Mettā: Loving-Kindness in the Dhammapada

“For never is hatred laid to rest by hate, it’s laid to rest by love: this is an ancient teaching.”

Na hi verena verāni, sammantīdha kudācanaṁ; Averena ca sammanti, esa dhammo sanantano.

“Little though they may recite scripture, if they live in line with the teaching, having given up greed, hate, and delusion, with deep understanding and heart well freed, not grasping to this life or the next, they share in the blessings of the ascetic life.”

Appampi ce saṁhita bhāsamāno, Dhammassa hoti anudhammacārī; Rāgañca dosañca pahāya mohaṁ, Sammappajāno suvimuttacitto; Anupādiyāno idha vā huraṁ vā, Sa bhāgavā sāmaññassa hoti. Yamakavaggo paṭhamo.

“A mendicant who loves diligence, seeing fear in negligence— advances like fire, burning up fetters big and small.”

Appamādarato bhikkhu, pamāde bhayadassi vā; Saṁyojanaṁ aṇuṁ thūlaṁ, ḍahaṁ aggīva gacchati.

“A mendicant who loves diligence, seeing fear in negligence— such a one can’t decline, and has drawn near to extinguishment.”

Appamādarato bhikkhu, pamāde bhayadassi vā; Abhabbo parihānāya, nibbānasseva santike. Appamādavaggo dutiyo.

“One whose mind is not festering, whose heart is undamaged, who’s given up right and wrong, alert, has nothing to fear.”

Anavassutacittassa, ananvāhatacetaso; Puññapāpapahīnassa, natthi jāgarato bhayaṁ.

“A wrongly directed mind would do you more harm than a hater to the hated, or an enemy to their foe.”

Diso disaṁ yaṁ taṁ kayirā, verī vā pana verinaṁ; Micchāpaṇihitaṁ cittaṁ, pāpiyo naṁ tato kare.

“Whatever fame a fool may get, it only gives rise to harm. Whatever good features they have it ruins, and blows their head into bits.”

Yāvadeva anatthāya, ñattaṁ bālassa jāyati; Hanti bālassa sukkaṁsaṁ, muddhamassa vipātayaṁ.

“Advise and instruct; curb wickedness: for you shall be loved by the good, and disliked by the bad.”

Ovadeyyānusāseyya, asabbhā ca nivāraye; Satañhi so piyo hoti, asataṁ hoti appiyo.

“Don’t mix with bad friends, nor with the worst of men. Mix with spiritual friends, and with the best of men.”

Na bhaje pāpake mitte, na bhaje purisādhame; Bhajetha mitte kalyāṇe, bhajetha purisuttame.

“True persons give up everything, they don’t cajole for the things they desire. Though touched by sadness or happiness, the astute appear neither depressed nor elated.”

Sabbattha ve sappurisā cajanti, Na kāmakāmā lapayanti santo; Sukhena phuṭṭhā atha vā dukhena, Na uccāvacaṁ paṇḍitā dassayanti.

“At journey’s end, rid of sorrow; everywhere free, all ties given up, no fever is found in them.”

Gataddhino visokassa, vippamuttassa sabbadhi; Sabbaganthappahīnassa, pariḷāho na vijjati.

“Rather than a thousandfold sacrifice, every month for a full century, it’s better to honor for a single hour one who has developed themselves. That offering is better than the hundred year sacrifice.”

Māse māse sahassena, yo yajetha sataṁ samaṁ; Ekañca bhāvitattānaṁ, muhuttamapi pūjaye; Sāyeva pūjanā seyyo, yañce vassasataṁ hutaṁ.

“Rather than serve the sacred flame in the forest for a hundred years, it’s better to honor for a single hour a personage who has developed themselves. That offering is better than the hundred year sacrifice.”

Yo ca vassasataṁ jantu, aggiṁ paricare vane; Ekañca bhāvitattānaṁ, muhuttamapi pūjaye; Sāyeva pūjanā seyyo, yañce vassasataṁ hutaṁ.

“Whatever sacrifice or offering in the world a seeker of merit may make for a year, none of it is worth a quarter of bowing to the sincere.”

