Chapter on the Wise

The Story of Elder Rādha

Like a treasure revealer,

Khuddakanikāya Dhammapada Paṇḍitavagga Rādhattheravatthu Nidhīnaṁva pavattāraṁ, yaṁ passe vajjadassinaṁ; Niggayhavādiṁ medhāviṁ, tādisaṁ paṇḍitaṁ bhaje; Tādisaṁ bhajamānassa, seyyo hoti na pāpiyo.

Who sees the faults in others;

A wise one who speaks in reproach,

Such a sage should be revered.

For one who associates with such a sage,

Assajipunabbasukavatthu Ovadeyyānusāseyya, asabbhā ca nivāraye; Satañhi so piyo hoti, asataṁ hoti appiyo.

It is better, not worse.

The Story of the Horse Trainer and Elder Channa

He should advise and instruct,

And prevent from what is unwholesome;

For he is dear to the good,

Channattheravatthu Na bhaje pāpake mitte, na bhaje purisādhame; Bhajetha mitte kalyāṇe, bhajetha purisuttame.

And not dear to the bad.

Do not associate with corrupt friends,

Do not associate with the lowly;

Associate with virtuous friends,

Mahākappinattheravatthu Dhammapīti sukhaṁ seti, vippasannena cetasā; Ariyappavedite dhamme, sadā ramati paṇḍito.

Associate with the best of men.

The Story of Elder Mahākappina and the Novice Paṇḍita

The joy of the Dhamma brings happiness,

With a clear and serene mind;

Paṇḍitasāmaṇeravatthu Udakañhi nayanti nettikā, Usukārā namayanti tejanaṁ; Dāruṁ namayanti tacchakā, Attānaṁ damayanti paṇḍitā.

In the Dhamma proclaimed by the Noble Ones,

The wise always delight.

Water guides lead water,

Arrow makers shape arrows;

Carpenters shape wood,

The wise shape themselves.

Lakuṇḍakabhaddiyattheravatthu Selo yathā ekaghano, vātena na samīrati; Evaṁ nindāpasaṁsāsu, na samiñjanti paṇḍitā.

The Story of Elder Lakuṇḍakabhaddiya and the Blind Mother

Just as a solid rock

Is not shaken by the wind;

So too, the wise are not moved

By praise or blame.

Just as a deep lake

Is clear and undisturbed;

Kāṇamātāvatthu Yathāpi rahado gambhīro, vippasanno anāvilo; Evaṁ dhammāni sutvāna, vippasīdanti paṇḍitā.

So too, upon hearing the Dhamma,

The wise become serene.

The Story of Five Hundred Disciples

Everywhere, indeed, the good renounce,

Pañcasatabhikkhuvatthu Sabbattha ve sappurisā cajanti, Na kāmakāmā lapayanti santo; Sukhena phuṭṭhā atha vā dukhena, Na uccāvacaṁ paṇḍitā dassayanti.

The peaceful do not speak of desires;

Touched by happiness or by suffering,

The wise do not show elation or depression.

The Story of Elder Dhammika and Elder Dhammassavana

Dhammikattheravatthu Na attahetu na parassa hetu, Na puttamicche na dhanaṁ na raṭṭhaṁ; Na iccheyya adhammena samiddhimattano, Sa sīlavā paññavā dhammiko siyā.

Not for his own sake, nor for another's sake,

Not for a child, nor for wealth, nor for a kingdom;

He should not wish for success by wrong means,

He who is virtuous, wise, and righteous.

Few among men are those

Dhammassavanattheravatthu Appakā te manussesu, ye janā pāragāmino; Athāyaṁ itarā pajā, tīramevānudhāvati.

Who go beyond to the other shore;

The rest of the people

Run along the shore.

But those who practice the Dhamma

Ye ca kho sammadakkhāte, dhamme dhammānuvattino; Te janā pāramessanti, maccudheyyaṁ suduttaraṁ.

Well taught,

They will cross over

This realm of death, so hard to overcome.

The Story of Five Hundred Visiting Disciples

Pañcasataāgantukabhikkhuvatthu Kaṇhaṁ dhammaṁ vippahāya, Sukkaṁ bhāvetha paṇḍito; Okā anokamāgamma, Viveke yattha dūramaṁ.

Abandoning the dark Dhamma,

The wise cultivate the bright;

Leaving home for homelessness,

In solitude, where it is hard to find.

Tatrābhiratimiccheyya, hitvā kāme akiñcano; Pariyodapeyya attānaṁ, cittaklesehi paṇḍito.

There he should seek delight,

Having abandoned desires, without possessions;

The wise should purify themselves,

From mental defilements.

Yesaṁ sambodhiyaṅgesu, sammā cittaṁ subhāvitaṁ; Ādānapaṭinissagge, anupādāya ye ratā; Khīṇāsavā jutimanto, te loke parinibbutā.

Those whose minds are well developed

In the factors of enlightenment,

Who delight in relinquishment,

Without clinging,

Paṇḍitavaggo chaṭṭho.

The taintless, the radiant,

They are fully extinguished in the world.