Dhammapada Commentary ( Dhammapada Atthakatha )
Edited by
Bhikkhu Pesala
6 — Pandita Vagga
The Wise
Associate with the Wise
1. Nidhīnaṃ ’va pavattāraṃ, yaṃ passe vajjadassinaṃ
Niggayhavādiṃ medhāviṃ, tādisaṃ paṇḍitaṃ bhaje
Tādisaṃ bhajamānassa, seyyo hoti na pāpiyo.76
1. Should one meet a wise man, who, like a revealer of treasure, points out
faults and reproves; let one associate with such a wise person; it will be
better, not worse, for him who associates with such a one.
The Obedient Pupil
The Elder Sāriputta admitted an elderly poor man into the Saṅgha as a mark
of gratitude for a ladleful of food offered to him. The new monk was extremely
obedient to his teacher and was so eager to receive advice that he soon attained
Arahantship. The Buddha praised his humility and exhorted the monks to
emulate him. The Elder Sāriputta said that he would be glad to have a hundred
disciples like him, who were humble and easy to instruct.
Advisers Are Pleasing to the Good
2. Ovadeyyānusāseyya, asabbhā ca nivāraye
Sataṃ hi so piyo hoti, asataṃ hoti appiyo.77
2. Let him advise, instruct, and dissuade one from evil;
truly pleasing is he to the good, displeasing is he to the bad.
The Shameless Monks of Kīṭāgiri
Two shameless monks residing at Kīṭāgiri, Assaji and Punabbasukā, corrupted
householders in many ways by giving them gifts, misbehaving, and associating
intimately with them in ways unsuitable for monks. When a modest monk went
for alms in Kīṭāgiri the people thought he was supercilious, so gave him nothing.
The Buddha sent his two chief disciples with the Saṅgha to banish the shameless
monks from Kīṭāgiri.
1 When the order of banishment was imposed on them, the
monks were stubborn and accused the Chief Disciples of having evil wishes. On
being told of this, the Buddha said that advisers are not loved by the ill-
disciplined.
Cultivate Good Friendship
3. Na bhaje pāpake mitte, na bhaje purisādhame
Bhajetha mitte kalyāṇe, bhajetha purisuttame.78
3. Associate not with evil friends, associate not with mean men; associate
with good friends, associate with noble men.
The Elder Channa’s Stubbornness
The Elder Channa, who was formerly the charioteer of Prince Siddhattha, was
very conceited and stubborn. He even dared to rebuke the two Chief Disciples.
Three times the Buddha admonished him and spoke on the benefits of good
friendship, saying that the two Chief Disciples were his great friends. Yet, as long
as the Buddha was alive Channa remained just as stubborn. Just before his demise,
the Buddha told the Elder Ānanda to impose a penalty (Brahmadaṇḍa) on
Channa. He was to be ostracised and not admonished nor spoken to by any other
monk. When the Saṅgha imposed this penalty, the Elder Channa reformed his
attitude and soon attained Arahantship.
1
This is one of several formal acts that the Saṅgha can perform to censure and restrain
wicked monks. Most of the offences listed under the heading of “corrupting families” are
only minor, but the cumulative effect of many such actions are very harmful. Lay people
who have been corrupted by such misbehaviour do not respond to instruction from
scrupulous monks and so have no hope of learning the true Dhamma. They become
shameless by association with shameless monks. Their loss is very grave as virtuous
monks will not visit that area. Shameless monks will take a lot, but will give no useful
teaching. This formal act banishes the monks from an entire town or district to break
their association with the householders living in that area. They are not expelled from the
Saṅgha, and are still monks, nor are they excommunicated. In the precedent that led to
the first banishment order, the monks argued with the Chief Disciples, and thus fell into a
more serious offence requiring a formal meeting of the Saṅgha to impose probation and
reinstatement.
One Who Imbibes the Dhamma is Happy
4. Dhammapīti sukhaṃ seti, vippasannena cetasā
Ariyappavedite dhamme, sadā ramati paṇḍito.79
4. He who imbibes the Dhamma abides in happiness with mind pacified;
the wise man ever delights in the Dhamma revealed by the Noble Ones.
The Bliss of Nibbāna
King Kappina became a monk (Mahākappina). After attaining Arahantship he
repeatedly exclaimed, “Oh what bliss! The monks told the Buddha that he was
apparently remembering pleasures he had enjoyed before as a king. The Buddha
said that he was rejoicing in the bliss of nibbāna.
The Wise Control Themselves
5. Udakañhi nayanti nettikā, usukārā namayanti tejanaṃ
Dāruṃ namayanti tacchakā, attānaṃ damayanti paṇḍitā.80
5. Irrigators lead the waters; fletchers straighten arrows; carpenters shape
the wood; the wise control themselves.
The Novice Who Controlled His Mind
A seven year old boy entered the Saṅgha. One day as the novice accompanied
his teacher for alms he noticed irrigators, fletchers, and carpenters at work and
asked his teacher how they controlled inanimate things. He thought to himself “If
inanimate things could be so controlled, why could I not control my own mind?”
