other · wisdom

The Dhammapada

c. 3rd century BCE · Early Buddhist · Indian subcontinent

Chapter I — The Twin Verses

1All that we are is the result of what we have thought:

2It is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts.

3If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him,

4As the wheel follows the foot of the ox that draws the carriage.

5All that we are is the result of what we have thought:

6It is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts.

7If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought,

8Happiness follows him, like a shadow that never departs.

9He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me —

10In those who harbour such thoughts, hatred will never cease.

11He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me —

12In those who do not harbour such thoughts, hatred will quickly cease.

13For hatred does not cease by hatred at any time:

14Hatred ceases by love — this is an old rule.

Chapter II — On Earnestness

15Earnestness is the path of immortality;

16Thoughtlessness is the path of death.

17Those who are in earnest do not die;

18Those who are thoughtless are as if dead already.

19Those who are advanced in earnestness,

20Having clearly understood this,

21Rejoice in earnestness,

22And delight in the knowledge of the Noble Ones.

23These wise people, meditative, steady, always possessed of strong powers,

24Attain to Nirvana, the highest happiness.

Chapter V — The Fool

25Long is the night to him who is awake;

26Long is a mile to him who is tired;

27Long is life to the foolish who do not know the true law.

28If a traveller does not meet with one who is his better,

29Or his equal, let him firmly keep to his solitary journey;

30There is no companionship with a fool.

31"These sons belong to me, and this wealth belongs to me" —

32With such thoughts a fool is tormented.

33He himself does not belong to himself;

34How much less sons and wealth!

Chapter VIII — The Thousands

35Better than a thousand hollow words,

36Is one word that brings peace.

37Better than a thousand hollow verses,

38Is one verse that brings peace.

39Better than a hundred hollow stanzas,

40Is one stanza that brings peace.

Chapter XI — Old Age

41How is there laughter, how is there joy, as this world is always burning?

42Why do you not seek a light, you who are shrouded in darkness?

43Look at this painted image, a body full of wounds, put together,

44Diseased, and full of many thoughts, which has no strength, no hold!

45This body is wasted, full of sickness, and frail;

46This heap of corruption breaks to pieces;

47Life indeed ends in death.

Chapter XIV — The Buddha

48He whose conquest is not conquered again,

49Into whose conquest no one in this world enters —

50By what track can you lead him, the Awakened,

51The All-perceiving, the trackless?

52He who has no longing, of any kind,

53Who by insight has crossed the flood, and has risen above it —

54By what track can you lead him, the Awakened,

55Whose path is rightly told as burning like fire?

Chapter XX — The Way

56Of all the paths the Eightfold Path is the best;

57Of all the truths the Four Noble Truths are the best;

58Of all things passionlessness is the best;

59Of men the Seeing One is the best.

60This is the way — there is no other

61That leads to the purifying of intelligence.

62Go on this way! Everything else is the deceit of Mara the Tempter.

63If you go on this way, you will make an end of pain!

Chapter XXVI — The Brahmin

64Him I call indeed a Brahmin who is free from anger,

65Who does not afflict others, who is truthful, true in word,

66Who does not cause pain to anyone.

67Him I call indeed a Brahmin who has left what gives pleasure

68And what gives pain, who is cold, and free from all germs of renewed life —

69The hero who has conquered all the worlds.

70Him I call indeed a Brahmin who knows his former abodes,

71Who sees heaven and hell,

72Has reached the end of births,

73Is perfect in knowledge, a sage, and whose perfections are all perfect.

notes

The Dhammapada ("Verses on the Dharma") is the most widely read and best loved text of the Pali Canon — the scriptural collection of Theravada Buddhism. Its 423 verses in 26 chapters present the essential teachings of the Buddha in the form of memorable aphorisms and short poems, accessible to laypeople and monastics alike. The Dhammapada opens with one of the most famous statements in world philosophy: "All that we are is the result of what we have thought." It proceeds through themes of the disciplined mind, the dangers of sensual craving, the nature of the fool and the wise person, the path of the Noble Eightfold Path, and the state of the Buddha — the Awakened One. Unlike the philosophical complexity of other Buddhist scriptures, the Dhammapada is immediately vivid and practical, addressing the causes of suffering in everyday human experience. Its parallels with wisdom literature from other traditions (Ecclesiastes, the Stoics, the Upanishads) are extensive. Translation after F. Max Müller, Sacred Books of the East, Vol. 10 (1881). Public domain.

currently held: Pali Canon manuscript tradition

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