DhammaPada verses 76-89 share on associating with a wise person, characteristics of such a person, the importance of joy in the Dhamma, the benefits of renunciation, and the qualities of a well cultivated mind.

DHP 76–89  Paṇḍita vagga - Chapter 6 - The Wise

76

Nidhīnaṁva pavattāraṁ,
yaṁ passe vajjadassinaṁ;
Niggayhavādiṁ medhāviṁ,
tādisaṁ paṇḍitaṁ bhaje;
Tādisaṁ bhajamānassa,
seyyo hoti na pāpiyo.

As one who reveals hidden treasure,
one should regard a person who shows your faults;
A wise person who reproves and admonishes,
one should associate with such a wise person;
For one associating with such a person,
things become better, not worse.

77

Ovadeyyānusāseyya,
asabbhā ca nivāraye;
Satañhi so piyo hoti,
asataṁ hoti appiyo.

One should advise and instruct [others],
and reign in whatever is |impolite::vulgar, coarse, bad manners [asabbha]|;
For one is dear to the virtuous,
but to the unvirtuous, one is not dear.

78

Na bhaje pāpake mitte,
na bhaje purisādhame;
Bhajetha mitte kalyāṇe,
bhajetha purisuttame.

Do not associate with |bad::harmful, injurious, destructive, or evil [pāpaka]| friends,
do not associate with |base::vile, mean [adhama]| people;
one should associate with good friends,
one should associate with |best::highest, supreme [uttama]| amongst people.

79

Dhammapīti sukhaṁ seti,
vippasannena cetasā;
Ariyappavedite dhamme,
sadā ramati paṇḍito.

One who is joyous in |Dhamma::teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [dhamma]| dwells at ease,
with a clear and tranquil mind;
In the Dhamma taught by the Noble Ones,
the wise person always |rejoices::enjoys, takes delight in [ramati]|.

80

Udakañhi nayanti nettikā,
Usukārā namayanti tejanaṁ;
Dāruṁ namayanti tacchakā,
Attānaṁ damayanti paṇḍitā.

Irrigators direct the water,
|fletchers::arrow makers [usukāra]| shape arrows;
Carpenters shape the wood,
And the wise |tame::master, control [damayanti]| themselves.

81

Selo yathā ekaghano,
vātena na samīrati;
Evaṁ nindāpasaṁsāsu,
na samiñjanti paṇḍitā.

Just as a solid rock,
is not shaken by the wind;
So too in blame and praise,
the wise do not |waver::shake, fold back [samiñjati]|.

82

Yathāpi rahado gambhīro,
vippasanno anāvilo;
Evaṁ dhammāni sutvāna,
vippasīdanti paṇḍitā.

Just as a deep lake,
clear and undisturbed;
So too, having heard the teachings,
the wise |become tranquil::become serene, bright, radiant [vippasīdanti]|.

83

Sabbattha ve sappurisā cajanti,
Na kāmakāmā lapayanti santo;
Sukhena phuṭṭhā atha dukhena,
Na uccāvacaṁ paṇḍitā dassayanti.

Indeed, the |virtuous::good, arahant, awakened being [sappurisā]| renounce [attachment for] everything,
the peaceful do not |babble::chat up, appeal [lapayanti]|, craving sensual pleasures;
When touched |by pleasure::by comfort, by ease [sukhena]| or |by displeasure::by discomfort, by pain [dukhena]|,
the wise do not exhibit |elation or dejection::highs and lows, ups and downs [uccāvacaṃ]|.

84

Na attahetu na parassa hetu,
Na puttamicche na dhanaṁ na raṭṭhaṁ;
Na iccheyya adhammena samiddhimattano,
Sa sīlavā paññavā dhammiko siyā.

Not for one’s own sake, nor for another’s,
nor desiring son, wealth, or land;
One should not wish for prosperity through |misconduct::immoral behavior, unjust means, cheating [adhammena]|,
one should be ethical, righteous and wise.

85

Appakā te manussesu,
ye janā pāragāmino;
Athāyaṁ itarā pajā,
tīramevānudhāvati.

Few among humans are those,
who cross over to the further shore;
But the rest of the people
merely run along the bank.

86

Ye ca kho sammadakkhāte,
dhamme dhammānuvattino;
Te janā pāramessanti,
maccudheyyaṁ suduttaraṁ.

And those who follow the Dhamma,
well-taught and rightly expounded;
Those people will cross over
the realm of death, which is so difficult to escape.

87

Kaṇhaṁ dhammaṁ vippahāya,
Sukkaṁ bhāvetha paṇḍito;
Okā anokamāgamma,
Viveke yattha dūramaṁ.

Abandoning the dark qualities,
the wise one should cultivate the bright;
Having gone from home to homelessness,
in solitude, which is hard to enjoy.

88

Tatrābhiratimiccheyya,
hitvā kāme akiñcano;
Pariyodapeyya attānaṁ,
cittaklesehi paṇḍito.

One should desire |delight::pleasure, happiness [abhirati]| there,
having abandoned sensual pleasures, |with nothing::without possessions; epithet of an arahant [akiñcana]|;
The wise one should purify oneself,
from |defilements::impurities [klesa]| of the mind.

89

Yesaṁ sambodhiyaṅgesu,
sammā cittaṁ subhāvitaṁ;
Ādānapaṭinissagge,
anupādāya ye ratā;
Khīṇāsavā jutimanto,
te loke parinibbutā.

For those whose mind are |well cultivated::fully developed [subhāvita]|,
in the |factors of awakening::the seven factors of awakening, factors of enlightenment [sambodhiyaṅga]|;
Who, free from attachment,
are devoted to |not grasping::not holding (onto), detaching (from), not taking possession (of) [anupādāya]|;
The ones with taints destroyed, |radiant::luminous, magnificient [jutimant]|,
those are fully quenched in the world.

Topics & Qualities:

Companionship

Companionship

Companionship is the state of being with others, fostering connection, support, and mutual growth. This topic highlights how our associations influence us, whether positively or negatively, and explores the conditions and choices that lead to different kinds of companionship.

Also known as: fellowship, association, camaraderie, friendship
Pāli: sahāyatā, mittatā
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Cultivation

Cultivation

The active practice of 'bringing into being' wholesome states. It is the deliberate nurturing of the bright state of mind.

Also known as: development, improvement, meditation, nurturing, growth
Pāli: bhāvanā
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Ethical conduct

Ethical conduct

A disciplined way of living grounded in harmlessness and integrity. Ethical conduct restrains the body and speech from harm, purifies behavior, and forms the foundation for collectedness and wisdom.

Also known as: moral integrity, right action, virtue
Pāli: sīla, sammākammanta
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Wholesome

Wholesome

Conducive to or suggestive of good health and mental well-being.

Also known as: blameless, skillful, beneficial, good, useful, healthy, nourishing, sustaining
Pāli: kusala
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Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, vijjā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita
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With nothing

With nothing

A quality of lightness and ownership-free existence, where the mind no longer claims anything as “me” or “mine.” It refers to the abandonment of all spiritual and material burdens, leaving the mind unencumbered by the anxiety of possession or the defense of a self-image.

Also known as: having no-thing, possession-less, epithet of an Arahant
Pāli: akiñcana
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Unwholesome

Unwholesome

Conducive to or suggestive of poor health and mental well-being.

Also known as: blameworthy, unhealthy, unskillful, unbeneficial, karmically unprofitable
Pāli: akusala
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Last updated on December 13, 2025