Dhp Vagga 03 - Citta - Mind

Khuddakanikāya Minor Collection

Dhammapada Sayings of the Dhamma 33–43

Cittavagga 3. The Mind

Phandanaṁ capalaṁ cittaṁ, The mind quivers and shakes,

dūrakkhaṁ dunnivārayaṁ; hard to guard, hard to curb.

Ujuṁ karoti medhāvī, The discerning straighten it out,

usukārova tejanaṁ. like a fletcher straightens an arrow.

Vārijova thale khitto, Like a fish pulled from the sea

okamokataubbhato; and cast upon the shore,

Pariphandatidaṁ cittaṁ, this mind flounders about,

māradheyyaṁ pahātave. trying to throw off Māra’s dominion.

Dunniggahassa lahuno, Hard to hold back, flighty,

yatthakāmanipātino; alighting where it will;

Cittassa damatho sādhu, it’s good to tame the mind;

cittaṁ dantaṁ sukhāvahaṁ. a tamed mind leads to bliss.

Sududdasaṁ sunipuṇaṁ, So hard to see, so subtle,

yatthakāmanipātinaṁ; alighting where it will;

Cittaṁ rakkhetha medhāvī, the discerning protect the mind,

cittaṁ guttaṁ sukhāvahaṁ. a guarded mind leads to bliss.

Dūraṅgamaṁ ekacaraṁ, The mind travels far, wandering alone;

asarīraṁ guhāsayaṁ; incorporeal, it lies hidden in the heart.

Ye cittaṁ saṁyamissanti, Those who will restrain the mind

mokkhanti mārabandhanā. are freed from Māra’s bonds.

Anavaṭṭhitacittassa, Those of unsteady mind,

saddhammaṁ avijānato; who don’t understand the true teaching,

Pariplavapasādassa, and whose confidence wavers,

paññā na paripūrati. do not perfect their wisdom.

Anavassutacittassa, One whose mind is not festering,

ananvāhatacetaso; whose heart is undamaged,

Puññapāpapahīnassa, who’s given up right and wrong,

natthi jāgarato bhayaṁ. alert, has nothing to fear.

Kumbhūpamaṁ kāyamimaṁ viditvā, Knowing this body breaks like a pot,

Nagarūpamaṁ cittamidaṁ ṭhapetvā; and fortifying the mind like a citadel,

Yodhetha māraṁ paññāvudhena, attack Māra with the sword of wisdom,

Jitañca rakkhe anivesano siyā. guard your conquest, and never settle.

Aciraṁ vatayaṁ kāyo, All too soon this body

pathaviṁ adhisessati; will lie upon the earth,

Chuddho apetaviññāṇo, bereft of consciousness,

niratthaṁva kaliṅgaraṁ. tossed aside like a worthless log.

Diso disaṁ yaṁ taṁ kayirā, A wrongly directed mind

verī vā pana verinaṁ; would do you more harm

Micchāpaṇihitaṁ cittaṁ, than a hater to the hated,

pāpiyo naṁ tato kare. or an enemy to their foe.

Na taṁ mātā pitā kayirā, A rightly directed mind

aññe vāpi ca ñātakā; would do you more good

Sammāpaṇihitaṁ cittaṁ, than your mother or father

seyyaso naṁ tato kare. or any other relative.