8. Sahassavaggo

8. Thousands

100.

Sahassamapi ce vācā, anatthapadasaṃhitā;

Better than if there were thousands of meaningless words is

Ekaṃ atthapadaṃ seyyo, yaṃ sutvā upasammati.

one meaningful word that on hearing brings peace.

101.

Sahassamapi ce gāthā, anatthapadasaṃhitā;

Better than if there were thousands of meaningless verses is

Ekaṃ gāthāpadaṃ seyyo, yaṃ sutvā upasammati.

one meaningful line of verse that on hearing brings peace.

102.

Yo ca gāthā sataṃ bhāse, anatthapadasaṃhitā [anatthapadasañhitaṃ (ka.) visesanaṃ hetaṃ gāthātipadassa];

And better than chanting hundreds of meaningless verses is

Ekaṃ dhammapadaṃ seyyo, yaṃ sutvā upasammati.

one Dhamma-saying that on hearing brings peace.

103.

Yo sahassaṃ sahassena, saṅgāme mānuse jine;

Greater in battle than the man who would conquer a thousand-thousand men,

Ekañca jeyyamattānaṃ [attānaṃ (sī. pī.)], sa ve saṅgāmajuttamo.

is he who would conquer just one— himself.

104.

Attā have jitaṃ seyyo, yā cāyaṃ itarā pajā;

Better to conquer yourself than others.

Attadantassa posassa, niccaṃ saññatacārino.

When you’ve trained yourself, living in constant self-control,

105.

Neva devo na gandhabbo, na māro saha brahmunā;

neither a deva nor gandhabba, nor a Mara banded with Brahmas,

Jitaṃ apajitaṃ kayirā, tathārūpassa jantuno.

could turn that triumph back into defeat.

106.

Māse māse sahassena, yo yajetha sataṃ samaṃ;

You could, month by month, at a cost of thousands, conduct sacrifices a hundred times,

Ekañca bhāvitattānaṃ, muhuttamapi pūjaye;

or pay a single moment’s homage to one person, self-cultivated.

Sāyeva pūjanā seyyo, yañce vassasataṃ hutaṃ.

Better than a hundred years of sacrifices would that act of homage be.

107.

Yo ca vassasataṃ jantu, aggiṃ paricare vane;

You could, for a hundred years, live in a forest tending a fire,

Ekañca bhāvitattānaṃ, muhuttamapi pūjaye;

or pay a single moment’s homage to one person, self-cultivated.

Sāyeva pūjanā seyyo, yañce vassasataṃ hutaṃ.

Better than a hundred years of sacrifices would that act of homage be.

108.

Yaṃ kiñci yiṭṭhaṃ va hutaṃ va [yiṭṭhañca hutañca (ka.)] loke, saṃvaccharaṃ yajetha puññapekkho;

Everything offered or sacrificed in the world for an entire year by one seeking merit

Sabbampi taṃ na catubhāgameti, abhivādanā ujjugatesu seyyo.

doesn’t come to a fourth. Better to pay respect to those who’ve gone the straight way.

109.

Abhivādanasīlissa, niccaṃ vuḍḍhāpacāyino [vaddhāpacāyino (sī. pī.)];

If you’re respectful by habit, constantly honoring the worthy,

Cattāro dhammā vaḍḍhanti, āyu vaṇṇo sukhaṃ balaṃ.

four things increase: long life, beauty, happiness, strength.

110.

Yo ca vassasataṃ jīve, dussīlo asamāhito;

Better than a hundred years lived without virtue, uncentered,

Ekāhaṃ jīvitaṃ seyyo, sīlavantassa jhāyino.

is one day lived by a virtuous person absorbed in jhana.

111.

Yo ca vassasataṃ jīve, duppañño asamāhito;

And better than a hundred years lived undiscerning, uncentered,

Ekāhaṃ jīvitaṃ seyyo, paññavantassa jhāyino.

, is one day lived by a discerning person absorbed in jhana.

112.

Yo ca vassasataṃ jīve, kusīto hīnavīriyo;

And better than a hundred years lived apathetic & unenergetic,

Ekāhaṃ jīvitaṃ seyyo, vīriyamārabhato daḷhaṃ.

is one day lived energetic & firm.

113.

Yo ca vassasataṃ jīve, apassaṃ udayabbayaṃ;

And better than a hundred years lived without seeing arising & passing away,

Ekāhaṃ jīvitaṃ seyyo, passato udayabbayaṃ.

is one day lived seeing arising & passing away.

114.

Yo ca vassasataṃ jīve, apassaṃ amataṃ padaṃ;

And better than a hundred years lived without seeing the Deathless state,

Ekāhaṃ jīvitaṃ seyyo, passato amataṃ padaṃ.

is one day lived seeing the Deathless state.

115.

Yo ca vassasataṃ jīve, apassaṃ dhammamuttamaṃ;

And better than a hundred years lived without seeing the ultimate Dhamma,

Ekāhaṃ jīvitaṃ seyyo, passato dhammamuttamaṃ.

is one day lived seeing the ultimate Dhamma.

Sahassavaggo aṭṭhamo niṭṭhito.