But ‘beautiful’ is called that one
in whom these are completely shed,
uprooted, utterly destroyed,
a wise one purged of hate.
Explanation: If an individual has uprooted and eradicated all these evils and has got rid of blemishes, such a person is truly an acceptable person. Continue reading “Verse 263. Who Uproots Evil Is The Virtuous One”
Not by eloquence alone
or by lovely countenance
is a person beautiful
if jealous, boastful, mean.
Explanation: Merely because of one’s verbal flourishes, impressive style of speaking, or the charming presence, a person who is greedy, envious and deceitful, does not become an acceptable individual. Continue reading “Verse 262. Who Gives Up Jealousy Is Good-Natured”
In whom is truth and Dhamma too,
harmlessness, restraint, control,
he’s steadfast, rid of blemishes,
an ‘Elder’ he is called.
Explanation: All things that men do arise out of the mind. The words and deeds of men spring from their minds. Sometimes, their mind are blemished – evil. If they speak or act with an evil mind, the inevitable result is suffering. Wherever they go, this suffering will follow them. They cannot shake off this suffering. This is very much like the wheel of the cart that follows the steps of a draught bull yoked to the cart. The bull is perpetually bound to it. Continue reading “Verse 261. The Person Full Of Effort Is The True Elder”
A man is not an Elder
though his head be grey,
he’s just fully ripe in years,
‘aged-in-vain’ he’s called.
Explanation: One does not become an elder merely because one’s hair has turned grey. One, who is only old in years, has grown ripe uselessly. Continue reading “Verse 260. Grey Hair Alone Does Not Make An Elder”
Just because articulate
one’s not skilled in Dhamma;
but one who’s heard even little
and Dhamma in the body sees,
that one is skilled indeed,
not heedless of the Dhamma.
Explanation: One does not become an upholder of the Law of Righteousness merely because one talks quite a lot. Even if one, though he has heard only a little, experiences the Dhamma by his body and is diligent, he is the true upholder of the Dhamma. Continue reading “Verse 259. Those Who Know Speak Little”
Just because articulate
one’s not thereby wise,
hateless, fearless and secure,
a ‘wise one’ thus is called.
Explanation: A person cannot be described as learned simply because he speaks quite a lot. He who is liberated and secure, non-hating and fearless is described as a learned person. Continue reading “Verse 258. Who Speaks A Lot Is Not Necessarily Wise”
Who others guides impartially
with carefulness, with Dhamma,
that wise one Dhamma guards,
a ‘Dhamma-holder’s’ called.
Explanation: That wise person, who dispenses justice and judges others, impartially, without bias, non-arbitrarily, is guarded by and is in accordance with the Law of Righteousness. Such a person is described as well established in the Dhamma. Continue reading “Verse 257. Firmly Rooted In The Law”
Whoever judges hastily
does Dhamma not uphold,
a wise one should investigate
truth and untruth both.
Explanation: If for some reason someone were to judge what is right or wrong, arbitrarily, that judgment is not established on righteousness. But, the wise person judges what is right and what is wrong discriminately, without prejudice. Continue reading “Verse 256. The Just And The Impartial Judge Best”
In skies above there is no path,
no peaceful one’s without,
nothing conditioned ever lasts,
no Buddha’s ever shaken.
Explanation: In the skies, there is no footsteps that can be discerned. In the same way, outside the Buddha-Dhamma there are no persons who could be described as Samana-bhikkhus. No component thing is eternal. The Buddha has no agitation or anxiety. Continue reading “Verse 255. The Buddha Has No Anxiety”
In skies above there is no path,
no peaceful one’s without,
in manifoldness do folk delight,
Tathagatas are manifold-free.
Explanation: In the skies, there are no footsteps that can be discerned. In the same way, outside the Buddha-Dhamma there are no persons who have realized the four Paths and the four Fruits. The ordinary masses are assailed by worldly hindrances. The Buddhas (Tathagatas) are not affected by those hindrances. Continue reading “Verse 254. Nothing Is Eternal Other Than Nibbana”
