The Miscellaneous Chapter (DHP290-305)

If, by renouncing a small good, he might see a good that is large,
the wise one should renounce that small good, seeing the good that is extensive.

One who desires happiness for oneself by causing suffering for another,
being associated thus with hatred, is not fully released from that hatred.

That to be done is rejected, but what is not to be done is done,
for the insolent, the heedless, their pollutants increase.

But for those who always properly undertake mindfulness of the body
who do not practice what is not to be done, persisting in what is to be done,
for those mindful ones, those fully aware, the pollutants are laid to rest.

Destroying mother and father, and then two noble kings,
destroying a kingdom and its followers, the brahmin proceeds untroubled.

Destroying mother and father, and two prosperous kings,
destroying a tiger as the fifth, the brahmin proceeds untroubled.

Gotama’s disciples always awake to a good wakening,
those who day and night constantly have mindfulness of the Buddha.

Gotama’s disciples always awake to a good wakening,
those who day and night constantly have mindfulness of the Dhamma.

Gotama’s disciples always awake to a good wakening,
those who day and night constantly have mindfulness of the Saṅgha.

Gotama’s disciples always awake to a good wakening,
those who day and night constantly have mindfulness of the body.

Gotama’s disciples always awake to a good wakening,
those who day and night have a mind that delights in non-violence.

Gotama’s disciples always awake to a good wakening,
those who day and night have a mind that delights in cultivation.

The going forth is hard, it is hard to find delight therein, but it is also hard to dwell in households that are suffering,
dwelling together with those different is suffering, travellers in the round of births are affected by suffering,
therefore do not be a traveller, do not be affected by suffering.

The faithful one who is endowed with virtue, and has wealth and fame,
whatever district he resorts to, right there and then he is worshipped.

The good are visible from far, like a mountain covered in snow,
but the wicked are not seen here, just like arrows shot in the night.

Sitting alone, lying down alone, walking alone, diligent,
the solitary one who trains himself will delight in the edge of a forest.

Translated by Ānandajoti Bhikkhu.

2nd edition, November 2017.

The text and translation, together with detailed notes and discussions, may be found in multiple formats on the translator’s website, Ancient Buddhist Texts.

Used by kind permission of Bhikkhu Ānandajoti.

The original translation was released under the following licence: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

Prepared for SuttaCentral by Aminah Borg-Luck.