Maggavagga
Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral
1Maggānaṭṭhaṅgiko seṭṭho,Of paths, the eightfold is the best;2saccānaṁ caturo padā;of truths, the four statements;3Virāgo seṭṭho dhammānaṁ,dispassion is the best of things,4dvipadānañca cakkhumā.and the Clear-eyed One is the best of humans.
1Eseva maggo natthañño,<em>This</em> is the path, there is no other2Dassanassa visuddhiyā;for the purification of vision.3Etañhi tumhe paṭipajjatha,You all must practice this,4Mārassetaṁ pamohanaṁ.it is the way to baffle Māra.
1Etañhi tumhe paṭipannā,When you all are practicing this,2dukkhassantaṁ karissatha;you’ll make an end of suffering.3Akkhāto vo mayā maggo,I have explained the path to you4aññāya sallakantanaṁ.for extracting the thorn with wisdom.
1Tumhehi kiccamātappaṁ,You yourselves must do the work,2akkhātāro tathāgatā;the Realized Ones just show the way.3Paṭipannā pamokkhanti,Meditators practicing absorption4jhāyino mārabandhanā.are released from Māra’s bonds.
1“Sabbe saṅkhārā aniccā”ti,All conditions are impermanent—2yadā paññāya passati;when this is seen with wisdom,3Atha nibbindati dukkhe,one grows disillusioned with suffering:4esa maggo visuddhiyā.this is the path to purity.
1“Sabbe saṅkhārā dukkhā”ti,All conditions are suffering—2yadā paññāya passati;when this is seen with wisdom,3Atha nibbindati dukkhe,one grows disillusioned with suffering:4esa maggo visuddhiyā.this is the path to purity.
1“Sabbe dhammā anattā”ti,All things are not-self—2yadā paññāya passati;when this is seen with wisdom,3Atha nibbindati dukkhe,one grows disillusioned with suffering:4esa maggo visuddhiyā.this is the path to purity.
1Uṭṭhānakālamhi anuṭṭhahāno,They don’t get going when it’s time to start;2Yuvā balī ālasiyaṁ upeto;they’re young and strong, but given to sloth.3Saṁsannasaṅkappamano kusīto,Their mind depressed in sunken thought,4Paññāya maggaṁ alaso na vindati.lazy and slothful, they can’t discern the path.
1Vācānurakkhī manasā susaṁvuto,Guarded in speech, restrained in mind,2Kāyena ca nākusalaṁ kayirā;doing no unskillful bodily deed.3Ete tayo kammapathe visodhaye,Purify these three ways of performing deeds,4Ārādhaye maggamisippaveditaṁ.and win the path known to seers.
1Yogā ve jāyatī bhūri,From meditation springs wisdom,2ayogā bhūrisaṅkhayo;without meditation, wisdom ends.3Etaṁ dvedhāpathaṁ ñatvā,Knowing these two paths—4bhavāya vibhavāya ca;of progress and decline—15Tathāttānaṁ niveseyya,you should conduct yourself6yathā bhūri pavaḍḍhati.so that wisdom grows.
1Vanaṁ chindatha mā rukkhaṁ,Cut down the jungle, not just a tree;2vanato jāyate bhayaṁ;from the jungle springs fear.3Chetvā vanañca vanathañca,Having cut down jungle and snarl,4nibbanā hotha bhikkhavo.be free of jungles, mendicants!
1Yāva hi vanatho na chijjati,So long as the vine, no matter how small,2Aṇumattopi narassa nārisu;that ties a man to women is not cut,3Paṭibaddhamanova tāva so,his mind remains trapped,4Vaccho khīrapakova mātari.like a calf suckling its mother.
1Ucchinda sinehamattano,Cut out affection for oneself,2Kumudaṁ sāradikaṁva pāṇinā;like plucking an autumn lotus.3Santimaggameva brūhaya,Foster only the path to peace,4Nibbānaṁ sugatena desitaṁ.the extinguishment the Holy One taught.
1Idha vassaṁ vasissāmi,“Here I will stay for the rains;2idha hemantagimhisu;here for winter, here the summer”;3Iti bālo vicinteti,thus the fool thinks,4antarāyaṁ na bujjhati.not realizing the danger.
1Taṁ puttapasusammattaṁ,As a mighty flood sweeps away a sleeping village,2byāsattamanasaṁ naraṁ;death steals away a man3Suttaṁ gāmaṁ mahoghova,who dotes on children and cattle,4maccu ādāya gacchati.his mind caught up in them.
1Na santi puttā tāṇāya,Children provide you no shelter,2na pitā nāpi bandhavā;nor does father, nor relatives.3Antakenādhipannassa,When you’re seized by the terminator,4natthi ñātīsu tāṇatā.there’s no shelter in family.
1Etamatthavasaṁ ñatvā,Knowing the reason for this,2paṇḍito sīlasaṁvuto;astute, and ethically restrained,3Nibbānagamanaṁ maggaṁ,one would quickly clear the path4khippameva visodhaye.that leads to extinguishment.
5Maggavaggo vīsatimo.
Here bhava and vibhava do not have the normal sense of “continued life” and “annihilation”.
