Patna Dhammapada - 2: The Chapter about Heedfulness

Apramādo amatapadaṁ, pramādo maccuno padaṁ,
Heedfulness is the deathless state, heedlessness the state of the dead,

apramattā na mrīyanti, ye pramattā yathā matā.
the heedful do not die, (but) those who are heedless are as if dead.

Appamādo amatapadaṁ, pamādo maccuno padaṁ,
Heedfulness is the deathless state, heedlessness the state of the dead,

appamattā na mīyanti, ye pamattā yathā matā.
the heedful do not die, (but) those who are heedless are as if dead.

Etaṁ viśeṣataṁ nyāttā apramādamhi paṇḍitā,
The wise, understanding this difference in regard to heedfulness,

apramāde pramodanti, Ayⁱrāṇāṁ gocare ratā.
rejoice in heedfulness, delight in the domain of the Noble Ones.

Etaṁ visesato ñatvā appamādamhi paṇḍitā,
The wise, understanding this difference in regard to heedfulness,

appamāde pamodanti, Arⁱyānaṁ gocare ratā.
rejoice in heedfulness, delight in the domain of the Noble Ones.

Te jhāyino sātatikā, niccaṁ dḍhaparākramā,
Those who meditate all the time, constant and firm in their effort,

phusanti dhīrā Nibbāṇaṁ, yogacchemaṁ anuttaraṁ.
those wise ones reach Nibbāna, the unsurpassed release from (all) bonds.

Te jhāyino sātatikā, niccaṁ daḷhaparakkamā,
Those who meditate all the time, constant and firm in their effort,

phusanti dhīrā Nibbānaṁ, yogakkhemaṁ anuttaraṁ.
those wise ones reach Nibbāna, the unsurpassed release from (all) bonds.

Pramādam anuyuñjanti bālā dummedhino janā,
The foolish and stupid people cultivate heedlessness,

apramādan tu medhāvī dhanaṁ śreṣṭhaṁ va rakkhati.
but the sagacious one guards heedfulness just as his greatest wealth.

Pamādam-anuyuñjanti bālā dummedhino janā,
The foolish and stupid people cultivate heedlessness,

appamādañ-ca medhāvī dhanaṁ seṭṭhaṁ va rakkhati.
but the sagacious one guards heedfulness just as his greatest wealth.

Apramatto pramattesu, suttesu bahujāgaro,
Heedful amongst the heedless ones, wakeful amongst the ones who sleep,

abalāśśam va śīghrāśśo hettā, yāti sumedhaso.
like a swift horse who abandons a weak horse, the true sage moves on.

Appamatto pamattesu, suttesu bahujāgaro,
Heedful amongst the heedless ones, wakeful amongst the ones who sleep,

abalassaṁ va sīghasso hitvā, yāti sumedhaso.
like a swift horse who abandons a weak horse, the true sage moves on.

Pramādam apramādena yadā nudati paṇḍito,
When the wise one eliminates heedlessness with his heedfulness,

praññāprāsādam āruyha, aśoko śokiniṁ prajāṁ,
and mounts the palace of wisdom, griefless, (he looks) on grieving people;

parvvataṭṭho va bhomaṭṭhe dhīro bāle avecchati.
the wise one, like one standing on a mountain, looks down on the fools who are standing on the plains.

Pamādaṁ appamādena yadā nudati paṇḍito,
When the wise one eliminates heedlessness with his heedfulness,

paññāpāsādam-āruyha, asoko sokiniṁ pajaṁ,
and mounts the palace of wisdom, griefless, (he looks) on grieving people;

pabbataṭṭho va bhummaṭṭhe dhīro bāle avekkhati.
the wise one, like one standing on a mountain, looks down on the fools who are standing on the plains.

Pūrvve cāpi pramajjittā, yo pacchā na pramajjati,
Whoever before was heedless, but later is not heedless,

so imaṁ lokaṁ prabhāseti abhramutto va candramā.
that one shines brightly in this world like the moon released from a cloud.

Yo ca pubbe pamajjitvā, pacchā so nappamajjati, The word order is different in the opening pādayuga to the Pāḷi verse, but the sense is the same.
Whoever was heedless before, but later is not heedless,

so imaṁ lokaṁ pabhāseti abbhā mutto va candimā.
that one shines brightly on this world like the moon released from a cloud.

Pūrvve cāpi pramajjittā, yo pacchā na pramajjati,
Whoever before was heedless, but later is not heedless,

so imāṁ visattikāṁ loke sato samativattati.
he, being mindful, can overcome clinging to the world.

