Patna Dhammapada - 5: The Chapter about Need

Atthavarggaḥ
5: The Chapter about Need The word attha doesn’t figure in this chapter except in the first verse, where it means need, hence the translation; attha itself has a variety of meanings, see PED, where: interest, advantage, gain; (moral) good, blessing, welfare; profit, prosperity, well-being are listed.

Atthesu jātesu sukhā sakhāyā,
Friends are good whenever need arises,

puññaṁ sukhaṁ jīvitasaṅkhayamhi,
at the break-up of life merit is good,

toṣṭī sukhā yā itarītarena,
being content with everything is good,

sabbassa pāpassa sukhaṁ prahāṇaṁ.
the abandoning of all wickedness is good.

Atthamhi jātamhi sukhā sahāyā,
Friends are good whenever need arises,

tuṭṭhī sukhā yā itarītarena,
being content with everything is good,

puññaṁ sukhaṁ jīvitasaṅkhayamhi,
at the break-up of life merit is good,

sabbassa dukkhassa sukhaṁ pahāṇaṁ. The line order is different in Pāḷi: a c b d; but apart from that the sense agrees.
the abandoning of all suffering is good.

Sukhā mātreatā loke, tato petteatā sukhā,
Respecting one’s mother is good in the world, also respecting one’s father is good,

śāmannatā sukhā loke, tato brāhmannatā sukhā.
respecting ascetics is good in the world, also respecting (true) brahmins is good.

Sukhā matteyyatā loke, atho petteyyatā sukhā,
Respecting one’s mother is good in the world, also respecting one’s father is good,

sukhā sāmaññatā loke, atho brahmaññatā sukhā.
respecting ascetics is good in the world, also respecting (true) brahmins is good.

Sukhaṁ yāvaj jarā śīlaṁ, sukhā śraddhā pratiṣṭhitā,
Virtuous conduct till old age is good, the establishing of faith is good,

sukhā attharasā vācā, assiṁ mānakkhayo sukho.
speech that is beneficial Literally: having the flavour of benefit, which does not work well in English. In Pāḷi attharasa sometimes comes in a sequence, attharasa, dhammarasa, vimuttirasa, meaning the taste of the four fruits of the samaṇa life, the four paths, and liberation. is good, the destruction of conceit is good.

Sukhaṁ yāva jarā sīlaṁ, sukhā saddhā patiṭṭhitā,
Virtuous conduct till old age is good, the establishing of faith is good,

sukho paññāya paṭilābho, pāpānaṁ akaraṇaṁ sukhaṁ.
the acquisition of wisdom is good, doing nothing wicked is good.

Sukho Buddhāna’ uppādo, sukhā Dhammassa deśanā,
The arising of the Buddhas is good, the teaching of the Dhamma is good,

sukhā Saṅghassa sāmaggrī, samaggrāṇāṁ tapo sukho.
the harmony of the Saṅgha is good, devotion to harmony is good.

Sukho Buddhānam-uppādo, sukhā Saddhammadesanā,
The arising of the Buddhas is good, the teaching of the True Dhamma is good,

sukhā Saṅghassa sāmaggī, samaggānaṁ tapo sukho.
the harmony of the Saṅgha is good, devotion to harmony is good.

Sukhaṁ daṁśanam ayⁱrāṇāṁ, saṁvāso pi satāṁ sukho,
Meeting Lit: seeing, but the force of it is that one meets with the noble ones. with the noble is pleasant, living with good people is pleasant,

addaṁśanena bālānāṁ niccam eva sukhī siyā.
through not meeting foolish people one will constantly be happy.

Sāhu dassanam-ariyānaṁ, sannivāso sadā sukho,
Meeting with the noble is good, living together (with them) is always pleasant,

adassanena bālānaṁ niccam-eva sukhī siyā.
through not meeting foolish people one will constantly be happy.

Bālāsaṅgatacārī hi drīgham addhāna’ śocati,
For he who consorts with fools grieves for a long time,

dukkho bālehi saṁvāso amittehi-r-iva sabbadā,
dwelling with fools is always suffering as it is with enemies,

dhīrā tu sukhasaṁvāsā ñātīnaṁ vā samāgamo.
the wise ones dwell happily as with an assembly of kin.

Bālasaṅgatacārī hi dīgham-addhāna’ socati,
For he who consorts with fools grieves for a long time,

dukkho bālehi saṁvāso amitteneva sabbadā,
dwelling with fools is always suffering as it is with enemies,

dhīro ca sukhasaṁvāso ñātīnaṁ va samāgamo.
the wise one Singular in the Pāḷi. dwells happily as with an assembly of kin.

