Patna Dhammapada - 17: The Chapter about Self

Yassa accantadośśillaṁ, malutā Sālam ivotatā,
The one who has an exceeding lack of virtue, like a deadly creeper covering a Sal tree,

karoti so tathāttānaṁ yathā naṁ biṣam icchati.
makes himself the same as his enemy wishes him to be.

Yassa accantadussīlyaṁ māluvā Sālam-ivotataṁ,
The one who has an exceeding lack of virtue, like a deadly creeper covering a Sal tree,

karoti so tathattānaṁ yathā naṁ icchatī diso.
makes himself the same as his enemy wishes him to be. The last two words are reversed in the Pāḷi.

Āttanā hi kataṁ pāpaṁ, āttajaṁ āttasambhavaṁ,
That wickedness done by oneself, born in oneself, arising in oneself,

anumandhati dummedhaṁ vayⁱraṁ vā ahmamayaṁ maṇiṁ.
crushes the one who is stupid, as a diamond (crushes) a rock-jewel.

Attanā va kataṁ pāpaṁ, attajaṁ attasambhavaṁ,
That wickedness done by oneself, born in oneself, arising in oneself,

abhimatthati dummedhaṁ vajⁱraṁ vasmamayaṁ maṇiṁ.
crushes the one who is stupid, as a diamond (crushes) a rock-jewel.

Āttanā hi kataṁ pāpaṁ, āttanā saṅkiliśśati,
By oneself alone is a wicked deed done, by oneself is one defiled,

āttanā akataṁ pāpaṁ, āttanā ye viśujjhati,
by oneself is a wicked deed left undone, by oneself is one purified,

śoddhī aśoddhī praccattaṁ, nāñño aññaṁ viśodhaye.
purity and impurity come from oneself, (for) no one purify another.

Attanā va kataṁ pāpaṁ, attanā saṅkilissati,
By oneself alone is a wicked deed done, by oneself is one defiled,

attanā akataṁ pāpaṁ, attanā va visujjhati,
by oneself is a wicked deed left undone, by oneself is one purified,

suddhī asuddhī paccattaṁ, nāñño aññaṁ visodhaye.
purity and impurity come from oneself, (for) no one can purify another.

Na paresaṁ vilomāni, na paresaṁ katākataṁ
Not the wrongs of others, or what others have done or have not done

āttanā ye aveccheyā, katāni akatāni ca.
one should consider, but what has been done and not done by oneself.

Na paresaṁ vilomāni, na paresaṁ katākataṁ
Not the wrongs of others, or what others have done or have not done

attano va avekkheyya, katāni akatāni ca.
one should consider, but what has been done and not done by oneself.

Na paresaṁ vilomāni, na paresaṁ samāsamaṁ
Not the wrongs of others, or what is just and unjust for others

āttanā ye aveccheyā, samāni viṣamāṇi ca.
one should consider, but what is just and unjust for oneself.

Na paresaṁ vilomāni, na paresaṁ katākataṁ
Not the wrongs of others, or what others have done or have not done

attano va avekkheyya, katāni akatāni ca.
one should consider, but what has been done and not done by oneself.

Āttānañ-ce priyaṁ ñāyyā rakkheyā naṁ surakkhitaṁ,
If one regards oneself as dear one should guard oneself right well,

na etaṁ sulabhaṁ hoti sukhaṁ dukkatakāriṇāṁ.
for happiness is not easy to gain by those who do wrong.

Attānañ-ce piyaṁ jaññā rakkheyya naṁ surakkhitaṁ,
If one regards oneself as dear one should guard oneself right well,

tiṇṇam-aññataraṁ yāmaṁ paṭijaggeyya paṇḍito.
during one of the three watches (of the night) the wise one should stay alert.

————

Attānaṁ ce piyaṁ jaññā, na naṁ pāpena sañjuye,
If one understands oneself as dear, one should not hold on to wickedness,

na hi taṁ sulabhaṁ hoti sukhaṁ dukkatakārinā.
for happiness is not easy to gain by the one who does wrong.

Āttānaṁ ce priyaṁ ñāyyā rakkheyā naṁ surakkhitaṁ,
If one regards oneself as dear one should guard oneself right well,

ttiṇṇam añataraṁ yāmānaṁ paṭijāggreya paṇḍito.
during one of the three watches (of the night) the wise one should stay alert.