Yaṁ kiñci yiṭṭhaṁ va hutaṁ va loke, Saṁvaccharaṁ yajetha puññapekkho; Sabbampi taṁ na catubhāgameti, Abhivādanā ujjugatesu seyyo.

“Avoid wickedness, as a merchant with rich cargo and small escort would avoid a dangerous road, or one who loves life would avoid drinking poison.”

Vāṇijova bhayaṁ maggaṁ, appasattho mahaddhano; Visaṁ jīvitukāmova, pāpāni parivajjaye.

“All tremble at the rod, all love life. Treating others like oneself, neither kill nor incite to kill.”

Sabbe tasanti daṇḍassa, sabbesaṁ jīvitaṁ piyaṁ; Attānaṁ upamaṁ katvā, na haneyya na ghātaye.

“Creatures love happiness, so if you harm them with a stick in search of your own happiness, after death you won’t find happiness.”

Sukhakāmāni bhūtāni, yo daṇḍena vihiṁsati; Attano sukhamesāno, pecca so na labhate sukhaṁ.

“Creatures love happiness, so if you don’t harm them with a stick in search of your own happiness, after death you will find happiness.”

Sukhakāmāni bhūtāni, yo daṇḍena na hiṁsati; Attano sukhamesāno, pecca so labhate sukhaṁ.

“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.

“If you knew your self as beloved, you’d look after it so well. In one of the night’s three watches, an astute person would remain alert.”

Attānañce piyaṁ jaññā, rakkheyya naṁ surakkhitaṁ; Tiṇṇaṁ aññataraṁ yāmaṁ, paṭijaggeyya paṇḍito.

“It’s easy to do bad things harmful to oneself, but good things that are helpful are the hardest things to do.”

Sukarāni asādhūni, attano ahitāni ca; Yaṁ ve hitañca sādhuñca, taṁ ve paramadukkaraṁ.

“The miserly don’t ascend to heaven, it takes a fool to not praise giving. The attentive celebrate giving, and so find happiness in the hereafter.”

Na ve kadariyā devalokaṁ vajanti, Bālā have nappasaṁsanti dānaṁ; Dhīro ca dānaṁ anumodamāno, Teneva so hoti sukhī parattha.

“The attentive intent on absorption, who love the peace of renunciation, the Buddhas, ever mindful, are envied by even the gods.”

Ye jhānapasutā dhīrā, nekkhammūpasame ratā; Devāpi tesaṁ pihayanti, sambuddhānaṁ satīmataṁ.

“Not speaking ill nor doing harm; restraint in the monastic code; moderation in eating; staying in remote lodgings; commitment to the higher mind— this is the instruction of the Buddhas.”

Anūpavādo anūpaghāto, Pātimokkhe ca saṁvaro; Mattaññutā ca bhattasmiṁ, Pantañca sayanāsanaṁ; Adhicitte ca āyogo, Etaṁ buddhāna sāsanaṁ.

“Happy, the arising of Buddhas! Happy, the teaching of Dhamma! Happy is the harmony of the Saṅgha, and the striving of the harmonious is happy.”

Sukho buddhānamuppādo, sukhā saddhammadesanā; Sukhā saṅghassa sāmaggī, samaggānaṁ tapo sukho.

“quenched, fearing nothing from any quarter— the merit of one venerating such as these, cannot be calculated by anyone, saying it is just this much.”

Te tādise pūjayato, nibbute akutobhaye; Na sakkā puññaṁ saṅkhātuṁ, imettamapi kenaci. Buddhavaggo cuddasamo. Paṭhamabhāṇavāraṁ.

“Let us live so very happily, loving among the hostile. Among hostile humans, let us live with love.”

Susukhaṁ vata jīvāma, verinesu averino; Verinesu manussesu, viharāma averino.

“Therefore don’t hold anything dear, for it’s bad to lose those you love. No ties are found in they who hold nothing loved or loathed.”

Tasmā piyaṁ na kayirātha, piyāpāyo hi pāpako; Ganthā tesaṁ na vijjanti, yesaṁ natthi piyāppiyaṁ.

“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.

“When a man returns safely after a long time spent abroad, family, friends, and loved ones celebrate his return.”