Tassā hi dhīraṁ ca bahuśśutañ-ca,
Therefore the firm and the learned,

dhoreyaśīlavratamantam ayⁱraṁ –
the virtuous, dutiful and noble –

taṁ tārisaṁ sappuruṣaṁ sumedhaṁ
* (follow) such a true and intelligent person

sevetha nakkhattapathe va candramā.
as the moon (follows) the course of the stars.

Tasmā hi, In the Pāḷi these words are extra-metrical.
Therefore,

dhīrañ-ca paññañ-ca bahussutañ-ca,
the firm, the wise and the learned,

dhorayhasīlaṁ vatavantam-arⁱyaṁ –
the virtuous, dutiful and noble –

taṁ tādisaṁ sappurisaṁ sumedhaṁ
* (accompany) such a true and intelligent person

bhajetha nakkhattapathaṁ va candimā.
as the moon accompanies the course of the stars.

Priyāto jāyate dukkhaṁ, priyā śokā, priyā bhayaṁ,
From love there arises grief, with love grief, with love fear,

priyāto vipramuttassa nāsti śokā, kato bhayaṁ?
for one who is free from love there is no grief, how is there fear?

Piyato jāyatī soko, piyato jāyatī bhayaṁ,
From love there arises grief, from love there arises fear,

piyato vippamuttassa natthi soko, kuto bhayaṁ?
for one who is free from love there is no grief, how is there fear?

Mā priyehi samāgamma The form appears to be absolutive, which does not fit with the prohibitive particle. apriyehi kadācanaṁ,
Do not associate at any time with those who are loved or with those unloved,

priyassa addaṁśanaṁ dukkhaṁ, apriyassa ca daṁśanaṁ.
there is suffering not meeting the loved one, We have plural forms in the opening pādayuga, and singular in the concluding one. The Pāḷi verse has better concinnity. and (suffering from) meeting the unloved one.

Tassā priyaṁ na kayⁱrātha, priyāvādo hi pāpako.
Therefore do not hold (anything) as loved, for speaking of the loved is loathsome.

Ggranthā tesaṁ na vijjanti yesaṁ nāsti priyāpriyaṁ.
There are no knots for those who hold nothing as loved or as unloved.

Mā piyehi samāgañchī appiyehi kudācanaṁ,
Do not associate at any time with those who are loved or with those unloved,

piyānaṁ adassanaṁ dukkhaṁ, appiyānañ-ca dassanaṁ.
there is suffering not meeting those loved, and (suffering from) meeting those unloved.

Tasmā piyaṁ na kayⁱrātha, piyāpāyo hi pāpako.
Therefore do not hold (anything) as loved, for losing those who are loved is loathsome.

Ganthā tesaṁ na vijjanti yesaṁ natthi piyāppiyaṁ.
There are no knots for those who hold nothing as loved or as unloved.

Chudhā parama rogāṇāṁ, saṅkhāraparamaṁ dukhaṁ,
Hunger is the supreme sickness, conditions are the supreme suffering,

etaṁ ñāttā yathābhūtaṁ, Nibbāṇaparamaṁ sukhaṁ.
knowing this as it really is, (know) Nibbāna is the supreme good.

Jighacchā The word is different in Pāḷi, but the meaning is the same. paramā rogā, saṅkhāraparamā dukhā,
Hunger is the supreme sickness, conditions are the supreme suffering,

etaṁ ñatvā yathābhūtaṁ, Nibbānaṁ paramaṁ sukhaṁ.
knowing this as it really is, (know) Nibbāna is the supreme good.

Āroggaparamā lābhā, sāntoṣṭīparamaṁ dhanaṁ,
Health is the supreme gain, content the supreme wealth,

viśśāsaparamā ñātī, Nibbāṇaparamaṁ sukhaṁ.
confidence the supreme kin, Nibbāna the supreme good.

Ārogyaparamā lābhā, santuṭṭhi paramaṁ dhanaṁ,
Health is the supreme gain, content the supreme wealth,

vissāsā paramā ñāti, Nibbānaṁ paramaṁ sukhaṁ.
confidence the supreme kin, Nibbāna the supreme good.

Māttāsukhapariccāgā, paśśe ce vipulāṁ sukhaṁ,
If, by renouncing a small good, he might see a good that is large,

caje māttāsukhaṁ dhīro, sampaśśaṁ vipulāṁ sukham.
the wise one should renounce that small good, seeing the good that is extensive.

