Karaṇīyamatthakusalena,
Yanta santaṁ padaṁ abhisamecca;
Sakko ujū ca suhujū ca,
Sūvaco cassa mudu anatimānī.
“This should be done by one |skilled in::adept in, expert in [kusalena]| goodness,
having realized the state of peace:
Let them be capable, upright, and truly honest,
|easy to speak to::gentle in speech [suvaca]|, |gentle::soft, pliable [mudu]|, and |humble::who is not conceited, who is not arrogant [anatimānī]|.
Santussako ca subharo ca,
Appakicco ca sallahukavutti;
Santindriyo ca nipako ca,
Appagabbho kulesvananugiddho.
|Content::who is satisfied [santussaka]| and |easy to support::low maintenance [subhara]|,
|with few duties::with little work [appakicca]|, living lightly;
with calm faculties, |prudent::sensible and careful when making judgments and decisions, discerning [nipaka]|,
|unassuming::courteous, respectful [appagabbha]|, and not |greedy::desirous [giddha]| for supporters.
Na ca khuddamācare kiñci,
Yena viññū pare upavadeyyuṁ;
Sukhino va khemino hontu,
Sabbasattā bhavantu sukhitattā.
Let them not engage in the slightest act
that the wise might |find fault with::criticize [upavadati]|;
wishing: In gladness and in safety,
may all beings be |at ease::happy, with a pleased mind [sukhitatta]|.
Ye keci pāṇabhūtatthi,
Tasā vā thāvarā vanavasesā;
Dīghā vā ye va mahantā,
Majjhimā rassakā aṇukathūlā.
Whatever living beings there may be,
whether |frail::trembling, with craving [tasa]| or |firm::stable, stationary, without craving [thāvara]|, without exception,
long or large,
medium, short, |subtle, or gross::fine and coarse, tiny and substantial [aṇukathūla]|.
Diṭṭhā vā ye va adiṭṭhā,
Ye va dūre vasanti avidūre;
Bhūtā va sambhavesī va,
Sabbasattā bhavantu sukhitattā.
Those seen and those unseen,
those dwelling far and those near,
those born as well as those seeking birth,
may all beings be at ease.
Na paro paraṁ nikubbetha,
Nātimaññetha katthaci na kañci;
Byārosanā paṭighasañña,
Nāññamaññassa dukkhamiccheyya.
One should not |deceive::cheat, defraud, swindle [nikubbati]| another,
nor despise anyone anywhere.
In |anger::rage [rosa]| or in |aversion::dislike, thoughts of resentment, lit. striking against perception [paṭighasaññā]|,
let one not |wish suffering upon::desire discomfort for [dukkhamicchati]| another.
Mātā yathā niyaṁ puttam
Āyusā ekaputtamanurakkhe;
Evampi sabbabhūtesu,
Mānasaṁ bhāvaye aparimāṇaṁ.
Just as a mother would protect
her only child at the risk of her own life;
so too, towards all beings,
one should cultivate a |boundless heart::measureless mind [aparimāṇa + mānasa]|.
Mettañca sabbalokasmi,
Mānasaṁ bhāvaye aparimāṇaṁ;
Uddhaṁ adho ca tiriyañca,
Asambādhaṁ averamasapattaṁ.
With |loving-kindness::goodwill, friendliness, benevolence [metta]| towards the entire world,
one should cultivate a boundless heart:
above, below, and all around,
unobstructed, free from animosity and hostility.
Tiṭṭhaṁ caraṁ nisinno va,
Sayāno yāvatāssa vitamiddho;
Etaṁ satiṁ adhiṭṭheyya,
Brahmametaṁ vihāramidhamāhu.
Whether standing, walking, sitting,
or lying down, |free from drowsiness::without sluggishness, without lethargy [vitamiddha]|,
one should sustain this recollection,
this here is said to be the |divine::God’s [brahma]| abiding.
Diṭṭhiñca anupaggamma,
Sīlavā dassanena sampanno;
Kāmesu vinaya gedhaṁ,
Na hi jātuggabbhaseyya punaretīti.
Without holding on to fixed views,
|virtuous::ethical, moral [sīlavant]| and accomplished in |vision::realization [dassana]|,
having subdued the |yearning for::desire for, greed for [gedha]| sense pleasures,
one does not come back to a womb ever again.”