13. Honours (Satkāra) (UV-KG13)

As the she-mule (dies) on account of her offspring, as the reed and the plantain decay on bearing fruit, so likewise is the foolish man destroyed by honours.

No matter how long the fool sacrifices, he will not cease from being infatuated; the fool's bright lot goes on decreasing until it brings to sorrow even the crown of his head.

The fool wishes for riches, for the subjection of the Bhixus (to his orders), for lordship in the abode (of the clergy), to receive the homages of other people.

“Let both priests and laymen, whosoever they may be, imagine that it is I (who have done it); in whatever is to be done or not done, let them be subject to me;” such is the mind of the fool, and his desires greatly increase.

One is the way to wealth, another is the road to nirvāṇa; if the Bhixu, the disciple of the Buddha, has learnt this, he finds no pleasure in honours, but seeks after perfect seclusion (from the world).

Retain no fondness for anything; deceive no man; give up any occupation; in (following) the law one must not be engaged in commerce.

Look after what is to your own profit and envy not what is to that of another, for the Bhixu who does envy another cannot find tranquillity (samādhi).

If a Śramana aspires to lead a happy life, let him put on the gown (sanghāti) of the priesthood and receive alms of food and drink.

If a Śramana aspires to lead a happy life, let him keep to a dwelling-place (of the priesthood), as the reptile does to the rat's hole.

If a Śramana aspires to lead a happy life, let him be contented with the meanest things, and think only of the greatest of laws.

Though one does not know much, if one keeps well the moral precepts, leading (such) a life according to his knowledge, men say of him in praise, “he is not heedless.”

If one possesses the three spotless sciences that overcome the lord of death, the fool thinks he knows nothing, and that he can blame him.

He who is under the rule of misery and sin, if he has but food, drink, and wealth, him the fool will praise.

He whose head is shaven, and who wears the saffron-coloured gown, but who seeks only for food, drink, clothes, and bedding, is his greatest enemy.

When, therefore, one knows the sinfulness and danger of honours, with but few desires, and having cast away all agitation of the mind, the reflective Bhixu wanders here and there.

The mind cannot become dispassionate with but a scrap of food, for one must eat to retain this life; he, consequently, who knows that this body only exists through eating, goes to collect alms.

This is what the wise reverence and honour: the removal of every atom of the grief of misery, which is a difficult task, and men honour him who is patient and painstaking; learn, therefore, how to recognise the swamp (and to keep away from it).

Chapter on Honours, the Thirteenth.

Translated by Woodville Rockhill.

1975, Udânavarga: a collection of verses from the Buddhist canon compiled by Dharmatrâta, Oriental Press, Amsterdam (reprint of original from 1883).

Translated (into Tibetan) by the Indian Pandit Vidyaprabhakara and the Lotsāva Bande-rin-tchen-mtchog; revised and arranged by the corrector, the Lotsāva Bande-dpal-brtsegs.

Original taken from University of Oslo, faculty of humanities.

Prepared for SuttaCentral by Yasoj and Ayya Vimala.