Mattāsukhapariccāgā, passe ce vipulaṁ sukhaṁ,
If, by renouncing a small good, he might see a good that is large,

caje mattāsukhaṁ dhīro, sampassaṁ vipulaṁ sukhaṁ.
the wise one should renounce that small good, seeing the good that is extensive.

Manujassa sadā satīmato,
For a human who is always mindful,

māttaṁ jāniya laddhibhojane,
knowing the measure in food received,

tanukāssa bhavanti vedanā,
his painful feelings become slight,

śanikaṁ jīrati, āyu pālayaṁ.
he ages slowly, guarding his lifespan.

Manujassa sadā satīmato,
For a human who is always mindful,

mattaṁ jānato laddhabhojane,
knowing the measure in food received,

tanutassa bhavanti vedanā,
his painful feelings become slight,

saṇikaṁ jīrati, āyu pālayaṁ.
he ages slowly, guarding his lifespan.

Dullabho puruṣājañño, na so sabbattha jāyati,
A person of good breed is rare, that one is not born everywhere,

yattha so jāyate vīro, taṁ kulaṁ sukham edhati.
wherever that hero is born, that family gains happiness.

Dullabho purisājañño, na so sabbattha jāyati,
A person of good breed is rare, that one is not born everywhere,

yattha so jāyate dhīro, taṁ kulaṁ sukham-edhati.
wherever that wise one is born, that family gains happiness.

Sabbattha ve sappuruṣā bhavanti,
There are surely true people everywhere,

na kāmakāmā lapayanti santo;
the good do not talk of desiring sense-pleasures;

sukhena phuṭṭhā uttavā dukhena
when touched by pleasure or by suffering,

noccāvacaṁ sappuruṣā karonti.
true people are not elated or depressed.

Sabbattha ve sappurisā cajanti,
True people surely everywhere renounce,

na kāmakāmā lapayanti santo;
the good do not talk of desiring sense-pleasures;

sukhena phuṭṭhā atha vā dukhena,
when touched by pleasure or by suffering,

noccāvacaṁ paṇḍitā dassayanti.
the wise show neither elation or depression.

Jayaṁ veraṁ prasavati, dukkhaṁ śeti parājito,
The victor generates hatred, the defeated one finds suffering,

upaśānto sukhaṁ śeti, hettā jayaparājayaṁ.
the one at peace lives happily, having abandoned victory and defeat.

Jayaṁ veraṁ pasavati, dukkhaṁ seti parājito,
The victor generates hatred, the defeated one finds suffering,

upasanto sukhaṁ seti, hitvā jayaparājayaṁ.
the one at peace lives happily, having abandoned victory and defeat.

Sukhā najjo sūpatitthā, sukho Dhammajito jano,
Pleasant are rivers with good fords, pleasant is the person conquered by Dhamma,

sukho śraddhapaṭīlābho, pāpassa akaraṇaṁ sukhaṁ.
the acquisition of faith is good, doing nothing wicked is good.

Sukhā nadī sūpatīrthā sukhaṁ Dharmajino jinaḥ,
Pleasant are rivers with good fords, pleasant is the person conquered by Dhamma,

prajñālābhaḥ sukho nityam asmimānakṣayaḥ sukham.
the acquisition of wisdom is always pleasant, the destruction of the conceit I am is pleasant.

Sukhaṁ yāva jarā sīlaṁ, sukhā saddhā patiṭṭhitā,
Virtuous conduct till old age is good, the establishing of faith is good,

sukho paññāya paṭilābho, pāpānaṁ akaraṇaṁ sukhaṁ.
the acquisition of wisdom is good, doing nothing wicked is good.

Sukhaṁ draṣṭuṁ śīlavanto, sukhaṁ draṣṭuṁ bahuśśutā,
It is pleasant to meet the virtuous, it is pleasant to meet the learned,

Ar^ahanto pi sukhaṁ draṣṭuṁ, vipramuttā niropadhī.
it is pleasant to meet the Worthy Ones, who are free from attachments.

Śīlavantaḥ sukhaṁ dṣṭuṁ, sukhaṁ dṣṭuṁ bahuśrutāḥ,
It is pleasant to meet the virtuous, it is pleasant to meet the learned,

arhantaś ca sukhaṁ dṣṭuṁ, vipramuktapunarbhavāḥ.
it is pleasant to meet the Worthy Ones, who are free from rebirth.