He turned back from almsround, retired to his cell, meditated, and attained
Arahantship.
The Wise Are Unshaken Like A Rock
6. Selo yathā ekaghano, vātena na samīrati
Evaṃ nindāpasaṃsāsu, na samiñjanti paṇḍitā.81
6. As a solid rock is not shaken by the wind,
even so the wise are not ruffled by praise or blame.
The Elder Lakuṇḍakabhaddiya
Not knowing who he was, some novices teased the elder Lakuṇḍakabhaddiya
who was a dwarf, but he never showed any anger. When the Buddha heard that
Bhaddiya had shown no resentment, he remarked that Arahants always behave
like that — unmoved by praise or blame.
The Wise Are Peaceful
7. Yathā’pi rahado gambhīro, vippasanno anāvilo
Evaṃ dhammāni sutvāna, vippasīdanti paṇḍitā.82
7. Just as a deep lake is clear and still, even so, on hearing the teachings,
the wise become exceedingly peaceful.
The Mother of Kāṇa
A young woman was rejected by her suitor as her mother sent her to him
empty-handed, having spent everything she had on the monks. The disappointed
woman reviled the monks so much that they avoided that street. The Buddha
preached the Dhamma to her and her anger was appeased. Hearing about the
woman’s attainment of Stream-winning, the king arranged for her marriage to a
noble from his court, and thereafter she gave alms to any monks or nuns she
could find.
The Wise Are Neither Elated Nor Depressed
8. Sabbattha ve sappurisā cajanti,
na kāmakāmā lapayanti santo
Sukhena phuṭṭhā athavā dukhena,
na uccāvacaṃ paṇḍitā dassayanti.83
8. The good give up everything; the peaceful do not prattle about sensual
pleasures: whether affected by happiness or by pain, the wise show
neither elation nor depression.
The Famine at Verañjā
At the invitation of a Brahmin the Buddha and his disciples spent the three
month rainy season in Verañjā. The Brahmin neglected to offer food to the
monks as there was a shortage of food, but the monks were content with the
coarse porridge offered by horse traders. On returning to Sāvatthī after the rainy
season they were served with sumptuous meals, but they were not elated. The
Buddha said that the wise are neither elated nor depressed by changing
circumstances.
Success Should Not Be Sought Unjustly
9. Na attahetu na parassa hetu,
na puttamicche na dhanaṃ na raṭṭhaṃ
Na iccheyya adhammena samiddhim attano,
sa sīlavā paññavā dhammiko siyā.84
9. Neither for oneself nor for the sake of another;
one should not desire sons, wealth, or a kingdom;
one should not seek success by unjust means.
Such a one is truly virtuous, wise, and just.
The Elder Dhammika
An honest householder wished to enter the Saṅgha. When he told his wife
about it, she asked him to wait until she had given birth. When the child was able
to walk, he again expressed his wish to go forth. She asked him to wait until the
child came of age. He decided to go forth anyway. Before long he attained
Arahantship, and return to teach Dhamma to his son, who also went forth. His
wife also entered the Saṅgha and attained Arahantship. The Buddha praised
them.
Few Go Beyond
10. Appakā te manussesu, ye janā pāragāmino
Athāyaṃ itarā pajā, tīramevānudhāvati.85
11. Ye ca kho sammadakkhāte, dhamme dhammānuvattino
Te janā pāramessanti, maccudheyyaṃ suduttaraṃ.86
10. Few are there among men who go beyond;
the rest of mankind only run about on the bank.
11. But those who act rightly according to the teaching, which is well
expounded, will transcend the realm of death, so difficult to escape.
The Audience
The devout residents of a certain street decided to give alms to the monks
and listen to the Dhamma throughout the night. However, overcome by passions,
some returned home, while others remained, but fell asleep in their seats. On
being told about this, the Buddha explained the nature of worldlings.
Seek Happiness in Solitude
12. Kaṇhaṃ dhammaṃ vippahāya, sukkaṃ bhāvetha paṇḍito
Okā anokaṃ āgamma, viveke yattha dūramaṃ.87
13. Tatrābhiratim iccheyya, hitvā kāme akiñcano
Pariyodapeyya attānaṃ, cittaklesehi paṇḍito.88
14. Yesaṃ sambodhiyaṅgesu, sammā cittaṃ subhāvitaṃ
Ādānapaṭinissagge, anupādāya ye ratā
Khīṇāsavā jutīmanto, te loke parinibbutā.89
12-13. Leaving home for homelessness, the wise should abandon dark states and
cultivate the bright. They should seek delight in seclusion, so hard to
enjoy. Giving up sensual pleasures, with no impediments, the wise should
cleanse the mind of impurities.
14. Those who have perfected the factors of enlightenment are without
clinging, and delight in renunciation. They — the corruption-free,
shining ones — have attained nibbāna even in this world.
Five Hundred Visiting Monks
Five hundred monks came to visit the Buddha after spending the Rains
elsewhere. After listening to their experiences during the retreat he admonished
them.
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