DhammaPada verses 209–220 explore the danger of attachment to what is pleasing, how sorrow and fear arise from the beloved, fondness, delight, sensual pleasures, and craving, who is dear to the people, who flows upstream, and on the importance of merit.

DHP 209–220 Piya vagga - Chapter 16 - Beloved

209

Ayoge yuñjamattānaṁ,
yogasmiñca ayojayaṁ;
Atthaṁ hitvā piyaggāhī,
pihetattānuyoginaṁ.

One who engages in what is |not suitable::to be avoided [ayoga]|,
and neglects what is suitable;
Clinging to what is pleasing, having given up their true |welfare::good, benefit, profit [attha]|,
envies those |devoted to their true welfare::practicing for one’s own development, engaging in meditation [attānuyogī]|.

210

Mā piyehi samāgañchi,
appiyehi kudācanaṁ;
Piyānaṁ adassanaṁ dukkhaṁ,
appiyānañca dassanaṁ.

Do not associate with what is pleasing,
nor with what is displeasing;
For separation from the beloved is suffering,
and so too is the sight of the |unloved::disagreeable [appiya]|.

211

Tasmā piyaṁ na kayirātha,
piyāpāyo hi pāpako;
Ganthā tesaṁ na vijjanti,
yesaṁ natthi piyāppiyaṁ.

Therefore, do not hold anything as beloved,
for separation from the beloved is painful;
There are no |bonds::ties, knots [gantha]| for those,
for whom there is neither |the beloved nor the unloved::pleasant and unpleasant [piyāppiya]|.

212

Piyato jāyatī soko,
piyato jāyatī bhayaṁ;
Piyato vippamuttassa,
natthi soko kuto bhayaṁ.

From beloved arises |sorrow::grief, sadness [soka]|,
from beloved arises |fear::panic, scare, dread, terror [bhaya]|;
For one who is freed from the beloved,
there is no sorrow—whence fear?

213

Pemato jāyatī soko,
pemato jāyatī bhayaṁ;
Pemato vippamuttassa,
natthi soko kuto bhayaṁ.

From |fondness::affection, dearness [pema]| arises sorrow,
from fondness arises fear;
For one who is freed from fondness,
there is no sorrow—whence fear?

214

Ratiyā jāyatī soko,
ratiyā jāyatī bhayaṁ;
Ratiyā vippamuttassa,
natthi soko kuto bhayaṁ.

From |delight::relish, liking, pleasure [rati]| arises sorrow,
from delight arises fear;
For one who is freed from delight,
there is no sorrow—whence fear?

215

Kāmato jāyatī soko,
kāmato jāyatī bhayaṁ;
Kāmato vippamuttassa,
natthi soko kuto bhayaṁ.

From |sensual pleasures::sense desires, wishing, wanting, delighting in [kāma]| arises sorrow,
from sensual pleasures arises fear;
For one who is free from sensual pleasures,
there is no sorrow—whence fear?

216

Taṇhāya jāyatī soko,
taṇhāya jāyatī bhayaṁ;
Taṇhāya vippamuttassa,
natthi soko kuto bhayaṁ.

From |craving::wanting, yearning, longing, attachment, lit. thirst [taṇha]| arises sorrow,
from craving arises fear;
For one who is free from craving,
there is no sorrow—whence fear?

217

Sīladassanasampannaṁ,
dhammaṭṭhaṁ saccavedinaṁ;
Attano kamma kubbānaṁ,
taṁ jano kurute piyaṁ.

Endowed with |virtue::morality, ethical conduct [sīla]| and |vision::realization [dassana]|,
firmly established in the |Dhamma::teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [dhamma]|, |who knows the truth::who understands the reality, knowing the four noble truths by personal experience [saccavedī]|;
Who does what ought to be done,
such a person is dear to the people.

218

Chandajāto anakkhāte,
Manasā ca phuṭo siyā;
Kāmesu ca appaṭibaddhacitto,
Uddhaṁsototi vuccati.

219

Cirappavāsiṁ purisaṁ,
dūrato sotthimāgataṁ;
Ñātimittā suhajjā ca,
abhinandanti āgataṁ.

When one who has been away for a long time,
returns safely from afar;
Their relatives, friends, and well-wishers,
welcome them back with |delight::happiness [abhinandati]|.

220

Tatheva katapuññampi,
asmā lokā paraṁ gataṁ;
Puññāni paṭigaṇhanti,
piyaṁ ñātīva āgataṁ.

In the same way, when one who has made |merit::good deeds, spiritual wealth [puññā]|,
passes on from this world to the next;
Their merits welcome them,
like relatives welcoming a dear one home.