Patna Dhammapada - 8: The Chapter about Flowers

Na puṣpagandho paṭivātam eti,
The fragrance of flowers goes not against the wind,

na candanaṁ tagaraṁ vāhlikaṁ vā,
nor does sandalwood or pinwheel or saffron, Perhaps the easiest way to understand vāhlikaṁ is as a form of bāhlikaṁ, saffron.

satān tu gandho paṭivātam eti,
but the fragrance of the good goes against the wind,

sabbā diśā sappuruṣo pravāti.
the true person’s (fragrance) permeates all directions.

Na pupphagandho paṭivātam-eti,
The fragrance of flowers goes not against the wind,

na candanaṁ tagaramallikā vā,
nor does sandalwood or pinwheel or white jasmine,

satañ-ca gandho paṭivātam-eti,
but the fragrance of the good goes against the wind,

sabbā disā sappuriso pavāyati.
the true person’s (fragrance) permeates all directions.

Candanaṁ tagaraṁ cāpi, uppalaṁ atha vāśśikiṁ,
Sandalwood, pinwheel, then water lily and striped jasmine,

etesāṁ gandhajātānāṁ śīlagandho anuttaro.
amongst these kinds of fragrance virtue’s fragrance is unsurpassed.

Candanaṁ tagaraṁ vā pi, uppalaṁ atha vassikī,
Sandalwood, pinwheel, then water lily and striped jasmine,

etesaṁ gandhajātānaṁ sīlagandho anuttaro.
amongst these kinds of fragrance virtue’s fragrance is unsurpassed.

Appāmātro ayaṁ gandho yoyaṁ tagaracandane,
Pinwheel and sandalwood fragrance are insignificant,

yo tu śīlavatāṁ gandho vāti devesu uttamo.
but the fragrance of those who have virtue flutters supreme amongst the gods.

Appamatto ayaṁ gandho yāyaṁ tagaracandanī,
Pinwheel and sandalwood fragrance are insignificant,

yo ca sīlavataṁ gandho vāti devesu uttamo.
but the fragrance of one who has virtue flutters supreme amongst the gods.

Tesāṁ sampannaśīlānāṁ, apramādavihāriṇāṁ,
* Māra cannot find the path of those endowed with virtue, who live heedfully,

sammad-aññāvimuttānāṁ, Māro māggaṁ na viṇḍati.
and who are freed through right and deep knowledge.

Tesaṁ sampannasīlānaṁ, appamādavihārinaṁ,
* Māra cannot find the path of those endowed with virtue, who live heedfully,

sammad-aññāvimuttānaṁ, Māro maggaṁ na vindati.
and who are freed through right and deep knowledge.

Yathā pi ruciraṁ puṣpaṁ vannavantaṁ agandhakaṁ,
Just like a beautiful flower, which has colour, but lacks fragrance,

evaṁ subhāṣitā vācā aphalā hoti akurvvato.
so are well-spoken words fruitless for the one who acts not (on them).

Yathā pi ruciraṁ pupphaṁ vaṇṇavantaṁ agandhakaṁ,
Just like a beautiful flower, which has colour, but lacks fragrance,

evaṁ subhāsitā vācā aphalā hoti akubbato.
so are well-spoken words fruitless for the one who acts not (on them).

Yathā pi ruciraṁ puṣpaṁ, vannavantaṁ sagandhakaṁ,
Just like a beautiful flower, which has colour, and has fragrance,

evaṁ subhāṣitā vācā saphalā hoti kurvvato.
so are well-spoken words fruitful for the one who does act (on them).

Yathā pi ruciraṁ pupphaṁ, vaṇṇavantaṁ sagandhakaṁ,
Just like a beautiful flower, which has colour, and has fragrance,

evaṁ subhāsitā vācā saphalā hoti pakubbato.
so are well-spoken words fruitful for the one who does act (on them).

Yathā pi bhramaro puṣpā, vannagandham aheḍayaṁ,
Just as a bee, without hurting the flower, its colour or scent,

praḍeti rasam ādāya, evaṁ ggrāme munī care.
gathers its nectar and escapes, so should the seer roam in the village.

Yathā pi bhamaro pupphaṁ, vaṇṇagandhaṁ aheṭhayaṁ,
Just as a bee, without hurting the flower, its colour or scent,

paḷeti rasam-ādāya, evaṁ gāme munī care.
gathers its nectar and escapes, so should the seer roam in the village.

Puṣpāṇi heva pracinantaṁ vyāsattamanasaṁ naraṁ,
* Death takes up and carries away the one whose mind is attached to collecting flowers,

suttaṁ ggrāmaṁ mahogho vā, maccu-r-ādāya gacchati.
like a great flood (carries off) a sleeping village.

Pupphāni heva pacinantaṁ byāsattamanasaṁ naraṁ,
* Death takes up and carries away the one whose mind is attached to collecting flowers,

suttaṁ gāmaṁ mahogho va, maccu ādāya gacchati.
like a great flood (carries off) a sleeping village.

