Though thousand times a thousand
in battle one may conquer,
yet should one conquer just oneself
one is the greatest conqueror.
Explanation: One may conquer a thousand men in a thousand battles. But the person who conquers just one person, which is one’s own self, is the greatest conqueror.
Though a thousand verses chant
composed of meaningless lines,
better the single Dhamma-line
one hears, then comes to calm.
Explanation: One may recite hundreds of verses replete with meaningless expressions. If one recites one line of verse pregnant with wisdom, which is pacifying, it will be more valuable and nobler. Continue reading “Verse 102. A Dhamma-Word Is Noble”
Though a thousand verses be
composed of meaningless lines,
better the single line of verse
one hears, then comes to calm.
Explanation: A poem replete with thousands of verses is of no value if it has no useful meaning. One single stanza pregnant with wisdom is more valuable, if hearing it one is pacified. Continue reading “Verse 101. One Useful Verse Is Better Than A Thousand Useless Verses”
Through a thousand speeches be
composed of meaningless lines,
better the single meaningful line
one hears, then comes to calm.
Explanation: Expressions replete with thousands of words are of no value. One single meaningful word is more valuable, if hearing it one is pacified. Continue reading “Verse 100. One Pacifying Word Is Noble”
Delightful are the forests
where folk do not delight,
there the Passionless delight,
they’re not pleasure-seekers.
Explanation: Those fascinating forests that do not capture the mind of the worldly masses and in which they do not take worldly delight are attractive to the passionless ones. The Arahats take delight in the forests, because they are not pursuers of sensual pleasures. Continue reading “Verse 99. The Passionless Delight In Forests”
Whether in town or woods,
whether in vale, on hill,
wherever dwell the Arahats
so pleasing there the earth.
Explanation: Whether in the village, in the forest, in a valley or in the plain, wherever arahats – noble saints – dwell, that place is alluring in the extreme. Continue reading “Verse 98. Dwelling Of The Unblemished Is Alluring”
With no beliefs, the Unmade known,
with fetters finally severed,
with kammas cut and craving shed,
attained to humanity’s heights.
Explanation: He has no faith in anybody but in himself. He is aware of deathlessness – the unconditioned. He is a breaker of connections, because he has severed all worldly links. He has destroyed all the opportunities for rebirth. He has given up all desires. Because of these, the arahat, is a truly noble person. Continue reading “Verse 97. Exalted Are The Unblemished”
Peaceful his mind and peaceful
his speech and actions too,
perfect in knowledge of freedom,
One Thus is of utmost peace.
Explanation: A noble arahat, who is freed by ‘disknowing’, or freedom from knowing, is calm and unshaken by the impact of changing circumstances. His mind is at peace. His words are peaceful. His actions are peaceful. Continue reading “Verse 96. The Tranquillity Of The Saints”
Like earth is one who’s well-behaved,
secure and not resentful,
as city-post, as filth-free lake,
no wanderings-on for One Who’s Thus.
Explanation: The noble Arahats never lose their temper whatsoever is done to them. They are firm and unshaken as the gate-pillars that secure the city gates. They are as lucid and tranquil as the ocean and the lakes devoid of mud. That kind of person ceases to wander in the round of existence – samsara. Continue reading “Verse 95. Arahats Are Noble”
Whose faculties are pacified
as steeds by charioteers well-tamed,
with pride abandoned, unpolluted,
to even devas this One’s dear.
Explanation: Those who senses are calmed as a horse trained by a horse-tamer, who have fully given up judgment, who is free of influences, the sight of those mentally stable ones please even the gods. Continue reading “Verse 94. The Gods Adore Arahats”
