19. The Horse (UV-KG19)

If a good horse is struck with a whip, he is frightened and exerts himself with all his strength; so likewise when one is full of faith, morality, and meditation (samādhi), having never aught to do with the phenomenal world (dharma), having his senses well composed, patient, and glad, thus goaded on he leaves the world completely behind.

If a good horse is struck with a whip, he is frightened and exerts himself with all his strength; so likewise when one is full of faith, morality, and meditation, having never aught to do with the phenomenal world, having knowledge and (observing) the fundamental (rules), thus goaded on he casts away every particle of misery.

They who are well subdued, like well-broken horses, whose senses are so well controlled as to keep down anger, putting thus an end to sorrow, these Munis will soon be rejoicing among the gods.

The pure man has no intercourse with the careless, the vigilant with the slothful, as the good horse who is wise leaves the wild horses and wanders (alone).

He who minds modesty and knowledge as a good horse does the whip, and who is well composed by wisdom, cleanses himself of sin.

The tamed (horse) is made to go to the place of assembly; the king rides the tamed (horse); the best among tamed men is he who patiently endures abuse.

Better than the largest of elephants, than thoroughbred Sindhu horses, than well-broken mules, is he who tames himself.

With one's own well-tamed self one can reach peace, but with these other modes of conveyance it is not possible to reach that state.

Better than the largest of elephants, than thoroughbred Sindhu horses, than well-broken mules, is he who tames himself.

With one's own well-tamed self one can arrive at the end of affliction, but with these other modes of conveyance it is not possible to reach that state.

Better than the largest of elephants, than thoroughbred Sindhu horses, than well-broken mules, is he who tames himself.

With one's own well-tamed self one can cast off humanity, but with these other modes of conveyance it is not possible to reach that state.

Better than the largest of elephants, than thoroughbred Sindhu horses, than well-broken mules, is he who tames himself.

With one's own well-tamed self one will depart, having severed one's bonds, but with these other modes of conveyance it is not possible to reach that state.

He who would be tamed like a good horse must tame himself; with the self well tamed one reaches the end of affliction.

Self is the lord of self; self is the refuge of self: therefore break the self as you would a good horse.

Chapter on “The Horse,” the Nineteenth.

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.