Patna Dhammapada - 19: The Chapter about the Mind

Phandanaṁ capalaṁ cittaṁ, durakkhaṁ dunnivārayaṁ,
An agitated, unsteady mind, difficult to guard, difficult to ward,

ujjuṁ karoti medhāvī, uṣukāro va tejanā.
the sagacious one makes straight, as a fletcher does his arrows.

Phandanaṁ capalaṁ cittaṁ, dūrakkhaṁ dunnivārayaṁ,
An agitated, unsteady mind, difficult to guard, difficult to ward,

ujuṁ karoti medhāvī, usukāro va tejanaṁ.
the sagacious one makes straight, as a fletcher does his arrow.

Vārijo va thale khitto, oka-m-okātu ubbhato,
Like a fish thrown up on dry land, pulled out from its watery home,

pariphandatimaṁ cittaṁ, Māradheyaṁ prahātaye.
the mind is agitated, (one ought) to throw off the sway of Māra.

Vārijo va thale khitto, oka-m-okata ubbhato,
Like a fish thrown up on dry land, pulled out from its watery home,

pariphandatidaṁ cittaṁ, Māradheyyaṁ pahātave.
the mind is agitated, (one ought) to throw off the sway of Māra.

Dūraṅgamaṁ ekacaraṁ, aśarīraṁ guhāśayaṁ,
° Those who will restrain the mind that roams far,

ye cittaṁ saṁyyam-ehinti, mokkhante Mārabandhanā.
is lonesome, without a body, hidden, gain release from the bonds of Māra.

Dūraṅgamaṁ ekacaraṁ, asarīraṁ guhāsayaṁ,
° Those who will restrain the mind that roams far,

ye cittaṁ saññam-essanti, mokkhanti Mārabandhanā.
is lonesome, without a body, hidden, gain release from the bonds of Māra.

Dunniggrahassa laghuno, yatthakāmanipātino,
° For the mind that is difficult to subdue, flighty, flitting wherever it will,

cittassa damatho sādhu, cittaṁ dāntaṁ sukhāvahaṁ.
restraint is good, a restrained mind brings happiness.

Dunniggahassa lahuno, yatthakāmanipātino,
° For the mind that is difficult to subdue, flighty, flitting wherever it will,

cittassa damatho sādhu, cittaṁ dantaṁ sukhāvahaṁ.
restraint is good, a restrained mind brings happiness.

Sududdaśaṁ sunipuṇaṁ, yatthakāmanipātinaṁ,
Hard to see, very subtle, flitting wherever it will,

cittaṁ rakkheya medhāvī, tad<a>hi guttaṁ sukhāvahaṁ.
the sage should guard the mind, for guarded it brings happiness.

Sududdasaṁ sunipuṇaṁ, yatthakāmanipātinaṁ,
Hard to see, very subtle, flitting wherever it will,

cittaṁ rakkhetha medhāvī, cittaṁ guttaṁ sukhāvahaṁ.
the sage should guard the mind, a guarded mind brings happiness.

Anaprāśrayamāṇassa, ananvāhatacetaso,
For the one with mind that is not dependent, for the one with mind unperplexed,

hettā kallāṇapāpāni, nāsti jāgarato bhayaṁ.
having abandoned the wholesome and demerit, for the watchful, there is no fear.

Anavassutacittassa, ananvāhatacetaso,
For the one with mind free of lust, for the one with mind unperplexed,

puññapāpapahīnassa, natthi jāgarato bhayaṁ.
for the one who has abandoned making merit and demerit, for the watchful, there is no fear.

Dhammaprītirasaṁ pāttā, viprasannena cetasā,
The one who drinks the tasty Dhamma drink, with a clear mind,

Ayⁱrapravedite Dhamme sadā ramati paṇḍito.
the wise one will always delight in the Dhamma that is made known by the Noble.

Dhammapīti sukhaṁ seti, vippasannena cetasā,
The one who drinks Dhamma lives well, with a clear mind,

Arⁱyappavedite Dhamme sadā ramati paṇḍito.
the wise one will always delight in the Dhamma that is made known by the Noble.

Acirā vata ayaṁ kāyo paṭhaviṁ abhiśehiti,
Before long has passed by, alas, this body will lie on the ground,

chūḍo apetavinnyāṇo, nirātthaṁ vā kaṭiṅgaraṁ.
rejected, without consciousness, just like a useless piece of wood.

Aciraṁ vatayaṁ kāyo paṭhaviṁ adhisessati,
Before long has passed by, alas, this body will lie on the ground,

chuddho apetaviññāṇo, niratthaṁ va kaliṅgaraṁ.
rejected, without consciousness, just like a useless piece of wood.

