Bless is virtue till life’s end
and blest the faith standing firm,
blest the attainment of wisdom
and blest the non-doing of evils.
Explanation: Pursuit of virtue until old age and decay is a blessing. The acquisition of wisdom is a blessing, It is a blessing to refrain from unwholesomeness. Continue reading “Verse 333. Four Forms Of Blessing”
Respect for one’s mother brings happiness here
as well as respect for one’s father.
Here happiness comes from respecting the monks
and those of virtue excellent.
Explanation: In this world, motherhood is a blessing. In the same way, fatherhood, too, is a blessing. Monkhood is a blessing. Above all, arahathood is a blessing. Continue reading “Verse 332. Blessing To Be An Arahat”
Blest to have friends when one’s in need,
blest contentment with whatever is,
blessed is merit when life’s at an end,
abandoning all dukkha is blessedness.
Explanation: Friends in need are a comfort. Satisfaction with whatever little you have is a comfort. Merit, at the end of one’s days, is a comfort. It is a blessing, indeed, to eradicate all suffering. Continue reading “Verse 331. The Blessed”
Better it is to live alone
for with a fool’s no fellowship,
no evil do, be free of care,
fare as lone elephant in the wilds.
Explanation: Leading a solitary life is more commendable. One cannot keep company with ignorant ones. With only a limited number of needs, let one lead a life of solitude, doing no wrong, like the elephant Matanga. Continue reading “Verse 330. For The Solitary The Needs Are Few”
If for practice one finds no friend
prudent, well-behaved and wise,
like king be leaving conquered land,
fare as lone elephant in the wilds.
Explanation: If you cannot find a wise, mature companion whose ways are virtuous, you must go about life all alone like a king who, abandoning his conquered kingdoms, lives in exile, or like the elephant Matanga who roams the forest living in solitude. Continue reading “Verse 329. The Lonely Recluse”
If for practice one finds a friend
prudent, well-behaved and wise,
mindful, joyful, live with him
all troubles overcoming.
Explanation: If you come upon a mature wise companion whose ways are virtuous, you must associate with him as you can lead a happy and alert life, overcoming all dangers. Continue reading “Verse 328. Cherish The Company Of The Good”
Do you delight in heedfulness
and guard your own mind well!
Draw yourselves from the evil way
as would elephant sunk in slough.
Explanation: Take delight in mindfulness, guard your mind well. As an elephant stuck in mire pulls itself out, so also pull yourself out of the mire of moral defilements. Continue reading “Verse 327. The Elephant Mired”
Formerly this wandering mind wandered
where it wished, where whim, where pleasure led.
Wisely this day I will restrain it
as trainer with hook an elephant in rut.
Explanation: In Buddhist literature the image of the elephant being restrained is used as a parallel to the act of the spiritually advanced person restraining himself. Continue reading “Verse 326. Restrain Mind As A Mahout An Elephant In Rut”
A sluggard stupid, steeped in gluttony,
who’s sleep-engrossed, who wallows as he lies,
like a great porker stuffed, engorged with swill,
comes ever and again into a womb.
Explanation: The stupid one who is lazy, gluttonous, and drowsy, who just wallows like a well-fed pig, is subjected to repeated births. Continue reading “Verse 325. The Slothful, Greedy Sleeper Returns to Samsara, Over and Over”
Hard to check the tusker Dhanapala,
in rut with temple running pungently,
bound, e’en a morsel he’ll not eat
for he recalls the elephant-forest longingly.
Explanation: The elephant, Dhanapala, deep in rut and uncontrollable did not eat a morsel as he yearned for his native forest and pined for his parents. Continue reading “Verse 324. The Bound Elephant”
