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[2] These verses may refer to any man who is "awakened," who has found "Nibbna."
[3] This might mean, "it is hard to get a hearing of it".
[4] All Buddha's must be born in India, the sacred land.
197.
O happily we live
Angerless amid the angry!
O happily we spend our days
Amid the angry angerless!
198.
O happily we live
In health amid the sickly ones!
O happily we spend our days
Amid the sickly ones in health!
199.
O happily we live
Free from greed amid the greedy!
O happily we spend our days
Amid the greedy free from greed!
200.
O happily we live
Who have not anything at all!
Like ever-radiant gods above,
Our food immortal joys shall be.
201.
Hate follows victory;
Conquered ones sit sorrowing.
But the calm live blissfully,
Renouncing conquest and defeat.
202.
There is no fire like lust;
No sin brings such ill-luck[3] as hate;
No pains so great as body's pains;
No bliss is like the perfect Calm.[4]
203.
Hunger's the greatest plague,
Embodied life the greatest woe;
Whoso knows this in truth, can say:
"Nibbna is the Bliss Supreme."
204.
Health is the greatest gain;
Contentment is the greatest wealth;
Best kinsman is the trusty friend;
Nibbna is the Bliss Supreme.
205.
Who tastes the savour sweet
Of solitude, who drinks of calm,
Is free from terror, free from sin,
Draining the nectar of the Norm.
206.
'Tis good to see the saints;
To dwell with them is blessedness;
If he should never fools behold,
A man could dwell in happiness.
207.
The company of fools
Ne'er fails to bring distress.
To live with fools brings suffering,
As living with an enemy,
But wise men's company brings bliss,
As being with dear relatives.
208.
If one be good and wise,
Well-versed in lore profound,
Long-suffering, dutiful, a saint,
Righteous and wise; if such there be,
Follow his footsteps, as the moon
Follows the path of the stars.
[1] This chapter applies especially to those who have retired from the world.
[3] Ill-luck, kali, the unlucky throw in playing dice.
[4] Nibbna.
209.
He who applies his mind unworthily,
Neglecting discipline,
Forsakes the goal and clings to things beloved,
Then envies those to meditation given.
210.
Join not thyself to things beloved or loathed.
To lack dear company,
To be with those we loathe, brings misery.
211.
Seek not for love; things loved when lost bring woe;
Both are impermanent.
They have no bonds who dwell indifferent.
212.
Sorrow and fear are born of things beloved.
From things beloved set free,
How canst thou sorrow? fearful how canst be?
213.
From things held dear, sorrow and fear are born.
Set free from things held dear,
How canst thou sorrow have? how canst have fear?
214.
Sorrow and fear are children born of pleasure.
No longer pleasure's slave,
How canst thou sorrow, fear how canst thou have?
215.
Sorrow and fear are children of desire.
From all desire set free,
How canst thou sorrow? fearful how canst be?
216.
Sorrow and fear are things of longing born.
From longing if thou part,
Thou hast no fear nor sorrow in thine heart.
217.
Upright and Norm-abiding, speaking truth,
Who minds his own affair,[1]
That is the man whom every one holds dear.
218.
In whom is longing for the Nameless[2] born,
Whose mind It hath enthralled,
Whose thoughts no longer are by passion torn,
That man "a Climber of the Stream" is called.[3]
219.
As when a dweller in some far-off land
Safe home returns at last,
Kin, friends and lovers waiting to greet him stand;
220.
So, when a man on earth good deeds hath done,
When he hath passed beyond,
All his good deeds like kin, await that one.
