21
Appamādo amatapadaṁ,
pamādo maccuno padaṁ;
Appamattā na mīyanti,
ye pamattā yathā matā.
|Diligence::quality of wishing to do one’s work or duty well, with alertness, carefulness and care [appamāda]| is the path to the |deathless::deathless state, epithet of Nibbāna [amata]|,
|negligence::carelessness, heedlessness [pamāda]| is the path to death;
The diligent do not die,
The negligent are as if dead.
22
Evaṁ visesato ñatvā,
appamādamhi paṇḍitā;
Appamāde pamodanti,
ariyānaṁ gocare ratā.
Thus, understanding this clearly,
The |wise::astute, intelligent, learned, skilled [paṇḍita]| excel in diligence;
They rejoice in diligence,
|delighting in::devoted to [rata]| the domain of the |Noble Ones::distinguished, an ethically noble person, an awakened being [ariya]|.
23
Te jhāyino sātatikā,
niccaṁ daḷhaparakkamā;
Phusanti dhīrā nibbānaṁ,
yogakkhemaṁ anuttaraṁ.
Those |meditators::yogis [jhāyi]| who are practicing continuously,
consistently firm in effort;
The |steadfast::firm, stable, wise [dhīra]| ones attain |Nibbāna::complete cooling, letting go of everything, deathless, freedom from calamity, the non-disintegrating [nibbāna]|,
The |unsurpassed::highest, incomparable [anuttara]| safety from the |bonds::yoke, attachment, which binds one to the cyclical existence [yoga]|.
24
Uṭṭhānavato satīmato,
Sucikammassa nisammakārino;
Saññatassa dhammajīvino,
Appamattassa yasobhivaḍḍhati.
One who is |energetic::ready for action [uṭṭhānavant]| and |mindful::attentive, fully present [satīmant]|,
pure in actions, who acts calmly;
|Self-controlled::self restrained [attadanta]| and living ethically,
The |fame::glory, prestige [yasa]| of such a diligent one surpasses.
25
Uṭṭhānenappamādena,
saṁyamena damena ca;
Dīpaṁ kayirātha medhāvī,
yaṁ ogho nābhikīrati.
By initiative and diligence,
with |restraint::self-control [saṁyama]| and |discipline::taming [dama]|;
The |wise one::who has good judgement [medhāvī]| should make an island,
Which no flood can submerge.
26
Pamādamanuyuñjanti,
bālā dummedhino janā;
Appamādañca medhāvī,
dhanaṁ seṭṭhaṁva rakkhati.
|Immature::lacking in discernment or good sense, child-like in understanding [bāla]|, |unwise::one lacking discernment, who has not cultivated wisdom [dummedhī]| persons,
indulge in negligence;
But the wise one guards diligence,
like the |most important::best, foremost [seṭṭha]| wealth.
27
Mā pamādamanuyuñjetha,
mā kāmaratisanthavaṁ;
Appamatto hi jhāyanto,
pappoti vipulaṁ sukhaṁ.
Do not indulge in negligence,
Do not delight or associate with sensual pleasures;
The diligent one, meditating,
experiences expansive |contentment::ease, contented abiding [sukha]|.
28
Pamādaṁ appamādena,
yadā nudati paṇḍito;
Paññāpāsādamāruyha,
asoko sokiniṁ pajaṁ;
Pabbataṭṭhova bhūmaṭṭhe,
dhīro bāle avekkhati.
With diligence,
the wise one dispels negligence;
Ascending the palace of wisdom,
free from sorrow, seeing sorrowful persons;
Like one standing on a mountain sees those on the ground,
the stable one sees the |immature persons::lacking in discernment or good sense, child-like in understanding [bāle]|.
29
Appamatto pamattesu,
suttesu bahujāgaro;
Abalassaṁva sīghasso,
hitvā yāti sumedhaso.
The diligent amongst the negligent,
wide awake amongst the asleep;
Like a swift horse amongst the feeble,
the wise one proceeds leaving them behind.
30
Appamādena maghavā,
devānaṁ seṭṭhataṁ gato;
Appamādaṁ pasaṁsanti,
pamādo garahito sadā.
Through diligence, |Maghavant::Indra, the chief of the gods|,
attained eminence amongst the gods;
They praise diligence,
negligence is always blamed.
31
Appamādarato bhikkhu,
pamāde bhayadassi vā;
Saṁyojanaṁ aṇuṁ thūlaṁ,
ḍahaṁ aggīva gacchati.
A bhikkhu who is devoted to diligence,
who sees danger in negligence;
Burns away all |fetters::chains, bonds, things which binds [saṁyojanā]|, both |subtle::fine [aṇu]| and |gross::coarse [thūla]|,
like a blazing fire that consumes everything.
32
Appamādarato bhikkhu,
pamāde bhayadassi vā;
Abhabbo parihānāya,
nibbānasseva santike.
A bhikkhu who is devoted to diligence,
who sees danger in negligence;
Is incapable of decline,
and is near to |Nibbāna::complete cooling, letting go of everything, deathless, freedom from calamity, the non-disintegrating [nibbāna]|.