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Dhammapada chapter 21: Miscellaneous

Verses 290 to 305, in Max Muller's translation.

About this chapter

Miscellaneous verses on a range of topics: leaving small pleasures for a larger joy, and on the importance of not harming others.

It has 16 verses (290 to 305). « Chapter 20 · Chapter 22 »

Dhammapada 290

If by leaving a small pleasure one sees a great pleasure, let a wise man leave the small pleasure, and look to the great.

Dhammapada 291

He who, by causing pain to others, wishes to obtain pleasure for himself, he, entangled in the bonds of hatred, will never be free from hatred.

Dhammapada 292

What ought to be done is neglected, what ought not to be done is done; the desires of unruly, thoughtless people are always increasing.

Dhammapada 293

But they whose whole watchfulness is always directed to their body, who do not follow what ought not to be done, and who steadfastly do what ought to be done, the desires of such watchful and wise people will come to an end.

Dhammapada 294

A true Brahmana goes scatheless, though he have killed father and mother, and two valiant kings, though he has destroyed a kingdom with all its subjects.

Dhammapada 295

A true Brahmana goes scatheless, though he have killed father and mother, and two holy kings, and an eminent man besides.

Dhammapada 296

The disciples of Gotama (Buddha) are always well awake, and their thoughts day and night are always set on Buddha.

Dhammapada 297

The disciples of Gotama are always well awake, and their thoughts day and night are always set on the law.

Dhammapada 298

The disciples of Gotama are always well awake, and their thoughts day and night are always set on the church.

Dhammapada 299

The disciples of Gotama are always well awake, and their thoughts day and night are always set on their body.

Dhammapada 300

The disciples of Gotama are always well awake, and their mind day and night always delights in compassion.

Dhammapada 301

The disciples of Gotama are always well awake, and their mind day and night always delights in meditation.

Dhammapada 302

It is hard to leave the world (to become a friar), it is hard to enjoy the world; hard is the monastery, painful are the houses; painful it is to dwell with equals (to share everything in common) and the itinerant mendicant is beset with pain. Therefore let no man be an itinerant mendicant and he will not be beset with pain.

Dhammapada 303

Whatever place a faithful, virtuous, celebrated, and wealthy man chooses, there he is respected.

Dhammapada 304

Good people shine from afar, like the snowy mountains; bad people are not seen, like arrows shot by night.

Dhammapada 305

He alone who, without ceasing, practises the duty of sitting alone and sleeping alone, he, subduing himself, will rejoice in the destruction of all desires alone, as if living in a forest.

The verses are F. Max Muller's English translation of 1881, in the public domain; its wording is of its time. The notes are our own. This site is an introduction and not a substitute for a teacher, and it is independent of any Buddhist organisation.