Dhp Vagga 08 - Sahassa - The Thousands

Khuddakanikāya Minor Collection

Dhammapada Sayings of the Dhamma 100–115

Sahassavagga 8. The Thousands

Sahassamapi ce vācā, Better than a thousand

anatthapadasaṁhitā; meaningless sayings

Ekaṁ atthapadaṁ seyyo, is a single meaningful saying,

yaṁ sutvā upasammati. hearing which brings you peace.

Sahassamapi ce gāthā, Better than a thousand

anatthapadasaṁhitā; meaningless verses

Ekaṁ gāthāpadaṁ seyyo, is a single meaningful verse,

yaṁ sutvā upasammati. hearing which brings you peace.

Yo ca gāthā sataṁ bhāse, Better than reciting

anatthapadasaṁhitā; a hundred meaningless verses

Ekaṁ dhammapadaṁ seyyo, is a single saying of Dhamma,

yaṁ sutvā upasammati. hearing which brings you peace.

Yo sahassaṁ sahassena, The supreme conqueror is

saṅgāme mānuse jine; not he who conquers a million men in battle,

Ekañca jeyyamattānaṁ, but he who conquers a single man:

sa ve saṅgāmajuttamo. himself.

Attā have jitaṁ seyyo, It is surely better to conquer oneself

yā cāyaṁ itarā pajā; than all those other folk.

Attadantassa posassa, When a person has tamed themselves,

niccaṁ saññatacārino. always living restrained,

Neva devo na gandhabbo, no god nor centaur,

na māro saha brahmunā; nor Māra nor divinity,

Jitaṁ apajitaṁ kayirā, can undo the victory

tathārūpassa jantuno. of such a personage.

Māse māse sahassena, Rather than a thousandfold sacrifice,

yo yajetha sataṁ samaṁ; every month for a full century,

Ekañca bhāvitattānaṁ, it’s better to honor for a single hour

muhuttamapi pūjaye; one who has developed themselves.

Sāyeva pūjanā seyyo, That offering is better

yañce vassasataṁ hutaṁ. than the hundred year sacrifice.

Yo ca vassasataṁ jantu, Rather than serve the sacred flame

aggiṁ paricare vane; in the forest for a hundred years,

Ekañca bhāvitattānaṁ, it’s better to honor for a single hour

muhuttamapi pūjaye; a personage who has developed themselves.

Sāyeva pūjanā seyyo, That offering is better

yañce vassasataṁ hutaṁ. than the hundred year sacrifice.

Yaṁ kiñci yiṭṭhaṁ va hutaṁ va loke, Whatever sacrifice or offering in the world

Saṁvaccharaṁ yajetha puññapekkho; a seeker of merit may make for a year,

Sabbampi taṁ na catubhāgameti, none of it is worth a quarter

Abhivādanā ujjugatesu seyyo. of bowing to the sincere.

Abhivādanasīlissa, For one in the habit of bowing,

niccaṁ vuḍḍhāpacāyino; always honoring the elders,

Cattāro dhammā vaḍḍhanti, four blessings grow:

āyu vaṇṇo sukhaṁ balaṁ. lifespan, beauty, happiness, and strength.