Cirappavāsiṁ purisaṁ, dūrato sotthimāgataṁ; Ñātimittā suhajjā ca, abhinandanti āgataṁ.

“Just so, when one who has done good goes from this world to the next, their good deeds receive them there, as family welcomes home one they love.”

Tatheva katapuññampi, asmā lokā paraṁ gataṁ; Puññāni paṭigaṇhanti, piyaṁ ñātīva āgataṁ. Piyavaggo soḷasamo.

“Give up anger, get rid of conceit, and escape every fetter. Sufferings don’t befall one who has nothing, not clinging to name and form.”

Kodhaṁ jahe vippajaheyya mānaṁ, Saṁyojanaṁ sabbamatikkameyya; Taṁ nāmarūpasmimasajjamānaṁ, Akiñcanaṁ nānupatanti dukkhā.

“Defeat anger with kindness, villainy with virtue, stinginess with giving, and lies with truth.”

Akkodhena jine kodhaṁ, asādhuṁ sādhunā jine; Jine kadariyaṁ dānena, saccenālikavādinaṁ.

“Speak the truth, do not be angry, and give when asked, if only a little. By these three means, you may enter the presence of the gods.”

Saccaṁ bhaṇe na kujjheyya, dajjā appampi yācito; Etehi tīhi ṭhānehi, gacche devāna santike.

“Those harmless sages, always restrained in body, go to the state that does not pass, where there is no sorrow.”

Ahiṁsakā ye munayo, niccaṁ kāyena saṁvutā; Te yanti accutaṁ ṭhānaṁ, yattha gantvā na socare.

“Guard against ill-tempered deeds, be restrained in body. Giving up bad bodily conduct, conduct yourself well in body.”

Kāyappakopaṁ rakkheyya, kāyena saṁvuto siyā; Kāyaduccaritaṁ hitvā, kāyena sucaritaṁ care.

“Guard against ill-tempered words, be restrained in speech. Giving up bad verbal conduct, conduct yourself well in speech.”

Vacīpakopaṁ rakkheyya, vācāya saṁvuto siyā; Vacīduccaritaṁ hitvā, vācāya sucaritaṁ care.

“Guard against ill-tempered thoughts, be restrained in mind. Giving up bad mental conduct, conduct yourself well in mind.”

Manopakopaṁ rakkheyya, manasā saṁvuto siyā; Manoduccaritaṁ hitvā, manasā sucaritaṁ care.

“Misconduct is a woman’s stain. A giver’s stain is stinginess. Bad qualities are a stain in this world and the next.”

Malitthiyā duccaritaṁ, maccheraṁ dadato malaṁ; Malā ve pāpakā dhammā, asmiṁ loke paramhi ca.

“But a worse stain than these is ignorance, the worst stain of all. Having given up that stain, be without stains, mendicants!”

Tato malā malataraṁ, avijjā paramaṁ malaṁ; Etaṁ malaṁ pahantvāna, nimmalā hotha bhikkhavo.

“The people give according to their faith, according to their confidence. If you get upset over that, over others’ food and drink, you’ll not, by day or by night, become immersed in samādhi.”

Dadāti ve yathāsaddhaṁ, yathāpasādanaṁ jano; Tattha yo ca maṅku bhavati, paresaṁ pānabhojane; Na so divā vā rattiṁ vā, samādhimadhigacchati.

“One who is truthful and principled, harmless, restrained, and self-controlled, attentive, purged of stains, is said to be a senior.”

Yamhi saccañca dhammo ca, ahiṁsā saṁyamo damo; Sa ve vantamalo dhīro, “thero” iti pavuccati.

“But one living a spiritual life, who has banished both merit and evil, who wanders having appraised the world, is said to be a mendicant.”

Yodha puññañca pāpañca, bāhetvā brahmacariyavā; Saṅkhāya loke carati, sa ve “bhikkhū”ti vuccati.

“You don’t become a noble one by harming living beings. One harmless toward all living beings is said to be a noble one.”

Na tena ariyo hoti, yena pāṇāni hiṁsati; Ahiṁsā sabbapāṇānaṁ, “ariyo”ti pavuccati.

“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.