Kumbhopamaṁ kāyam imaṁ vidittā,
Knowing this body is (frail) like a jar,

nagaropamaṁ cittam adhiṣṭhihittā,
govern the mind like a fortress,

yodheya Māraṁ praññāyudhena,
one should fight Māra with the weapon of wisdom,

jitaṁ ca rakkhe, aniveśano siyā.
guard your success, and do not be attached.

Kumbhūpamaṁ kāyam-imaṁ viditvā,
Knowing this body is (frail) like a jar,

nagarūpamaṁ cittam-idaṁ ṭhapetvā,
establishing the mind like a fortress,

yodhetha Māraṁ paññāvudhena,
fight Māra with the weapon of wisdom,

jitañ-ca rakkhe, anivesano siyā.
guard your success, and do not be attached.

Yathā agāraṁ ducchannaṁ vaṭṭhī samitivijjhati,
Just as the rain penetrates a house with thatching that is poor,

evaṁ abhāvitaṁ cittaṁ rāgo samitivijjhati.
so passion penetrates a mind that is undeveloped.

Yathā agāraṁ ducchannaṁ vuṭṭhī samativijjhati,
Just as the rain penetrates a house with thatching that is poor,

evaṁ abhāvitaṁ cittaṁ rāgo samativijjhati.
so passion penetrates a mind that is undeveloped.

Yathā agāraṁ succhannaṁ vaṭṭhī na samitivijjhati,
Just as rain does not penetrate a house with thatching that is good,

evaṁ subhāvitaṁ cittaṁ rāgo na samitivijjhati.
so passion cannot penetrate a mind that is well-developed.

Yathā agāraṁ succhannaṁ vuṭṭhī na samativijjhati,
Just as rain does not penetrate a house with thatching that is good,

evaṁ subhāvitaṁ cittaṁ rāgo na samativijjhati.
so passion cannot penetrate a mind that is well-developed.

Yathā agāraṁ ducchannaṁ vaṭṭhī samitivijjhati,
Just as the rain penetrates a house with thatching that is poor,

evaṁ abhāvitaṁ cittaṁ doṣo samitivijjhati.
so hatred penetrates a mind that is undeveloped.

Yathā hy agāraṁ ducchannaṁ vṣṭiḥ samatibhindati,
Just as the rain penetrates a house with thatching that is poor,

evaṁ hy abhāvitaṁ cittaṁ dveṣaḥ samatibhindati.
so hatred penetrates a mind that is undeveloped.

Yathā agāraṁ succhannaṁ vaṭṭhī na samitivijjhati,
Just as rain does not penetrate a house with thatching that is good,

evaṁ subhāvitaṁ cittaṁ doṣo na samitivijjhati.
so hatred cannot penetrate a mind that is well-developed.

Yathā hy agāraṁ succhannaṁ vṣṭir na vyatibhindati,
Just as rain does not break into a house thatching that is good,

evaṁ subhāvitaṁ cittaṁ dveṣo na vyatibhindati.
so hatred cannot break into a mind that is well-developed.

Yathā agāraṁ ducchannaṁ vaṭṭhī samitivijjhati,
Just as the rain penetrates a house with thatching that is poor,

evaṁ abhāvitaṁ cittaṁ moho samitivijjhati.
so delusion penetrates a mind that is undeveloped.

Yathā hy agāraṁ ducchannaṁ vṣṭiḥ samatibhindati,
Just as the rain penetrates a house with thatching that is poor,

evaṁ hy abhāvitaṁ cittaṁ mohaḥ samatibhindati.
so delusion penetrates a mind that is undeveloped.

Yathā agāraṁ succhannaṁ vaṭṭhī na samitivijjhati,
Just as rain does not penetrate a house with thatching that is good,

evaṁ subhāvitaṁ cittaṁ moho na samitivijjhati.
so delusion cannot penetrate a mind that is well-developed.

Yathā hy agāraṁ succhannaṁ vṣṭir na vyatibhindati,
Just as rain does not break into a house thatching that is good,

evaṁ subhāvitaṁ cittaṁ moho na vyatibhindati.
so delusion cannot break into a mind that is well-developed.

Sabbapāpassa akaraṇaṁ, kuśalassa apasampadā,
The non-doing of anything wicked, undertaking of what is good,

sacittaparⁱyodamanaṁ – etaṁ Buddhāna’ śāsanaṁ.
the training of one’s mind – this is the teaching of the Buddhas.

Sabbapāpassa akaraṇaṁ, kusalassa upasampadā,
The non-doing of anything wicked, undertaking of what is good,

sacittaparⁱyodapanaṁ – etaṁ Buddhāna’ sāsanaṁ.
the purification of one’s mind – this is the teaching of the Buddhas.