulness
And know the amount to eat
One” sensual craving is then reduced
And digestion being regulated, one lives long.

Hard it is to undergo training and give up evil.
Hard too it is to live the household life.
Hard [also] is living and sharing with others.
Of all hardships, existence is the greatest.

Hard it is for a bhikṣu to beg [for alms]
How then can you not spur yourself on?
With vigour, you’ll obtain ease
And thereafter you’ll not covet others’ [things].

He who has faith will be endowed with virtue;
From virtue, he will attain wealth;
From the same will he obtain a happy partner;
Wherever he goes, he receives offerings.

He who sits alone, rests in one place,
Walks alone, unindolent,
And keeping to solitude rectifies the self;
Will delight in forest dwelling.

Translated from the Chinese by Bhikkhu Kuala Lumpur Dhammajoti

From his book The Chinese Version of Dharmapada, Translated with introduction and annotations.

Published here with the kind permission of the author.

Prepared for SuttaCentral by Ayya Vimala.