17. Kodhavaggo

17. Anger

221.

Kodhaṃ jahe vippajaheyya mānaṃ, saṃyojanaṃ sabbamatikkameyya;

Abandon anger, be done with conceit, get beyond every fetter.

Taṃ nāmarūpasmimasajjamānaṃ, akiñcanaṃ nānupatanti dukkhā.

When for name & form you have no attachment —have nothing at all— no sufferings, no stresses, invade.

222.

Yo ve uppatitaṃ kodhaṃ, rathaṃ bhantaṃva vāraye [dhāraye (sī. syā. pī.)];

When anger arises, whoever keeps firm control as if with a racing chariot:

Tamahaṃ sārathiṃ brūmi, rasmiggāho itaro jano.

him I call a master charioteer. Anyone else, a rein-holder— that’s all.

223.

Akkodhena jine kodhaṃ, asādhuṃ sādhunā jine;

Conquer anger with lack of anger; bad with good;

Jine kadariyaṃ dānena, saccenālikavādinaṃ.

stinginess with a gift; a liar with truth.

224.

Saccaṃ bhaṇe na kujjheyya, dajjā appampi [dajjā’ppasmimpi (sī. pī.), dajjā appasmi (syā. ka.)] yācito;

By telling the truth; by not growing angry; by giving, when asked, no matter how little you have:

Etehi tīhi ṭhānehi, gacche devāna santike.

by these three things you enter the presence of devas.

225.

Ahiṃsakā ye munayo [ahiṃsakāyā munayo (ka.)], niccaṃ kāyena saṃvutā;

Gentle sages, constantly restrained in body,

Te yanti accutaṃ ṭhānaṃ, yattha gantvā na socare.

go to the unwavering state where, having gone, there’s no grief.

226.

Sadā jāgaramānānaṃ, ahorattānusikkhinaṃ;

Those who always stay wakeful, training by day & by night,

Nibbānaṃ adhimuttānaṃ, atthaṃ gacchanti āsavā.

keen on Unbinding: their effluents come to an end.

227.

Porāṇametaṃ atula, netaṃ ajjatanāmiva;

This has come down from old, Atula, & not just from today:

Nindanti tuṇhimāsīnaṃ, nindanti bahubhāṇinaṃ;

they find fault with one who sits silent, they find fault with one who speaks a great deal, they find fault with one who measures his words.

Mitabhāṇimpi nindanti, natthi loke anindito.

There’s no one unfaulted in the world.

228.

Na cāhu na ca bhavissati, na cetarahi vijjati;

There never was, will be, nor at present is found

Ekantaṃ nindito poso, ekantaṃ vā pasaṃsito.

anyone entirely faulted or entirely praised.

229.

Yaṃ ce viññū pasaṃsanti, anuvicca suve suve;

If knowledgeable people praise him, having observed him day after day

Acchiddavuttiṃ [acchinnavuttiṃ (ka.)] medhāviṃ, paññāsīlasamāhitaṃ.

to be blameless in conduct, intelligent, endowed with discernment & virtue:

230.

Nikkhaṃ [nekkhaṃ (sī. syā. pī.)] jambonadasseva, ko taṃ ninditumarahati;

like an ingot of gold— who’s fit to find fault with him?

Devāpi naṃ pasaṃsanti, brahmunāpi pasaṃsito.

Even devas praise him. Even by Brahma he’s praised.

231.

Kāyappakopaṃ rakkheyya, kāyena saṃvuto siyā;

Guard against anger erupting in body; in body, be restrained.

Kāyaduccaritaṃ hitvā, kāyena sucaritaṃ care.

Having abandoned bodily misconduct, live conducting yourself well in body.

232.

Vacīpakopaṃ rakkheyya, vācāya saṃvuto siyā;

Guard against anger erupting in speech; in speech, be restrained.

Vacīduccaritaṃ hitvā, vācāya sucaritaṃ care.

Having abandoned verbal misconduct, live conducting yourself well in speech.

233.

Manopakopaṃ rakkheyya, manasā saṃvuto siyā;

Guard against anger erupting in mind; in mind, be restrained.

Manoduccaritaṃ hitvā, manasā sucaritaṃ care.

Having abandoned mental misconduct, live conducting yourself well in mind.

234.

Kāyena saṃvutā dhīrā, atho vācāya saṃvutā;

Those restrained in body —the enlightened— restrained in speech

Manasā saṃvutā dhīrā, te ve suparisaṃvutā.

& in mind —enlightened— are the ones whose restraint is secure.

Kodhavaggo sattarasamo niṭṭhito.