Dhammapada verses 90-99 describe the qualities and conduct of the Arahant, a fully awakened being who has reached the end of the path. Free from defilements and clinging, their actions leave no trace, like birds in the sky. At peace and delighting in solitude, wherever they dwell becomes a place of beauty.
90
Gataddhino visokassa,
vippamuttassa sabbadhi;
Sabbaganthappahīnassa,
pariḷāho na vijjati.
One who has completed the journey is free of sorrow,
fully liberated in all respects;
He has removed all knots,
[in him] no |fever::mental torment, distress, strong desire, discomfort [pariḷāha]| can be found.
91
Uyyuñjanti satīmanto,
na nikete ramanti te;
Haṁsāva pallalaṁ hitvā,
okamokaṁ jahanti te.
The |mindful::attentive, fully present [satīmant]| ones |depart::set out, go away, leave home [uyyuñjanti]|,
they do not delight in a home;
Like a swan having left a pond behind,
they give up home after home.
92
Yesaṁ sannicayo natthi,
ye pariññātabhojanā;
Suññato animitto ca,
vimokkho yesaṁ gocaro;
Ākāseva sakuntānaṁ,
gati tesaṁ durannayā.
For whom there is no |accumulation::hoarding, stockpiling [sannicaya]|,
who has completely comprehended |nutriment::nourishment, food, fuel [bhojana]| [of existence];
Whose |field of activity::grazing ground, domain [gocara]| is liberation,
which is |uninhabited::without essence, abiding of emptiness [suññata]| and |free of mental images::signless, featureless [animitto]|;
Like birds in the sky,
their |trajectory::going, passing on, path, course, destination [gati]| is hard to trace.
93
Yassāsavā parikkhīṇā,
āhāre ca anissito;
Suññato animitto ca,
vimokkho yassa gocaro;
Ākāseva sakuntānaṁ,
padaṁ tassa durannayaṁ.
Whose |defilements::outflows, discharges, taints [āsavā]| are completely exhausted,
who is not dependent on |nourishment::sustenance, food [āhāra]|;
Whose |field of activity::grazing ground, domain [gocara]| is liberation,
which is uninhabited and |free of mental images::signless, featureless [animitto]|;
Like birds in the sky,
their steps are hard to trace.
94
Yassindriyāni samathaṅgatāni,
Assā yathā sārathinā sudantā;
Pahīnamānassa anāsavassa,
Devāpi tassa pihayanti tādino.
Whose senses have become tranquil,
like horses |well-tamed::well trained, well controlled [sudanta]| by a charioteer;
Giving up |conceit::self-view expressed as comparison—seeing oneself as superior, inferior, or equal; the persistent “I am” conceit (asmimāna) that underlies identification and fuels rebirth [māna]| and free from defilements,
even the gods hold dear such a person.
95
Pathavisamo no virujjhati,
Indakhilupamo tādi subbato;
Rahadova apetakaddamo,
Saṁsārā na bhavanti tādino.
One who does not get disturbed, just like a solid rock,
such a virtuous person, immovable as a |city post::a strong pillar [indakhīla]|;
Like a lake cleansed of mud,
such a one does not undergo |cyclic existence::wandering on from one state of existence to another, the cycle of birth and death, moving on continuously [saṁsāra]|.
96
Santaṁ tassa manaṁ hoti,
santā vācā ca kamma ca;
Sammadaññāvimuttassa,
upasantassa tādino.
His mind is peaceful,
and peaceful are his speech and actions;
Of one fully liberated by perfect understanding,
of the tranquil and unshakeable one.
97
Assaddho akataññū ca,
sandhicchedo ca yo naro;
Hatāvakāso vantāso,
sa ve uttamaporiso.
Who is beyond mere faith, who knows the |unborn::uncreated [akataññū]|,
and who has severed connection [to cycle of existence];
Destroyed the possibility, |given up all wants::given up hope, vomited one’s food [vantāsa]|,
Such a one is indeed the best of persons.
98
Gāme vā yadi vāraññe,
Ninne vā yadi vā thale;
Yattha arahanto viharanti,
Taṁ bhūmirāmaṇeyyakaṁ.
Whether in a village or in the forest,
whether on |lowlands::valley [ninna]| or on |highlands::high ground, plateau [thala]|;
Wherever the awakened ones dwell,
that place is pleasing.
99
Ramaṇīyāni araññāni,
yattha na ramatī jano;
Vītarāgā ramissanti,
na te kāmagavesino.
