The Dhammapada

By Gautama Buddha

Easwaran’s best-selling translation of this classic Buddhist text The Dhammapadais reliable, readable, and profound.
Dhammapada means "the path of dharma," the path of harmony and righteousness that anyone can follow to reach the highest good. The Dhammapada is a collection of verses, gathered probably from direct disciples who wanted to preserve what they had heard from the Buddha himself.
Easwaran's comprehensive introduction to the Dhammapada gives an overview of the Buddha's teachings that is penetrating, and clear—accessible for readers new to Buddhism, but also with fresh insights and practical applications for readers familiar with this text. His translation is based on the original Pali. Chapter introductions, notes, and a Sanskrit glossary place individual verses into the context of the broader Buddhist canon.
Easwaran is a master storyteller, and the introduction includes many stories that make moving, memorable reading, bringing young Siddhartha and his heroic spiritual quest vividly to life. This faithful interpretation brings us closer to the compassionate heart of the Buddha.

• Language: English
• Publisher: General Press
• Release date: Aug 5, 2023
• ISBN: 9789354998805

Book preview

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Contents

Chapter 1

The Twin-Verses

Chapter 2

On Earnestness

Chapter 3

Thought

Chapter 4

Flowers

Chapter 5

The Fool

Chapter 6

The Wise Man (Pandita)

Chapter 7

The Venerable (Arhat)

Chapter 8

The Thousands

Chapter 9

Evil

Chapter 10

Punishment

Chapter 11

Old Age

Chapter 12

Self

Chapter 13

The World

Chapter 14

The Buddha (The Awakened)

Chapter 15

Happiness

Chapter 16

Pleasure

Chapter 17

Anger

Chapter 18

Impurity

Chapter 19

The Just

Chapter 20

The Way

Chapter 21

Miscellaneous

Chapter 22

The Downward Course

Chapter 23

The Elephant

Chapter 24

Thirst

Chapter 25

The Bhikshu (Mendicant)

Chapter 26

The Brahmana (Arhat)

Chapter 1

The Twin-Verses

* * * * * * *

All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him, as the wheel follows the foot of the ox that draws the carriage.

All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him.

He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me,—in those who harbour such thoughts hatred will never cease.

He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me,—in those who do not harbour such thoughts hatred will cease.

For hatred does not cease by hatred at any time: hatred ceases by love, this is an old rule.

The world does not know that we must all come to an end here;—but those who know it, their quarrels cease at once.

He who lives looking for pleasures only, his senses uncontrolled, immoderate in his food, idle, and weak, Mara (the tempter) will certainly overthrow him, as the wind throws down a weak tree.

He who lives without looking for pleasures, his senses well controlled, moderate in his food, faithful and strong, him Mara will certainly not overthrow, any more than the wind throws down a rocky mountain.

He who wishes to put on the yellow dress without having cleansed himself from sin, who disregards temperance and truth, is unworthy of the yellow dress.

But he who has cleansed himself from sin, is well grounded in all virtues, and regards also temperance and truth, he is indeed worthy of the yellow dress.

They who imagine truth in untruth, and see untruth in truth, never arrive at truth, but follow vain desires.

They who know truth in truth, and untruth in untruth, arrive at truth, and follow true desires.

As rain breaks through an ill-thatched house, passion will break through an unreflecting mind.

As rain does not break through a well-thatched house, passion will not break through a well-reflecting mind.

The evil-doer mourns in this world, and he mourns in the next; he mourns in both. He mourns and suffers when he sees the evil of his own work.

The virtuous man delights in this world, and he delights in the next; he delights in both. He delights and rejoices, when he sees the purity of his own work.

The evil-doer suffers in this world, and he