Attānañ-ce piyaṁ jaññā rakkheyya naṁ surakkhitaṁ,
If one regards oneself as dear one should guard oneself right well,

tiṇṇam-aññataraṁ yāmaṁ paṭijaggeyya paṇḍito.
during one of the three watches (of the night) the wise one should stay alert.

Ekāsanaṁ ekaśeyaṁ ekacarⁱyām atandrito,
Sitting alone, lying down alone, walking alone, diligent,

eko ramayam āttānaṁ vanānte ramitā siyā.
the solitary one who delights in himself will delight in the edge of a forest.

Ekāsanaṁ ekaseyyaṁ, eko caram-atandito,
Sitting alone, lying down alone, walking alone, diligent,

eko damayam-attānaṁ vanante ramito siyā.
the solitary one who trains himself will delight in the edge of a forest.

Yo śāsanaṁ arahatāṁ Ayⁱrāṇāṁ Dhammajīvināṁ,
° Whoever reviles the worthy teaching of the Noble Ones who live by Dhamma,

paṭikrośati dummedho, dṣṭiṁ niśśāya pāpikāṁ,
that stupid one, depending on wicked views,

karoti so tathāttānaṁ yathā naṁ biṣam icchati.
makes himself the same as his enemy wishes him to be.

Yo sāsanaṁ arahataṁ Arⁱyānaṁ Dhammajīvinaṁ,
° Whoever reviles the worthy teaching of the Noble Ones who live by Dhamma,

paṭikkosati dummedho diṭṭhiṁ nissāya pāpikaṁ,
that stupid one, depending on wicked views,

phalāni kaṭṭhakasseva, attaghaññāya phallati.
like the bamboo when it bears fruit, brings about his own destruction.

————

Yassa accantadussīlyaṁ māluvā Sālam-ivotataṁ
The one whose exceeding lack of virtue is like a deadly creeper spread over a Sal tree

karoti so tathattānaṁ yathā naṁ icchatī diso. Word order differs in the Pāḷi at the end of the pāda.
he makes himself the same as his enemy wishes him to be.

Yo śāsanaṁ arahatāṁ Ayⁱrāṇāṁ Dhammajīvināṁ,
° Whoever reviles the worthy teaching of the Noble Ones who live by Dhamma,

paṭikrośati dummedho dṣṭiṁ niśśaya pāpikāṁ,
that stupid one, depending on wicked views,

phalāni kaṇṭakasseva, āttaghannāya phallati.
like the bamboo when it bears fruit, brings about his own destruction.

Yo sāsanaṁ arahataṁ Arⁱyānaṁ Dhammajīvinaṁ
° Whoever reviles the worthy teaching of the Noble Ones who live by Dhamma,

paṭikkosati dummedho diṭṭhiṁ nissāya pāpikaṁ,
that stupid one, depending on wicked views,

phalāni kaṭṭhakasseva, attaghaññāya phallati.
like the bamboo when it bears fruit, brings about his own destruction.

Āttānam eva paṭhamaṁ atthe Dhamme niveśaye,
First one should establish oneself in the good and the Dhamma,

athāññam anuśāseyā: ‘Evaṁ hohi yathā ahaṁ’.
then one can advise another, (saying): ‘You must be as I am’.

Attānam-eva paṭhamaṁ patirūpe nivesaye,
First one should establish oneself in what is suitable,

athaññam-anusāseyya, na kilisseyya paṇḍito.
then one can advise another, the wise one should not have (any) defilement.

Āttānam eva paṭhamaṁ paṭirūpe niyojaye,
First one should commit oneself to what is suitable,

athāññam anuśāsanto, na kiliśśati praññavā.
then when advising another, the wise one should not have (any) defilement.

Attānam-eva paṭhamaṁ patirūpe nivesaye,
First one should establish oneself in what is suitable,

athaññam-anusāseyya, na kilisseyya paṇḍito.
then one can advise another, the wise one should not have (any) defilement.

Āttanā ye tathā kayⁱrā yathāññam anuśāsaye,
He should do himself as he would advise another (to do),

adānto vata dameyā, āttā hi kira duddamo.
being untrained, he should surely train (himself), for it is said the self is difficult to
train.

Attānañ-ce tathā kayⁱrā yathaññam-anusāsati,
He should do himself as he would advise another (to do),

sudanto vata dametha, attā hi kira duddamo.
being well-trained, he could surely train (another), for it is said the self is difficult to
train.

