Malavagga
Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral
1Paṇḍupalāsova dānisi,Today you’re like a withered leaf,2Yamapurisāpi ca te upaṭṭhitā;Yama’s men await you.3Uyyogamukhe ca tiṭṭhasi,You stand at the departure gates,4Pātheyyampi ca te na vijjati.yet you have no supplies for the road.
1So karohi dīpamattano,Make an island of yourself!2Khippaṁ vāyama paṇḍito bhava;Swiftly strive, learn to be wise!3Niddhantamalo anaṅgaṇo,Purged of stains, flawless,4Dibbaṁ ariyabhūmiṁ upehisi.you’ll go to the heavenly realm of the noble ones.
1Upanītavayo ca dānisi,You’ve journeyed the stages of life,2Sampayātosi yamassa santikaṁ;and now you set out to meet Yama.3Vāso te natthi antarā,Along the way there’s nowhere to stay,4Pātheyyampi ca te na vijjati.yet you have no supplies for the road.
1So karohi dīpamattano,Make an island of yourself!2Khippaṁ vāyama paṇḍito bhava;Swiftly strive, learn to be wise!3Niddhantamalo anaṅgaṇo,Purged of stains, flawless,4Na punaṁ jātijaraṁ upehisi.you’ll not come again to rebirth and old age.
1Anupubbena medhāvī,A smart person would purge2thokaṁ thokaṁ khaṇe khaṇe;their own stains gradually,3Kammāro rajatasseva,bit by bit, moment by moment,4niddhame malamattano.like a smith smelting silver.
1Ayasāva malaṁ samuṭṭhitaṁ,It is the rust born on the iron2Tatuṭṭhāya tameva khādati;that eats away the place it arose.3Evaṁ atidhonacārinaṁ,And so it is their own deeds4Sāni kammāni nayanti duggatiṁ.that lead the overly-ascetic to a bad place.
1Asajjhāyamalā mantā,Not rehearsing is the stain of hymns.2anuṭṭhānamalā gharā;The stain of houses is neglect.3Malaṁ vaṇṇassa kosajjaṁ,Laziness is the stain of beauty.4pamādo rakkhato malaṁ.A guard’s stain is negligence.
1Malitthiyā duccaritaṁ,Misconduct is a woman’s stain.2maccheraṁ dadato malaṁ;A giver’s stain is stinginess.3Malā ve pāpakā dhammā,Bad qualities are a stain4asmiṁ loke paramhi ca.in this world and the next.
1Tato malā malataraṁ,But a worse stain than these2avijjā paramaṁ malaṁ;is ignorance, the worst stain of all.3Etaṁ malaṁ pahantvāna,Having given up that stain,4nimmalā hotha bhikkhavo.be without stains, mendicants!
1Sujīvaṁ ahirikena,Life is easy for the shameless.2kākasūrena dhaṁsinā;With all the rude courage of a crow,3Pakkhandinā pagabbhena,they live pushy,4saṅkiliṭṭhena jīvitaṁ.rude, and corrupt.
1Hirīmatā ca dujjīvaṁ,Life is hard for the conscientious,2niccaṁ sucigavesinā;always seeking purity,3Alīnenāppagabbhena,neither clinging nor rude,4suddhājīvena passatā.pure of livelihood and discerning.
1Yo pāṇamatipāteti,Take anyone in this world2musāvādañca bhāsati;who kills living creatures,3Loke adinnamādiyati,speaks falsely, steals,4paradārañca gacchati.commits adultery,
1Surāmerayapānañca,and indulges in drinking2yo naro anuyuñjati;beer and wine.3Idheva meso lokasmiṁ,Right here they dig up4mūlaṁ khaṇati attano.the root of their own self.
1Evaṁ bho purisa jānāhi,Know this, my man:2pāpadhammā asaññatā;they are unrestrained and wicked.3Mā taṁ lobho adhammo ca,Don’t let that greed and unrighteousness4ciraṁ dukkhāya randhayuṁ.inflict pain on you for long.
1Dadāti ve yathāsaddhaṁ,The people give according to their faith,2yathāpasādanaṁ jano;according to their confidence.3Tattha yo ca maṅku bhavati,If you get upset over that,4paresaṁ pānabhojane;over others’ food and drink,5Na so divā vā rattiṁ vā,you’ll not, by day or by night,6samādhimadhigacchati.become immersed in samādhi.
1Yassa cetaṁ samucchinnaṁ,Those who have cut that out,2mūlaghaccaṁ samūhataṁ;dug it up at the root, eradicated it,3Sa ve divā vā rattiṁ vā,they will, by day or by night,4samādhimadhigacchati.become immersed in samādhi.
1Natthi rāgasamo aggi,There is no fire like greed,2natthi dosasamo gaho;no crime like hate,3Natthi mohasamaṁ jālaṁ,no net like delusion,4natthi taṇhāsamā nadī.no river like craving.
1Sudassaṁ vajjamaññesaṁ,It’s easy to see the faults of others,2attano pana duddasaṁ;hard to see one’s own.3Paresaṁ hi so vajjāni,For the faults of others4opunāti yathā bhusaṁ;are tossed high like hay,5Attano pana chādeti,while one’s own are hidden,6kaliṁva kitavā saṭho.as a cheat hides a bad hand.
1Paravajjānupassissa,When you look for the flaws of others,2niccaṁ ujjhānasaññino;always finding fault,3Āsavā tassa vaḍḍhanti,your defilements only grow,4ārā so āsavakkhayā.you’re far from ending defilements.
1Ākāseva padaṁ natthi,In the atmosphere there is no track,2samaṇo natthi bāhire;there’s no true ascetic outside here.3Papañcābhiratā pajā,People enjoy proliferation,4nippapañcā tathāgatā.the Realized Ones are free of proliferation.
1Ākāseva padaṁ natthi,In the atmosphere there is no track,2samaṇo natthi bāhire;there’s no true ascetic outside here.3Saṅkhārā sassatā natthi,No conditions last forever,4natthi buddhānamiñjitaṁ.the Awakened Ones are not shaken.
5Malavaggo aṭṭhārasamo.
