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[1] The seven limbs of the Bodhi are:—Sati, concentration; Dhammavicaya, examination of mental processes or of nature; Viriya, energy; Pti, zest; Passaddhi, calmness; Samdhi, mental balance; Uekh, equanimity.
[2] Parinibbut, let free from rebirth by having attained the state of Nibbna, "gone out."
90.
He for whom life's journey's over, free from sorrow, free from pain
Who has all the knots unfastened, suffering knows not again.
91.
Household life for them no joys hath; striving and intent in mind
As the swan deserts the marshes, every home they leave behind.
92.
They who gather up no treasure, feeding on the food that's known,[1]
They who range in mind the Void, the unconditioned formless Space,
As the bird's path in the ether, so their ways are hard to trace.
93.
They whose taints are all evanished, independent of support,
They who range in mind the Void, the unconditioned, formless Space,
As the bird's path in the ether, so their tracks are hard to trace.
94.
He whose senses now are tranquil, like a horse by trainer tamed
(Pride struck off, the taints[2] evanished), to the very gods is famed.[3]
95.
Like the solid ground unshaken, like the threshold of a door,
Like a pool by mud unsullied, such a saint is born no more.
96.
Calm the mind of such a being, calm his thoughts and words and deeds,
Set free by the perfect knowledge, liberated from life's needs.
97.
Self-dependent, self-sufficing, knower of the Uncreate[4]
Who hath loosed the bonds of action, from the chain of births set free,
All desires are fallen from him, noblest of all beings he.
98.
In the village or the forest, on the water or the ground,
Where the worthy ones are dwelling, there the earth's delights are found.
99.
Ah! delightful are the forests! where the worldling finds no joy,
There the passionless find pleasure, whom the senses do not cloy.
[1] literally, 'whose food is thoroughly understood' (as to its properties, qualities and purpose).
[2] The taints, sava's, are three:—kama, desire; bhava, love of life; avijj, ignorance. A fourth, ditthi, the holding of heretical views, is sometimes added. The gods are supposed to be still bound by these, and to envy the emancipated man.
[3] 'famed', literally 'by the gods is envied'.
[4] Akataññu, knowing the Unborn, the Eternal, the state of 'Nibba', as in v.3 83:, but possibly here the context requires 'ungrateful', i.e., not bound by ties of gratitude to anybody.
100.
Tho' one's speech be a thousand words,
Vain words all strung together,
Better a single phrase
Which calms the one that hears.
101.
Tho' a song have a thousand words,
Vain words all strung together,
Better a single verse
Which calms the one that hears.
102.
Tho' one utter a hundred songs,
Vain words all strung together,
Better one verse of the Norm
Which brings peace to the hearer.
103.
Tho' one conquer a thousand times
A thousand men in battle,
Who conquers self alone
Is the best of conquerors.
104.
Tis better to conquer self
Than all this multitude;
If one be self-subdued
And ever self-controlled,
105.
Not the gods or demi-gods[1]
Nor the Lord of the world below[2]
Nor the God Supreme[3] have power
To undo his victory.
106.
Tho' one for a hundred years
Month after month should pray
With a thousand offerings,
Yet if for a moment's space
He worship the feet of one
Whose self is self-subdued,
His worship is better far
Than his age-long offerings.
107.
Tho' a hundred years in the woods
One tend the sacred fire,[4]
Yet if for a moment's space
He worship the feet of one
Whose self is self-subdued;
Such worship is better far
Than his age-long offerings
108.
Not all the sacrifice
That is offered in all the world
For a year, with a view to gain,
Is worth a single quarter
Of the worship that is paid
To the upright holy man.
109.
Whoso hath reverence
For those advanced in years,
Four blessings thrive for him,
Life, beauty, bliss and strength.
110.
Tho' one live a hundred years,
Immoral, uncontrolled,
'Tis better to live for a day,
Moral and well controlled.
111.
Tho' one live a hundred years
Foolish and uncontrolled,
'Tis better to live for a day
Wisely and well controlled.
112.
Tho' one live a hundred years
Listless and lacking zeal,
'Tis better to live for a day
While striving manfully.
113.
Tho' one live a hundred years
Blind to the rise and fall,[5]
'Tis better to live for a day
Seeing the rise and fall.
114.
Tho' one live a hundred years
And see not the Deathless State,[6]
'Tis better to live for a day
And see the Deathless State.
115.
Tho' one live a hundred years
And see not the Norm Supreme,
'Tis better to live for a day
And see the Norm Supreme.