Yo ca pubbe pamajjitvā, pacchā so nappamajjati,
Whoever was heedless before, The word order is different, but the meaning is the same. but later is not heedless,

so imaṁ lokaṁ pabhāseti abbhā mutto va candimā.
that one shines brightly on this world like the moon released from a cloud.

—————

Yo kāme parivajjeti, sappasseva padā siro,
He who avoids sensual desires, as he would a snake’s head with his foot,

so imaṁ visattikaṁ loke sato samativattati.
he, being mindful, can overcome clinging to the world.

Apramādagaru bhikkhū, pramāde bhayadaṁśino,
A monastic who values The meaning of this one word changes between the parallels, both here and in the next verse. heedfulness, seeing danger in heedlessness,

abhavvo parihāṇāya: Nibbāṇasseva santike.
is unable to fall away: he is well-nigh to Nibbāna.

Appamādarato bhikkhu, pamāde bhayadassivā,
A monastic who delights in heedfulness, seeing danger in heedlessness,

abhabbo parihānāya: Nibbānasseva santike.
is unable to fall away: he is well-nigh to Nibbāna.

Apramādagaru bhikkhū, pramāde bhayadaṁśino,
A monastic who values heedfulness, seeing danger in heedlessness,

saṁyojanam aṇutthūlaṁ dahaṁ aggīva gacchati,
advances like burning fire against the fetter, small or large.

Appamādarato bhikkhu, pamāde bhayadassivā,
A monastic who delights in heedfulness, seeing danger in heedlessness,

saṁyojanaṁ aṇuṁ-thūlaṁ ḍahaṁ aggīva gacchati.
advances like burning fire against the fetter, small or large.

Apramādaratā hotha, saṁ cittam anurakkhatha,
You should delight in heedfulness, you should always protect your mind,

duggā uddharathāttānaṁ paṅke Cone prints pake, both Roth and Shukla read paṅke, and this must be the word, whether there is accidental omission of anusvara or not. sanno va kuñjaro.
you should raise yourself from this pit like the tusker sunk in the mud.

Appamādaratā hotha, sacittam-anurakkhatha,
You should delight in heedfulness, you should always protect your mind,

duggā uddharathattānaṁ paṅke sanno va kuñjaro.
you should raise yourself from this pit like the tusker sunk in the mud.

Apramāde pramudino, nipakā śīlasaṁvtā.
Rejoicing in heedfulness, prudent, restrained in virtue,

te ve kālena prācchanti yattha prātto na śocati.
in good time they attain (that) where, once attained, there is no grieving.

Appamāde pamoditā nipakā sīlasaṁvutā,
Rejoicing in heedfulness, prudent, restrained in virtue,

te ve kālena paccenti yattha dukkhaṁ nirujjhati.
in good time they realise where suffering ceases. Cone didn’t list this as a parallel, but although it evidently is parallel, the conclusion is different.

Apramāde pramodetha, na kāmaratisandhave, -sandhave is apparently for -santhave.
Do not rejoice in heedlessness, unacquainted with delight in sensual pleasure,

evaṁ viharan ātāpī, śāntacittonuddhato,
living in this way, ardent, with mind at peace, not proud,

cetośamatham anuyutto, dukkhassantakaro siyā.
devoted to mental calm, he will make an end to suffering.

Mā pamādam-anuyuñjetha, mā kāmaratisanthavaṁ,
Do not cultivate heedlessness, do not be acquainted with delight in sensual pleasure,

appamatto hi jhāyanto pappoti vipulaṁ sukhaṁ.
for the heedful one, meditating, (surely) attains great happiness.

—————

[E]vaṁvihārī ātāpī, santavuttī anuddhato,
[O]ne living in this way, ardent, living at peace, not proud,

cetosamatham anuyutto, khayaṁ dukkhassa pāpuṇe.
devoted to mental calm, will attain the destruction of suffering.

—————

Anuddhato acapalo, nipako saṃvutindriyo,
Not proud, steadfast, prudent, with restrained faculties,

Kalyāṇamitto medhāvī, dukkhassantakaro siyā.
A spiritual friend, a sagacious one, he will make an end to suffering.

Uṭṭheyā na pramajjeyā, Dhammaṁ sucaritaṁ care,
One should strive, not be heedless, one should live by Dhamma, with good conduct,

Dhammacārī sukhaṁ śeti aśśiṁ loke paramhi ca.
living by Dhamma one lives at ease in this world and the next.

