The Buddha explains the four Dhamma principles that are foremost, ancient, rooted in tradition, timeless, and pure.
“Cattārimāni, bhikkhave, dhammapadāni aggaññāni rattaññāni vaṁsaññāni porāṇāni asaṅkiṇṇāni asaṅkiṇṇapubbāni, na saṅkīyanti na saṅkīyissanti, appaṭikuṭṭhāni samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi. Katamāni cattāri? Anabhijjhā, bhikkhave, dhammapadaṁ aggaññaṁ rattaññaṁ vaṁsaññaṁ porāṇaṁ asaṅkiṇṇaṁ asaṅkiṇṇapubbaṁ, na saṅkīyati na saṅkīyissati, appaṭikuṭṭhaṁ samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi.
“Bhikkhus, there are four Dhamma principles that are foremost, ancient, rooted in tradition, timeless, and pure, having never been mingled. These principles are un-confounded and will remain so; they are respected and upheld by ascetics, brahmins, and the wise. What are these four?
Abyāpādo, bhikkhave, dhammapadaṁ aggaññaṁ rattaññaṁ vaṁsaññaṁ porāṇaṁ asaṅkiṇṇaṁ asaṅkiṇṇapubbaṁ, na saṅkīyati na saṅkīyissati, appaṭikuṭṭhaṁ samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi.
The principle of |contentment::free of covetousness/free from wanting with yearning and eagerness/free of attachment|, bhikkhus, is a foremost, ancient, traditional, timeless, and pure Dhamma principle. It has never been mingled, is not confounded, and will not be confounded. It is respected and upheld by ascetics, brahmins, and the wise.
Sammāsati, bhikkhave, dhammapadaṁ aggaññaṁ rattaññaṁ vaṁsaññaṁ porāṇaṁ asaṅkiṇṇaṁ asaṅkiṇṇapubbaṁ, na saṅkīyati na saṅkīyissati, appaṭikuṭṭhaṁ samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi.
The principle of |good-will::free of ill will/aversion/hatred/resentment/enmity|, bhikkhus, likewise stands as a foremost, ancient, traditional, timeless, and pure Dhamma principle. It remains pure and unmingled, un-confounded now and into the future, and is revered by ascetics, brahmins, and the wise.
Sammāsamādhi, bhikkhave, dhammapadaṁ aggaññaṁ rattaññaṁ vaṁsaññaṁ porāṇaṁ asaṅkiṇṇaṁ asaṅkiṇṇapubbaṁ, na saṅkīyati na saṅkīyissati, appaṭikuṭṭhaṁ samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi.
The principle of right |mindfulness::recollection of the body, feelings, mind, and mental qualities, observing them clearly with sustained attention, free from craving and distress [sati]|, bhikkhus, also ranks as a foremost, ancient, traditional, timeless, and pure Dhamma principle. It has never been altered or mixed, will not be confounded, and is esteemed by ascetics, brahmins, and the wise.
Imāni kho, bhikkhave, cattāri dhammapadāni aggaññāni rattaññāni vaṁsaññāni porāṇāni asaṅkiṇṇāni asaṅkiṇṇapubbāni, na saṅkīyanti na saṅkīyissanti, appaṭikuṭṭhāni samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhīti.
Finally, the principle of right collectedness, bhikkhus, is a foremost, ancient, traditional, timeless, and pure Dhamma principle. It has always remained pure, is un-confounded, and will continue to be so, respected by ascetics, brahmins, and the wise.
Anabhijjhālu vihareyya,
abyāpannena cetasā;
Sato ekaggacittassa,
ajjhattaṁ susamāhito”ti.
These, bhikkhus, are the four Dhamma principles that are foremost, ancient, traditional, timeless, and pure. They are un-confounded and will remain un-confounded, respected and upheld by ascetics, brahmins, and the wise.”
“One should dwell as one who is free from covetousness,
with a mind that is unafflicted.