Delightful are the forests,
where no people delight;
|Those free from passion::free from desires, without lust [vītarāgā]| will delight there,
not those who seeking sensual pleasures.
90
One who has completed the journey is free of sorrow,
fully liberated in all respects;
He has removed all knots,
[in him] no |fever::mental torment, distress, strong desire, discomfort [pariḷāha]| can be found.
91
The |mindful::attentive, fully present [satīmant]| ones |depart::set out, go away, leave home [uyyuñjanti]|,
they do not delight in a home;
Like a swan having left a pond behind,
they give up home after home.
92
For whom there is no |accumulation::hoarding, stockpiling [sannicaya]|,
who has completely comprehended |nutriment::nourishment, food, fuel [bhojana]| [of existence];
Whose |field of activity::grazing ground, domain [gocara]| is liberation,
which is |uninhabited::without essence, abiding of emptiness [suññata]| and |free of mental images::signless, featureless [animitto]|;
Like birds in the sky,
their |trajectory::going, passing on, path, course, destination [gati]| is hard to trace.
93
Whose |defilements::outflows, discharges, taints [āsavā]| are completely exhausted,
who is not dependent on |nourishment::sustenance, food [āhāra]|;
Whose |field of activity::grazing ground, domain [gocara]| is liberation,
which is uninhabited and |free of mental images::signless, featureless [animitto]|;
Like birds in the sky,
their steps are hard to trace.
94
Whose senses have become tranquil,
like horses |well-tamed::well trained, well controlled [sudanta]| by a charioteer;
Giving up |conceit::self-view expressed as comparison—seeing oneself as superior, inferior, or equal; the persistent “I am” conceit (asmimāna) that underlies identification and fuels rebirth [māna]| and free from defilements,
even the gods hold dear such a person.
95
One who does not get disturbed, just like a solid rock,
such a virtuous person, immovable as a |city post::a strong pillar [indakhīla]|;
Like a lake cleansed of mud,
such a one does not undergo |cyclic existence::wandering on from one state of existence to another, the cycle of birth and death, moving on continuously [saṁsāra]|.
96
His mind is peaceful,
and peaceful are his speech and actions;
Of one fully liberated by perfect understanding,
of the tranquil and unshakeable one.
97
Who is beyond mere faith, who knows the |unborn::uncreated [akataññū]|,
and who has severed connection [to cycle of existence];
Destroyed the possibility, |given up all wants::given up hope, vomited one’s food [vantāsa]|,
Such a one is indeed the best of persons.
98
Whether in a village or in the forest,
whether on |lowlands::valley [ninna]| or on |highlands::high ground, plateau [thala]|;
Wherever the awakened ones dwell,
that place is pleasing.
99
Delightful are the forests,
where no people delight;
|Those free from passion::free from desires, without lust [vītarāgā]| will delight there,
not those who seeking sensual pleasures.
Gataddhino visokassa,
vippamuttassa sabbadhi;
Sabbaganthappahīnassa,
pariḷāho na vijjati.
Uyyuñjanti satīmanto,
na nikete ramanti te;
Haṁsāva pallalaṁ hitvā,
okamokaṁ jahanti te.
Yesaṁ sannicayo natthi,
ye pariññātabhojanā;
Suññato animitto ca,
vimokkho yesaṁ gocaro;
Ākāseva sakuntānaṁ,
gati tesaṁ durannayā.
Yassāsavā parikkhīṇā,
āhāre ca anissito;
Suññato animitto ca,
vimokkho yassa gocaro;
Ākāseva sakuntānaṁ,
padaṁ tassa durannayaṁ.
Yassindriyāni samathaṅgatāni,
Assā yathā sārathinā sudantā;
Pahīnamānassa anāsavassa,
Devāpi tassa pihayanti tādino.
Pathavisamo no virujjhati,
Indakhilupamo tādi subbato;
Rahadova apetakaddamo,
Saṁsārā na bhavanti tādino.
Santaṁ tassa manaṁ hoti,
santā vācā ca kamma ca;
Sammadaññāvimuttassa,
upasantassa tādino.
Assaddho akataññū ca,
sandhicchedo ca yo naro;
Hatāvakāso vantāso,
sa ve uttamaporiso.
Gāme vā yadi vāraññe,
Ninne vā yadi vā thale;
Yattha arahanto viharanti,
Taṁ bhūmirāmaṇeyyakaṁ.
Ramaṇīyāni araññāni,
yattha na ramatī jano;
Vītarāgā ramissanti,
na te kāmagavesino.