100
Rather than a thousand sayings,
|if they are meaningless::connected with meaningless words, not concerned with the goal [anatthapadasaṁhita]|;
One saying is better,
which upon hearing |brings peace::is calmed, is cooled, is settled [upasammati]|.
101
Rather than a hundred verses,
if they are meaningless;
One Dhamma verse is better,
which upon hearing brings peace.
102
Even if one recites a hundred verses,
if they are meaningless;
One Dhammapada verse is better,
which upon hearing brings peace.
103
Even if one were to conquer a thousand men,
with a thousand others in battle;
Yet if one conquers oneself alone,
that one is indeed the unsurpassed conqueror in battle.
104
Self-conquest is truly better,
than conquering others;
For one who has mastered oneself,
continuously dwells with restraint.
105
Neither a god, nor a celestial being,
nor Māra together with Brahmā;
Can undo the victory of one who is like that,
a person who has conquered themselves.
106
Even if one were to make a thousand offerings every month,
consistently for a hundred years;
And yet, if one were to honor for even a moment,
a person |who is awakened::who is self-developed, who has a developed mind [bhāvitatta]|;
That honor is indeed better,
than a hundred years of offerings.
107
Even if one were to |attend to::worship, tend to [paricarati]| the [sacred] fire in the forest,
for a hundred years,
And yet, if one were to honor for even a moment,
a person who is awakened;
That honor is indeed better,
than a hundred years of offerings.
108
Whatever is given or offered in the world,
If one were to give that throughout the year, |seeking merit::seeking spiritual wealth [puññapekkha]|;
All of that does not come to a fourth part,
of the honor given to the |steadfast::upright, unswerving [ujjugata]|, which is indeed better.
109
For one who is respectful,
and regularly honors the elders;
Four qualities grow:
life span, beauty, contentment, and strength.
110
Even if one were to live a hundred years,
|unprincipled::without regard for ethical conduct [dussīla]| and |distracted::with scattered attention, not collected, not well-composed [asamāhita]|;
Better is a single day of life,
of a virtuous person who meditates.
111
Even if one were to live a hundred years,
|undiscerning::without wisdom [duppañña]| and distracted;
Better is a single day of life,
of a |discerning::wise, insightful| person who meditates.
112
Even if one were to live a hundred years,
|lazy::procrastinating, inactive person, indolent [kusīta]| and |weak in effort::low in energy, lacking in endurance [hīnavīriya]|;
Better is a single day of life,
of one who |makes steady effort::actively engages|.
113
Even if one were to live a hundred years,
without seeing |arising and passing away::appearance and disappearance, formation and dissolution [udayabbaya]|;
Better is a single day of life,
of one who sees arising and passing away.
114
Even if one were to live a hundred years,
without seeing the |deathless state::epithet of Nibbāna [amata]|;
Better is a single day of life,
of one who sees the deathless state.
115
Even if one were to live a hundred years,
without seeing the |ultimate truth::the ultimate nature of things [dhammamuttamaṁ]|;
Better is a single day of life,
of one who sees the ultimate truth.