Being mindful,
with focused and internally well-composed mind.”
“Bhikkhus, there are four Dhamma principles that are foremost, ancient, rooted in tradition, timeless, and pure, having never been mingled. These principles are un-confounded and will remain so; they are respected and upheld by ascetics, brahmins, and the wise. What are these four?
The principle of |contentment::free of covetousness/free from wanting with yearning and eagerness/free of attachment|, bhikkhus, is a foremost, ancient, traditional, timeless, and pure Dhamma principle. It has never been mingled, is not confounded, and will not be confounded. It is respected and upheld by ascetics, brahmins, and the wise.
The principle of |good-will::free of ill will/aversion/hatred/resentment/enmity|, bhikkhus, likewise stands as a foremost, ancient, traditional, timeless, and pure Dhamma principle. It remains pure and unmingled, un-confounded now and into the future, and is revered by ascetics, brahmins, and the wise.
The principle of right |mindfulness::recollection of the body, feelings, mind, and mental qualities, observing them clearly with sustained attention, free from craving and distress [sati]|, bhikkhus, also ranks as a foremost, ancient, traditional, timeless, and pure Dhamma principle. It has never been altered or mixed, will not be confounded, and is esteemed by ascetics, brahmins, and the wise.
Finally, the principle of right collectedness, bhikkhus, is a foremost, ancient, traditional, timeless, and pure Dhamma principle. It has always remained pure, is un-confounded, and will continue to be so, respected by ascetics, brahmins, and the wise.
These, bhikkhus, are the four Dhamma principles that are foremost, ancient, traditional, timeless, and pure. They are un-confounded and will remain un-confounded, respected and upheld by ascetics, brahmins, and the wise.”
“One should dwell as one who is free from covetousness,
with a mind that is unafflicted.
Being mindful,
with focused and internally well-composed mind.”
“Cattārimāni, bhikkhave, dhammapadāni aggaññāni rattaññāni vaṁsaññāni porāṇāni asaṅkiṇṇāni asaṅkiṇṇapubbāni, na saṅkīyanti na saṅkīyissanti, appaṭikuṭṭhāni samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi. Katamāni cattāri? Anabhijjhā, bhikkhave, dhammapadaṁ aggaññaṁ rattaññaṁ vaṁsaññaṁ porāṇaṁ asaṅkiṇṇaṁ asaṅkiṇṇapubbaṁ, na saṅkīyati na saṅkīyissati, appaṭikuṭṭhaṁ samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi.
Abyāpādo, bhikkhave, dhammapadaṁ aggaññaṁ rattaññaṁ vaṁsaññaṁ porāṇaṁ asaṅkiṇṇaṁ asaṅkiṇṇapubbaṁ, na saṅkīyati na saṅkīyissati, appaṭikuṭṭhaṁ samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi.
Sammāsati, bhikkhave, dhammapadaṁ aggaññaṁ rattaññaṁ vaṁsaññaṁ porāṇaṁ asaṅkiṇṇaṁ asaṅkiṇṇapubbaṁ, na saṅkīyati na saṅkīyissati, appaṭikuṭṭhaṁ samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi.
Sammāsamādhi, bhikkhave, dhammapadaṁ aggaññaṁ rattaññaṁ vaṁsaññaṁ porāṇaṁ asaṅkiṇṇaṁ asaṅkiṇṇapubbaṁ, na saṅkīyati na saṅkīyissati, appaṭikuṭṭhaṁ samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi.
Imāni kho, bhikkhave, cattāri dhammapadāni aggaññāni rattaññāni vaṁsaññāni porāṇāni asaṅkiṇṇāni asaṅkiṇṇapubbāni, na saṅkīyanti na saṅkīyissanti, appaṭikuṭṭhāni samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhīti.
Anabhijjhālu vihareyya,
abyāpannena cetasā;
Sato ekaggacittassa,
ajjhattaṁ susamāhito”ti.