Āttā hi bhe varaṁ dānto yacchāyam itarā prajā,
A tamed self is better than that of other people,

āttadāntassa poṣassa, sadā saṁyyatacāriṇo,
for the person who conquers himself, who lives always well-restrained,

neva devā na gandhabbā, na Māro saha Brahmuṇā,
neither gods, nor gandhabbas, nor Māra together with Brahmās,

jitaṁ apajitaṁ kayⁱrā tattharūpassa jantuno.
can turn conquest into defeat for a person who is like this.

Attā have jitaṁ seyyo yā cāyaṁ itarā pajā,
Conquest over self is better than that over other people,

attadantassa posassa, niccaṁ saññatacārino,
for the person who conquers himself, who lives constantly well-restrained,

neva devo na gandhabbo, na Māro saha Brahmunā,
neither gods, nor gandhabbas, nor Māra together with Brahmās,

jitaṁ apajitaṁ kayⁱrā tathārūpassa jantuno.
can turn conquest into defeat for a person who is like this.

Āttā hi āttano nātho, ko hi nātho paro siyā?
For the self is the friend of self, for what other friend would there be?

Āttanā hi sucinnena, nāthaṁ labhati dullabhaṁ.
When the self is well-practiced, one finds a friend that is hard to find.

Attā hi attano nātho, ko hi nātho paro siyā?
For the self is the friend of self, for what other friend would there be?

Attanā va sudantena, nāthaṁ labhati dullabhaṁ.
When the self is well-trained, one finds a friend that is hard to find.

Āttā hi āttano nātho, āttā hi āttano gatī,
Self is the protector of self, self is the refuge of self,

tassā saṁyyamayāttānaṁ, aśśaṁ bhadraṁ va vāṇijo.
therefore one should restrain oneself, as a merchant (restrains) his noble horse.

Attā hi attano nātho, attā hi attano gati,
Self is the protector of self, self is the refuge of self,

tasmā saṁyamayattānaṁ, assaṁ bhadraṁ va vāṇijo.
therefore one should restrain oneself, as a merchant (restrains) his noble horse.

Āttānam eva damaye, aśśasugatiyā sadā,
One should tame oneself always, that will be for a good destiny,

damma śamma ujjuṁ hohi, tato akuṭilo bhava,
be tamed, be peaceful, be upright, and from that be honest,

tato dānto sukhī hohi, anupādāya nivto.
then, tamed, be happy, unattached and cooled down.

Āttanā codayāttānaṁ, parimaśāttānam āttanā,
By oneself one should censure self, by oneself one should be controlled,

so āttagutto satimā, sukhaṁ bhikkhū vihāhisi.
he who guards himself, mindful, will live happily, monastic.

Attanā codayattānaṁ, paṭimāsettam-attanā,
By oneself one should censure self, by oneself one should be controlled,

so attagutto satimā sukhaṁ bhikkhu vihāhisi.
he who guards himself, mindful, will live happily, monastic.

Ātta-d-ātthaṁ parātthena bahunā pi na hāpaye;
One should not neglect one’s own good for another’s, however great;

ātta-d-ātthaṁ paraṁ ñāttā sa-d-ātthaparamo siyā.
knowing further what is good for oneself should be the supreme good.

Atta-d-atthaṁ paratthena bahunā pi na hāpaye;
One should not neglect one’s own good for another’s, however great;

atta-d-attham-abhiññāya sa-d-atthapasuto siyā.
knowing what is good for oneself one should be intent on that good.

Nevāttaheto na parassa heto,
Not for one’s own sake and not for another’s sake,

na saggam icche, na dhanaṁ na rāṣṭaṁ –
not desiring heaven, riches, or a kingdom –

necche adhammeṇa samddhim āttano;
he should not desire his success through corruption;

so śīlavā praññavā dhāmmiko siyā.
he should be both virtuous and wise and righteous.

Na attahetu na parassa hetu,
Not for one’s own sake and not for another’s sake,

na puttam-icche, na dhanaṁ na raṭṭhaṁ –
not desiring a child, riches, or a kingdom –

na iccheyya adhammena samiddhim-attano;
he should not desire his success through corruption;

sa sīlavā paññavā dhammiko siyā.
he should be both virtuous and wise and righteous.