Uttiṭṭhe nappamajjeyya, Dhammaṁ sucaritaṁ care,
One should strive, not be heedless, one should live by Dhamma, with good conduct,

Dhammacārī sukhaṁ seti asmiṁ loke paramhi ca.
living by Dhamma one lives at ease in this world and the next.

Uṭṭhāṇavato satīmato,
For he who is active, mindful,

śucikammassa niśāmmakāriṇo,
pure in deeds, considerate,

saṁyyatassa ca Dhammajīvino
self-controlled, living by Dhamma,

apramattassa yaśossa vaddhati.
heedful, his fame increases.

Uṭṭhānavato satīmato,
For he who is active, mindful,

sucikammassa nisammakārino,
pure in deeds, considerate,

saññatassa ca Dhammajīvino,
self-controlled, living by Dhamma,

appamattassa yasobhivaḍḍhati.
heedful, fame greatly increases.

Uṭṭhāṇenāpramādena saṁyyamena damena ca,
Through activity, heedfulness, through self-control and through restraint,

dīpaṁ kayⁱrātha medhāvī yam ogho nādhipūrati. Adhipūrati is presumably for abhipūrati.
the sage should make an island that no flood waters can overwhelm.

Uṭṭhānen’ appamādena saṁyamena damena ca,
Through activity, heedfulness, through self-control and through restraint,

dīpaṁ kayⁱrātha medhāvī yaṁ ogho nābhikīrati.
the sage should make an island that no flood waters can overcome.

Uṭṭhāṇakālamhi anuṭṭhihāno,
The one who has not energy at a time for energy,

yuvā balī, ālasiko upoko,
youthful, strong, lazy in his home, Upoko is a difficult reading, presumably connected with home, but the form is not clear.

saṁsannasaṅkappamano kusīdo –
whose mind lacks (right) intention and is indolent –

praññāya māggaṁ alaso na yeti. Yeti is not clear, I have taken it as from yāti, although Cone suggest it may be from ’veti or vetti.
the lazy one does not go along wisdom’s path.

Uṭṭhānakālamhi anuṭṭhahāno,
The one who has not energy at a time for energy,

yuvā balī, ālasiyaṁ upeto,
youthful, strong, (but) given to laziness,

saṁsannasaṅkappamano kusīto –
whose mind lacks (right) intention and is indolent –

paññāya maggaṁ alaso na vindati.
the lazy one does not find wisdom’s path.

Hīnaṁ dhammaṁ na seveyā, pramādena na samvase,
One should not follow lowly things, one should not abide heedlessly,

micchadṣṭiṁ na seveyā, na siyā lokavaddhano.
one should not follow a wrong view, one should not foster worldliness.

Hīnaṁ dhammaṁ na seveyya, pamādena na saṁvase,
One should not follow lowly things, one should not abide heedlessly,

micchādiṭṭhiṁ na seveyya, na siyā lokavaḍḍhano.
one should not follow a wrong view, one should not foster worldliness.

Na tāvatā Dhammadharo yāvatā bahu bhāṣati,
One is not a Dhamma-bearer merely through speaking much,

yo tu appam pi sottāna, Dhammaṁ kāyena phassaye,
but the one who, having heard a little, would see Dhamma for himself,

sa ve Dhammadharo hoti, yo Dhamme na pramajjati.
is one who bears Dhamma, the one who is not heedless regarding Dhamma.

Na tāvatā Dhammadharo yāvatā bahu bhāsati,
One is not a Dhamma-bearer merely through speaking much,

yo ca appam-pi sutvāna, Dhammaṁ kāyena passati,
but the one who, having heard a little, sees Dhamma for himself,

sa ve Dhammadharo hoti, yo Dhammaṁ nappamajjati.
is one who bears Dhamma, the one who is not heedless regarding Dhamma.

Dhammaṁ vicinātha apramattā,
Consider the Dhamma heedfully,

mā vo kāmaguṇā bhrameṁsu cittaṁ,
do not let your mind swirl around in strands of desire,

mā lohaguḍe gilaṁ pramatto,
do not, heedless, swallow a (hot) iron ball,

kraṇḍe: ‘Dukkham idan’ ti dayhamāno.
(and,) while burning, cry: ‘This is suffering.’

Jhāya, bhikkhu, mā ca pāmado,
Meditate, monastic, do not be heedless,

mā te kāmaguṇe bhamassu cittaṁ,
do not let your mind swirl around in strands of desire,

mā lohaguḷaṁ gilī, pamatto,
do not, heedless, swallow a (hot) iron ball,

mā kandi: ‘Dukkham-idan’-ti ḍayhamāno.
do not, while burning, cry: ‘This is suffering.’