Dhammapada Commentary - Appamada Vagga

Dhammapada Commentary ( Dhammapada Atthakatha )

Edited by
Bhikkhu Pesala


2 — Appamāda Vagga
Heedfulness
The Heedless Are Like the Dead
1. Appamādo amatapadaṃ, pamādo maccuno padaṃ
Appamattā na mīyanti, ye pamattā yathā matā.21
2. Evaṃ1 visesato ñatvā, appamādamhi paṇḍitā
Appamāde pamodanti, ariyānaṃ gocare ratā.22
3. Te jhāyino sātatikā, niccaṃ daḷhaparakkamā
Phusanti dhīrā nibbānaṃ, yogakkhemaṃ anuttaraṃ.23
1. Heedfulness is the path to the deathless, heedlessness is the path to death.
The heedful do not die; the heedless are like the dead.
2. Distinctly understanding this, the heedful wise ones rejoice in
heedfulness, delighting in the realm of the Noble Ones.
3. The constantly meditative, the ever steadfast ones
realise the bond-free, supreme nibbāna.
Sāmāvatī and Māgaṇḍiyā
The Buddha rejected Māgaṇḍiyā when her parents offered her hand in
marriage, so she hated him. Sāmāvatī was a devout Buddhist. Both were married
to the same king. Māgaṇḍiyā conspired with her relatives to burn Sāmāvatī alive
with her attendants. After an investigation, the king had Māgaṇḍiyā and all her
relatives cruelly executed. The monks discussed which of the two queens was alive
and which was dead. The Buddha explained that the heedless should be regarded
as dead even if they live a hundred years, while the heedful should be regarded as
alive even though they are dead.

1
Etaṃ


The Energetic Prosper
4. Uṭṭhānavato satīmato,
1
sucikammassa nisammakārino
Saññatassa ca dhammajīvino,
appamattassa yaso’bhivaḍḍhati.24
4. The glory of him who is energetic, mindful, pure in deed, considerate,
self-controlled, right-living, and heedful steadily increases.
The Millionaire Kumbhaghosaka
For fear of having his great wealth confiscated, a young man pretended to be
very poor, living like a labourer. The king realised he was not from a poor family
from his voice. When the truth came out, the young man was appointed as the
king’s treasurer. The king introduced him to the Buddha, who then described the
characteristics of the prosperous.
The Wise Protect Themselves
5. Uṭṭhānenappamādena,
saṃyamena2 damena ca
Dīpaṃ kayirātha medhāvī
yaṃ ogho n’ābhikīrati.25
5. By sustained effort, earnestness, discipline, and self-control let the wise
man make for himself an island, which no flood can overwhelm.
The Elder Cūḷapanthaka
A monk named Cūḷapanthaka could not memorise a verse of four lines
despite trying for four months. He was advised by his brother monk to leave the
Saṅgha. But he was reluctant to do so. The Buddha understanding his
temperament, gave him a clean piece of cloth and asked him to handle it gazing
at the morning sun. By his constant handling of it with his sweating hands it soon
got soiled. This perceptible change made him reflect on the impermanence of
life. He meditated and attained Arahantship.

1
satimato
2
saññamena


Be Heedful
6. Pamādamanuyuñjanti, bālā dummedhino janā
Appamādañca medhāvī, dhanaṃ seṭṭhaṃ ’va rakkhati.26
7. Mā pamādamanuyuñjetha, mā kāmaratisanthavaṃ
Appamatto hi jhāyanto, pappoti vipulaṃ sukhaṃ. 27
6. The ignorant, foolish folk indulge in heedlessness; the wise man guards
earnestness as the greatest treasure.
7. Indulge not in heedlessness; have no intimacy with sensual delights. The
earnest meditator obtains abundant bliss.
The Festival of Fools
During a certain seven-day festival it was customary to abuse people for fun.
The Buddha and his disciples remained in the monastery. At the end of the
festival the devotees who brought alms remarked that the Buddha must have had
an unpleasant time. The Buddha replied that the wise always live heedfully.
Conquer Heedlessness by Heedfulness
8. Pamādaṃ appamādena, yadā nudati paṇḍito
Paññāpāsādamāruyha, asoko sokiniṃ pajaṃ
Pabbataṭṭho’va bhūmaṭṭhe,
1
dhīro bāle avekkhati.28
8. When a wise man discards heedlessness by heedfulness, he, free from
sorrow, ascends to the palace of wisdom and surveys the sorrowing
ignorant folk as a mountaineer surveys those below.
The Elder Mahākassapa
The Elder Mahākassapa once endeavoured to comprehend by his supernormal
vision the birth and death of beings. The Buddha appeared before him and said
that it was only a Buddha who could comprehend the totality of existences.
The Heedful Far Outstrip the Lazy
9. Appamatto pamattesu, suttesu bahujāgaro
Abalassaṃ ’va sīghasso, hitvā yāti sumedhaso.29

1
bhummaṭṭhe


9. Heedful among the heedless, wide awake among the slumbering, the
wise man advances as does a swift horse, leaving a weak jade behind.
A Story of Two Monks
Two monks retired to a forest to meditate. One was strenuous, the other was
not. The Buddha praised the former.
Heedfulness Leads to Sovereignty
10. Appamādena Maghavā, devānaṃ seṭṭhataṃ gato
Appamādaṃ pasaṃsanti, pamādo garahito sadā.30
10. By earnestness Maghavā rose to the lordship of the gods.
Earnestness is ever praised; negligence is ever despised.
How the Youth Magha Became Sakka
A Licchavī youth named Mahālī, having heard the Sakkapañha Sutta taught by
the Blessed One, wondered whether he had really seen Sakka, the King of the
Gods, so he came and asked about it. The Buddha said that he had indeed seen
Sakka, and further explained how Sakka had gained that position. At one time
Sakka was born in the human realm as a youth named Magha. Throughout his life
Magha supported his parents, respected the elders, spoke gently, avoided slander,
dwelt free from avarice, always ready to listen to requests for help, gave alms
freely, spoke the truth, and never become angry. He did social service by clearing
away rubbish, making roads, building bridges, etc. Thirty-three other youths
joined him, and together they did many good works. After death Magha became
the king of the gods, along with his companions, and their realm was thus known
as the heaven of the Thirty-three (Tāvatiṃsa).
The Heedful Progress Quickly
11. Appamādarato bhikkhu, pamāde bhayadassi vā
Saṃyojanaṃ aṇuṃ thūlaṃ. ḍahaṃ aggī’va gacchati.31
11. The monk who delights in heedfulness, and looks with fear on
heedlessness, advances like fire, burning all fetters great and small.
A Certain Monk
Making little progress in his meditation, a forest monk was coming to see the
Buddha. On the way he saw a forest fire burning all in its path. This inspired him


to think that he could also progress by burning all the fetters by the heat of the
Noble Eightfold Path. The Buddha read his mind and, radiating a ray of light,
advised him accordingly.
The Heedful Are Close to Nibbāna
12. Appamādarato bhikkhu, pamāde bhayadassi vā
Abhabbo parihānāya. nibbānass’eva santike.32
12. The monk who delights in heedfulness, and looks with fear on
heedlessness, is not liable to fall. He is in near to nibbāna.
The Elder Tissa
A youth brought up in a certain market town became a monk, and dwelt
there living off alms from his relatives. He never went to receive lavish offerings
given by Anāthapiṇḍika or King Pasenadi. Some monks thought that he was
attached to his relatives, but the Buddha told them that he was frugal and
contented. The Buddha attributed those characteristics to the monk’s close
association with him in the past and remarked that monks like him were already
close to nibbāna.