DHAMMAPADA 45
The truth that ‘‘ here we all must die” those
others do not comprehend ;
But some perceiving it, for them all discords
find.an utter end.
Sodden ! with passion, unrestrained his senses
(such an one we see),
Immoderate in the food of sense, idle and
void of energy :
Him surely Mara ? overcomes, as wind throws
down the feeble tree.
Careless of passion, well restrained his senses,
such an one we find
Moderate in pleasure, faithful, great in mighty
energy of mind:
Him Mara shakes not ; are the hills thrown
down by fury of the wind?
He, void of temperance and truth, from
guilt, impurity, and sin
Not free, the poor and golden robe he hath
no worth to clothe therein.?
Regarding temperance and truth, from guilt,
impurity, and sin
Freed, he the poor and golden robe indeed
hath worth to clothe therein.
They who see falsehood in the Truth,
imagine Truth to lurk in lies,
Never arrive to know the Truth, but follow
eager vanities.
To whom in Truth the Truth is known,
Falsehood in Falsehood doth appear,
To them the Path of Truth is shown; right
aspirations are their sphere !
1 Sodden
— the habitual—
who ézves unre-
strained, etc.
2 The Indian power of evil.
3 Alternative reading !—
Who is not free from dirty taint, and tem-
perate and truthful ain’t,
He should not wear the garment quaint
that marks the Arahat or Saint.—A. C.
An ill-thatched house is open to the mercy
of the rain and wind.
So passion hath the power to break into an
unreflecting mind.
A well-thatched house is proof against the
fury of the rain and wind.
So passion hath no power to break into a
rightly-ordered mind,
Here and hereafter doth he mourn, him
suffering doth doubly irk,
Who doeth evil, seeing now at last how evil
was his work.
The virtuous man rejoices here, hereafter
doth he take delight,
Both ways rejoices, both delights, as seeing
that his work was right.
Here and hereafter suffers he: the pains of
shame his bosom fill
Who thinks ‘‘I did the wrong,” laments his
going on the Path of III.
Here and hereafter hath he joy: in both the
joy of rectitude
Who thinks ‘‘I did the right” and goes
rejoicing on the Path of Good.
A-many verses though he can recite of Law,
the idle man who doth it not
Is like an herd who numbereth cows of
others, Priesthood him allows nor part
nor lot.
Who little of the Law can cite, yet knows
and walks therein aright, and shuns the
snare
Of passion, folly, hate entwined: Right
Effort liberates his mind, he doth not
care
For this course done or that to run: surely in
Priesthood such an one hath earned a
share.