44
Ko imaṁ pathaviṁ vicessati,
Yamalokañca imaṁ sadevakaṁ;
Ko dhammapadaṁ sudesitaṁ,
Kusalo pupphamiva pacessati.
Who will |discern::understand, discriminate [vicessati]| this earth,
as well as |the world of the dead::Yama’s world [yamaloka]| and the world of the gods;
Who will understand the |state of awakening::path of the Dhamma, the teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [dhammapada]|,
like a skillful one picking flowers.
45
Sekho pathaviṁ vicessati,
Yamalokañca imaṁ sadevakaṁ;
Sekho dhammapadaṁ sudesitaṁ,
Kusalo pupphamiva pacessati.
The |trainee::learner, one of the seven stages of a noble person before full awakening [sekha]| will discern this earth,
as well as the world of the dead and the world of the gods;
The trainee will understand the state of awakening,
like a skillful one picking flowers.
46
Pheṇūpamaṁ kāyamimaṁ viditvā,
Marīcidhammaṁ abhisambudhāno;
Chetvāna mārassa papupphakāni,
Adassanaṁ maccurājassa gacche.
Having understood this body as |like foam::similar to froth [pheṇūpama]|,
and having realized its |illusory nature::insubstantial, mirage like nature [marīcidhamma]|;
Having cut off |Māra’s::embodiment of all forces that keeps beings trapped in the cycle of rebirth [māra]| flowery snares,
one goes beyond the sight of the King of Death.
47
Pupphāni heva pacinantaṁ,
byāsattamanasaṁ naraṁ;
Suttaṁ gāmaṁ mahoghova,
maccu ādāya gacchati.
While accumulating flowers,
|with an attached mind::with mental obsession, infatuated [byāsattamanasa]|;
Like a great flood sweeps away a sleeping village,
so does death carry such a person away.
48
Pupphāni heva pacinantaṁ,
byāsattamanasaṁ naraṁ;
Atittaññeva kāmesu,
antako kurute vasaṁ.
While accumulating flowers,
with an attached mind;
Still |unsatisfied::discontent [atitta]| with sensual pleasures,
such a person comes under death’s control.
49
Yathāpi bhamaro pupphaṁ,
vaṇṇagandhamaheṭhayaṁ;
Paleti rasamādāya,
evaṁ gāme munī care.
Just as a bee approaches a flower,
|without harming::not hurting, not disturbing [aheṭhayanta]| its beauty and fragrance;
And leaves having taken the nectar,
so should a |sage::seer, hermit, monk [munī]| wander in the village.
50
Na paresaṁ vilomāni,
na paresaṁ katākataṁ;
Attanova avekkheyya,
katāni akatāni ca.
Not the |faults of::disagreeable in [viloma]| others,
nor what others have or have not done;
One should consider one’s own actions,
deeds, both done and not done.
51
Yathāpi ruciraṁ pupphaṁ,
vaṇṇavantaṁ agandhakaṁ;
Evaṁ subhāsitā vācā,
aphalā hoti akubbato.
Just as a beautiful flower,
full of color but |lacking fragrance::without scent [agandhaka]|;
So too, well spoken words,
|bear no fruit::are in vain, are of no use [aphala]| for one who does not act.
52
Yathāpi ruciraṁ pupphaṁ,
Vaṇṇavantaṁ sagandhakaṁ;
Evaṁ subhāsitā vācā,
Saphalā hoti kubbato.
Just as a beautiful flower,
full of color and fragrance;
So too, well spoken words,
are |fruitful::constructive, worthwhile [saphala]| for one who acts.
53
Yathāpi puppharāsimhā,
kayirā mālāguṇe bahū;
Evaṁ jātena maccena,
kattabbaṁ kusalaṁ bahuṁ.
Just as from a heap of flowers,
one could make many garlands;
So too, by one who is born and mortal,
much |good::wholesomeness, beneficialness, skillfulness [kusala]| should be done.
54
Na pupphagandho paṭivātameti,
Na candanaṁ tagaramallikā vā;
Satañca gandho paṭivātameti,
Sabbā disā sappuriso pavāyati.
The fragrance of flowers does not blow against the wind,
nor the fragrance of sandalwood, tagara, or jasmine;
The fragrance of a |virtuous person::wise person, sage [santa]| blows against the wind,
the |virtuous person’s::good person, arahant, awakened being [sappurisa]| fragrance radiates in all directions.
55
Candanaṁ tagaraṁ vāpi,
uppalaṁ atha vassikī;
Etesaṁ gandhajātānaṁ,
sīlagandho anuttaro.
Sandalwood as well as tagara,
lotus and also jasmine;
Of all these kinds of fragrances,
the fragrance of |virtue::ethical conduct, moral integrity [sīla]| is unsurpassed.
56
Appamatto ayaṁ gandho,
yāyaṁ tagaracandanī;
Yo ca sīlavataṁ gandho,
vāti devesu uttamo.
Insignificant is this fragrance,
the scent of tagara and sandalwood;
But the fragrance of the virtuous person spreads far,
unsurpassed among the gods.
57
Tesaṁ sampannasīlānaṁ,
appamādavihārinaṁ;
Sammadaññāvimuttānaṁ,
māro maggaṁ na vindati.
Of those with perfected virtue,
who dwell with |diligence::quality of wishing to do one’s work or duty well, with alertness, carefulness and care [appamāda]|;
|Who are freed through complete comprehension::who is liberated by perfect understanding, epithet of an Arahant [sammadaññāvimutta]|,
their path is not found by Māra.
58
Yathā saṅkāradhānasmiṁ,
ujjhitasmiṁ mahāpathe;
Padumaṁ tattha jāyetha,
sucigandhaṁ manoramaṁ.
Just as in a heap of garbage,
discarded by the roadside,
A lotus blooms,
pure in fragrance, delightful, and pleasing.
59
Evaṁ saṅkārabhūtesu,
andhabhūte puthujjane;
Atirocati paññāya,
sammāsambuddhasāvako.
So, among those |who are like a heap of garbage::concocted, put together of the five aggregates [saṅkārabhūtesu]|,
blind and ignorant, ordinary people;
One illuminates with |wisdom::distinctive knowledge, discernment [paññā]|,
a disciple of the perfectly Awakened One.