“Those who contemplate the beautiful, their faculties unrestrained, immoderate in eating, lazy, lacking energy: Māra strikes them down like the wind, a feeble tree.”
Subhānupassiṁ viharantaṁ, indriyesu asaṁvutaṁ; Bhojanamhi cāmattaññuṁ, kusītaṁ hīnavīriyaṁ; Taṁ ve pasahati māro, vāto rukkhaṁva dubbalaṁ.
Buddha Quotes on Strength, from the Dhammapada
13 verses of 423 · English by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0) · Pali alongside
In the Dhammapada, strength is rarely about physical power. Instead, it focuses on energy and effort in practice. Verse 112 explains that living a single day "energetic and strong" is better than a century of laziness. This internal vigor, often called viriya, helps a person remain firm. Verses 7 and 8 contrast two outcomes for a person: being struck down like a "feeble tree" or standing firm like a "rocky mountain."
The text encourages being "keen and full of urgency" like a "fine horse under the whip" in verse 144. This requires "faith, ethics, and energy" to end suffering. Verse 23 notes that those who are "staunchly vigorous" can realize extinguishment. Verse 280 warns that even those who are "young and strong" may fail if they are "given to sloth." Finally, verse 405 discusses non-violence toward creatures "firm and frail," while verse 109 says honoring elders grows "strength."
The verses
In book order. Open any verse for the Pali, the copy button and the card maker.
“Those who contemplate the ugly, their faculties well-restrained, eating in moderation, faithful and energetic: Māra cannot strike them down, like the wind, a rocky mountain.”
Asubhānupassiṁ viharantaṁ, Indriyesu susaṁvutaṁ; Bhojanamhi ca mattaññuṁ, Saddhaṁ āraddhavīriyaṁ; Taṁ ve nappasahati māro, Vāto selaṁva pabbataṁ.
“They who regularly meditate, always staunchly vigorous; the attentive realize extinguishment, the supreme sanctuary from the yoke.”
Te jhāyino sātatikā, niccaṁ daḷhaparakkamā; Phusanti dhīrā nibbānaṁ, yogakkhemaṁ anuttaraṁ.
“If while wandering you find no partner equal or better than yourself, then firmly resolve to wander alone— there’s no fellowship with fools.”
Carañce nādhigaccheyya, Seyyaṁ sadisamattano; Ekacariyaṁ daḷhaṁ kayirā, Natthi bāle sahāyatā.
“For one in the habit of bowing, always honoring the elders, four blessings grow: lifespan, beauty, happiness, and strength.”
Abhivādanasīlissa, niccaṁ vuḍḍhāpacāyino; Cattāro dhammā vaḍḍhanti, āyu vaṇṇo sukhaṁ balaṁ.
“Better to live a single day energetic and strong, than to live a hundred years lazy and lacking energy.”
Yo ca vassasataṁ jīve, kusīto hīnavīriyo; Ekāhaṁ jīvitaṁ seyyo, vīriyamārabhato daḷhaṁ.
“Like a fine horse under the whip, be keen and full of urgency. With faith, ethics, and energy, immersion, and investigation of principles, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, mindful, give up this vast suffering.”
Asso yathā bhadro kasāniviṭṭho, Ātāpino saṁvegino bhavātha; Saddhāya sīlena ca vīriyena ca, Samādhinā dhammavinicchayena ca; Sampannavijjācaraṇā patissatā, Jahissatha dukkhamidaṁ anappakaṁ.
“One accomplished in virtue and vision, firmly principled, and truthful, doing oneself what ought be done: that’s who the people love.”
Sīladassanasampannaṁ, dhammaṭṭhaṁ saccavedinaṁ; Attano kamma kubbānaṁ, taṁ jano kurute piyaṁ.
“They don’t get going when it’s time to start; they’re young and strong, but given to sloth. Their mind depressed in sunken thought, lazy and slothful, they can’t discern the path.”
Uṭṭhānakālamhi anuṭṭhahāno, Yuvā balī ālasiyaṁ upeto; Saṁsannasaṅkappamano kusīto, Paññāya maggaṁ alaso na vindati.
“A tree grows back even when cut down, so long as its roots are strong and undamaged; suffering springs up again and again, so long as the tendency to craving is not pulled out.”
Yathāpi mūle anupaddave daḷhe, Chinnopi rukkho punareva rūhati; Evampi taṇhānusaye anūhate, Nibbattatī dukkhamidaṁ punappunaṁ.
“The attentive say that shackle is not strong that’s made of iron, wood, or knots. But obsession with jeweled earrings, concern for your partners and children:”
Na taṁ daḷhaṁ bandhanamāhu dhīrā, Yadāyasaṁ dārujapabbajañca; Sārattarattā maṇikuṇḍalesu, Puttesu dāresu ca yā apekkhā.
“this, say the attentive, is a strong shackle dragging the indulgent down, hard to escape. Having cut this one too they go forth, unconcerned, having given up sensual pleasures.”
Etaṁ daḷhaṁ bandhanamāhu dhīrā, Ohārinaṁ sithilaṁ duppamuñcaṁ; Etampi chetvāna paribbajanti, Anapekkhino kāmasukhaṁ pahāya.
“They’ve laid aside violence against creatures firm and frail; not killing or making others kill: that’s who I declare a brahmin.”
Nidhāya daṇḍaṁ bhūtesu, tasesu thāvaresu ca; Yo na hanti na ghāteti, tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.
Where these verses sit
1. Pairs2. Diligence5. The Fool8. The Thousands10. The Rod16. The Beloved20. The Path24. Craving26. Brahmins
Most of these verses come from chapter 1, which the book arranges as a short run on one subject rather than as isolated lines. The opening chapter works in pairs: twenty verses arranged as ten twin verses, each pair holding the same situation in two forms and repeating the same refrain. It opens with the line that sets up the whole book — intention is the leader of things — and then runs the contrast through blame and forgiveness, hatred and its ending, and the difference between a mind that is guarded and one that is not.
Questions
Does the Dhammapada mean physical strength?
No, the Dhammapada rarely refers to physical or social power. In this book, strength usually means viriya, or energetic effort in spiritual practice. While verse 405 mentions creatures "firm and frail" and verse 109 lists strength as a blessing for honoring elders, the primary focus is on the mental vigor needed to follow the path and overcome laziness.
What is verse 112 saying exactly?
Verse 112 is a core teaching on this page because it prioritizes the quality of one's effort over the length of one's life. It states that one day lived with energy is superior to a hundred years of being lazy. This emphasizes that spiritual progress depends on active engagement and vigor rather than simply letting time pass without any focused practice.
What do verses 7 and 8 contrast?
These verses contrast two potential outcomes for any practitioner. Verse 7 describes the result of being lazy and lacking energy; such a person is easily struck down by Mara like a "feeble tree." Verse 8 shows the alternative. By remaining "faithful and energetic," the same person becomes as stable as a "rocky mountain," proving that internal strength is a choice made through restraint.
How does verse 280 relate to the theme?
Verse 280 provides a specific warning about wasted potential. It describes people who are "young and strong" yet "given to sloth." Even though they have the physical capacity for effort, their "mind depressed in sunken thought" prevents them from starting. This shows that physical strength is useless for the path if one lacks the mental energy and initiative to actually begin the work.
Read next
Every line on this page is a verse of the Dhammapada, numbered and unaltered. English translation by Bhikkhu Sujato, released CC0 via SuttaCentral; the Pali is the Mahāsaṅgīti edition held there. See sources for the full licence trail.