Home DHP DHP 129-145

Dhammapada verses 129-145 explore the themes of non-violence, the consequences of harmful actions, and the importance of self-discipline. Through metaphors of a broken gong, a well-trained horse, and skilled artisans, the verses emphasize that true purification comes not from external austerities but from inner restraint, mindfulness, and ethical conduct. The inevitability of death and the suffering caused by harming others are highlighted alongside the rewards of peace and wisdom for those who cultivate virtuous behavior.

Daṇḍa vagga - Chapter 10 - Punishment

129

All fear |punishment::rod, stick [daṇḍa]|,
all fear death;
Considering others like oneself,
one should neither |kill::beat, strike, thrash, stab, execute [hanati]| nor cause to kill.

130

All fear punishment,
life is dear to all;
Considering others like oneself,
one should neither kill nor cause to kill.

131

Beings wishing for |happiness::ease, contentment, comfort [sukha]|,
who harm others with punishment;
While seeking happiness for themselves,
after death, they do not find happiness.

132

Beings wishing for happiness,
who do not harm others with punishment;
While seeking happiness for themselves,
after death, they find happiness.

133

Do not speak |harshly::severely, sharply [pharusa]| to anyone,
for if spoken to, they might respond to you;
Indeed, |angry words::quarrelsome speech, argumentative talk [sārambhakathā]| bring suffering,
and retaliation may |affect::harm, impact [phuseyyu]| you.

134

If you remain |non-agitated::unperturbed, calm, composed [neresi]|,
like a broken |gong::a musical instrument, a bell [kaṃsa]|;
You will have attained |Nibbāna::complete cooling, letting go of everything, deathless, freedom from calamity, the non-disintegrating [nibbāna]|,
and no trace of |aggressiveness:hostile or violent behavior towards living beings [sārambha]| will remain in you.

135

Just as the cowherd,
drives the cows to the pasture with a stick;
So too do old age and death,
drive the life-span of |living beings::sentient beings, breathing beings [pāṇī]|.

136

While doing |harmful::injurious, destructive, bad, or evil [pāpaka]| deeds,
the |immature person::lacking in discernment or good sense, child-like in understanding [bāla]| does not |understand::comprehend, realize, grasp [bujjhati]|;
Through their own deeds, the |undiscerning one::one lacking discernment, who has not cultivated wisdom, unwise [dummedha]|,
|is tormented::regrets, feels remorse [tappati]|, as if |burned by fire::scorched by flames [aggidaḍḍha]|.

137

Whoever, with |punishment::use of force or violence leading to harm [daṇḍa]| harms those that are |peaceful::who do not deserve punishment [adaṇḍa]|,
or |harms::offends, injures, does wrong to [dussati]| those who are |blameless::without fault, who is not angry, not upset [appaduṭṭha]|;
Will very quickly experience,
one of these ten situations.

138

They may experience |sharp pain::severe pain [pharusa + vedanā]|,
or the |fracturing::injuring, breaking [bhedana]| of the body;
Or else |grave illness::serious affliction, heavy suffering [garuka + ābādha]|,
or they may fall into |mental confusion::insanity, madness [cittakkhepa]|.

139

Or they may face trouble from the |authorities::king, ruler, government [rājato]|,
or a harsh |accusation::slander, false charge [abbhakkhāna]|;
Or the |loss::demise, depletion [parikkhaya]| of their |relatives::family, kinsmen [ñātī]|,
or the |perishing of::collapse of, breaking of [pabhaṅgura]| their |possessions::wealth, property, riches [bhoga]|.

140

Or else, their |houses::homes, dwellings, abodes [agāra]|,
may be burned down by fire;
Or on the |disintegration::breaking, splitting apart [bheda]| of the body [through death],
the |one who has not cultivated wisdom::immature person, one lacking discernment [duppañña]| goes to |a state of misfortune::a state of deprivation, an unhappy destination, perdition, hell [niraya]|.

141

Neither going naked, nor matted hair, nor covering oneself with mud,
nor |fasting::not eating [nānāsakā]|, nor sleeping on bare ground;
nor dust and dirt, nor squatting ascetic practices,
purify a mortal |who has not overcome doubt::who has not crossed beyond uncertainty [avitiṇṇakaṅkha]|.

142

Even if adorned, if one walks |with tranquility::with balance, with serenity [sama]|,
At peace, tamed, restrained, and |practicing the spiritual life::living the spiritual life, abstaining from sexual intercourse [brahmacāri]|;
Having laid down |violence::actions that cause injury [daṇḍa]| towards all beings,
that person is a brahmin, an ascetic, a bhikkhu.

143

A person restrained by a |sense of right and wrong::sense of shame, conscience, modesty [hirī]|,
if such a one is found in the world;
Who shies away from sleeping too much,
is like a noble horse that is restrained by the whip.

144

Just as a noble horse is restrained by the whip,
be |with continuous effort::ardent, zealous, with energy, with application [ātāpī]| and |feeling a sense of urgency::anxiety [saṁvega]|;
By |faith::confidence, conviction, trust [saddha]|, by |virtue::ethical conduct, moral integrity [sīla]| and with |energy::persistence, willpower, determination [vīriya]|,
with |collectedness::with a stable mind, with mental composure, with concentration [samādhinā]| and |discernment of mental qualities::investigation of reality [dhammavinicchaya]|;
Fully endowed with wisdom and ethical conduct and |mindfulness::remembering to be present with continuous effort, observing the body in and of itself, felt experience in and of itself, mind in and of itself, mental qualities in and of themselves [patissata]|,
you will abandon this considerable suffering.

145

Irrigators guide water,
|fletchers::arrow makers [usukāra]| shape the shaft [of an arrow];
Carpenters shape wood,
|one of good conduct::virtuous person [subbata]| |tames::masters, controls [damayati]| themselves.

Last updated on March 27, 2025

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