Puṣpāṇi heva pracinantaṁ vyāsattamanasaṁ naraṁ,
* The End-Maker takes control of the one whose mind is attached to collecting flowers,

asampunnesu kāmesu, Antako kurute vaśe.
though he is unfulfilled with sense pleasures.

Pupphāni heva pacinantaṁ byāsattamanasaṁ naraṁ,
* The End-Maker takes control of the one whose mind is attached to collecting flowers,

atittaṁ yeva kāmesu, Antako kurute vasaṁ.
even though he is unsated with sense pleasures.

Yathā pi puṣparāśimhā kayⁱrā mālāguṇe bahū,
Just as from a heap of flowers one might make a lot of garlands,

evaṁ jātena māccena kātavvaṁ kuśalaṁ bahuṁ.
so should many good deeds be done by one who is born a mortal.

Yathā pi puppharāsimhā kayⁱrā mālāguṇe bahū,
Just as from a heap of flowers one might make a lot of garlands,

evaṁ jātena maccena kattabbaṁ kusalaṁ bahuṁ.
so should many good deeds be done by one who is born a mortal.

Ko imaṁ paṭhaviṁ vijehiti
Who will conquer this earth

yamalokaṁ va imaṁ sadevakaṁ?
and the lower realm, together with the gods?

Ko Dhammapade sudeśite
Who will (win) the well-taught verses of Dhamma

kuśalo puṣpam iva prajehiti? Patna seems hardly coherent here, but the Pāḷi meaning of the pāda is little better.
as a good man wins a flower?

Ko imaṁ paṭhaviṁ vicessati
Who will know this earth

yamalokañ-ca imaṁ sadevakaṁ?
and the lower realm, together with the gods?

Ko Dhammapadaṁ sudesitaṁ
Who (will reflect) on the well-taught verse of Dhamma

kusalo puppham-ivappacessati?
as a good man will reflect on a flower?

Śekho paṭhaviṁ vijehiti
The trainee will conquer this earth

yamalokaṁ va imaṁ sadevakaṁ.
and the lower realm, together with the gods.

So Dhammapade sudeśite
He will (win) the well-taught verses of Dhamma

kuśalo puṣpam iva prajehiti.
as a good man wins a flower.

Sekho paṭhaviṁ vicessati
The trainee will know this earth

yamalokañ-ca imaṁ sadevakaṁ.
and the lower realm, together with the gods.

Sekho Dhammapadaṁ sudesitaṁ
The trainee (will reflect) on the well-taught verse of Dhamma

kusalo puppham-ivappacessati.
as a good man will reflect on a flower.

Vāśśikī-r-iva puṣpāṇi mañcakāni pramuñcati,
Just as striped jasmine casts off its [...] Hard to see what mañcakāni means here. flowers,

evaṁ rāgañ-ca doṣañ-ca vipramuñcatha bhikkhavo.
so, monastics, cast off (all) passion and hatred.

Vassikā viya pupphāni maddavāni pamuñcati,
Just as striped jasmine casts off its withered flowers,

evaṁ rāgañ-ca dosañ-ca vippamuñcetha bhikkhavo.
so, monastics, cast off (all) passion and hatred.

Phenopamaṁ lokam imaṁ vidittā,
Knowing that this world is just like froth,

marīcidhammaṁ abhisambudhānāṁ,
it has the nature of a mirage to those who understand,

chettāna Mārassa prapuṣpakāni,
cutting off Māra’s flower-tipped (arrows),

addaṁśanaṁ Maccurājassa gacche.
one should go beyond the King of Death’s sight.

Pheṇūpamaṁ kāyam-imaṁ viditvā,
Knowing that this body is just like froth,

marīcidhammaṁ abhisambudhāno,
understanding it has the nature of a mirage,

chetvāna Mārassa papupphakāni,
cutting off Māra’s flower-tipped (arrows),

adassanaṁ Maccurājassa gacche.
one should go beyond the King of Death’s sight.

Yathā saṅkārakūṭamhi ujjhitamhi mahāpathe
Just as in a forsaken rubbish heap along the highway

padumaṁ ubbhidaṁ assa, śucigandhaṁ manoramaṁ,
a lotus might spring forth, with a pure fragrance, delighting the mind,

evaṁ saṅkārabhūtesu, andhabhūte pthujjane,
* so amongst the forsaken, the Perfect Sambuddha’s disciple

atirocanti praññāya Sammāsabuddhasāvakā.
outshines the blind and ordinary folk through his wisdom.

Yathā saṅkāradhānasmiṁ ujjhitasmiṁ mahāpathe
Just as in a forsaken and discarded heap along the highway

padumaṁ tattha jāyetha, sucigandhaṁ manoramaṁ,
a lotus might arise in that place, with a pure fragrance, delighting the mind,

evaṁ saṅkārabhūtesu, andhabhūte puthujjane
* so amongst the forsaken, the Perfect Sambuddha’s disciple

atirocati paññāya Sammāsambuddhasāvako.
outshines the blind and ordinary folk through his wisdom.