1.1Evaṁ me sutaṁ—So I have heard.1.2ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.1.3Atha kho dhammiko upāsako pañcahi upāsakasatehi saddhiṁ yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho dhammiko upāsako bhagavantaṁ gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi:Then the lay follower Dhammika, together with five hundred lay followers, went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and addressed him in verse:

2.1“Pucchāmi taṁ gotama bhūripañña,“I ask you, Gotama, whose wisdom is vast:2.2Kathaṅkaro sāvako sādhu hoti;what does one do to become a good disciple,2.3Yo vā agārā anagārameti,both one who has left the home,2.4Agārino vā panupāsakāse.and the lay followers staying at home?

3.1Tuvañhi lokassa sadevakassa,For you understand the course and destiny3.2Gatiṁ pajānāsi parāyaṇañca;of the world with all its gods.3.3Na catthi tulyo nipuṇatthadassī,There is no equal to you who sees the subtle meaning,3.4Tuvañhi buddhaṁ pavaraṁ vadanti.for you are the Buddha most excellent, they say.

4.1Sabbaṁ tuvaṁ ñāṇamavecca dhammaṁ,Having experienced all knowledge,4.2Pakāsesi satte anukampamāno;you reveal the teaching out of sympathy for beings.4.3Vivaṭṭacchadosi samantacakkhu,All-seer, you have cast off the veil,4.4Virocasi vimalo sabbaloke.and immaculate, you dazzle the whole world.

5.1Āgañchi te santike nāgarājā,The dragon king Erāvaṇa, <j>hearing you called ‘Victor’,¹5.2Erāvaṇo nāma jinoti sutvā;came into your presence.5.3Sopi tayā mantayitvājjhagamā,He consulted with you then, <j>having heard your words,5.4Sādhūti sutvāna patītarūpo.left consoled, saying ‘Excellent!’

6.1Rājāpi taṁ vessavaṇo kuvero,And King Kuvera Vessavaṇa also²6.2Upeti dhammaṁ paripucchamāno;approached to ask about the teaching.6.3Tassāpi tvaṁ pucchito brūsi dhīra,You also answered him, O attentive one,6.4So cāpi sutvāna patītarūpo.and hearing you he too was consoled.

7.1Ye kecime titthiyā vādasīlā,Those monastics of other religions given to debate,³7.2Ājīvakā vā yadi vā nigaṇṭhā;whether Ājīvakas or Jains,7.3Paññāya taṁ nātitaranti sabbe,all fail to overtake you in wisdom,7.4Ṭhito vajantaṁ viya sīghagāmiṁ.like a standing man next to a sprinter.

8.1Ye kecime brāhmaṇā vādasīlā,Those brahmins given to debate,8.2Vuddhā cāpi brāhmaṇā santi keci;some of whom are quite senior,8.3Sabbe tayi atthabaddhā bhavanti,all end up beholden to you for the meaning,8.4Ye cāpi aññe vādino maññamānā.and others too who think themselves debaters.

9.1Ayañhi dhammo nipuṇo sukho ca,So subtle and pleasant is the teaching9.2Yoyaṁ tayā bhagavā suppavutto;that is well proclaimed by you, Blessed One.9.3Tameva sabbepi sussūsamānā,It’s all we long to hear. So when asked,9.4Taṁ no vada pucchito buddhaseṭṭha.O Best of Buddhas, tell us!

10.1Sabbepime bhikkhavo sannisinnā,All these mendicants have gathered,10.2Upāsakā cāpi tatheva sotuṁ;and the layfolk too are here to listen.10.3Suṇantu dhammaṁ vimalenānubuddhaṁ,Let them hear the teaching <j>the immaculate one discovered,10.4Subhāsitaṁ vāsavasseva devā”.like gods listening to the fine words of Vāsava.”

11.1“Suṇātha me bhikkhavo sāvayāmi vo,“Listen to me, mendicants, I will educate you11.2Dhammaṁ dhutaṁ tañca carātha sabbe;in the cleansing teaching; all bear it in mind.11.3Iriyāpathaṁ pabbajitānulomikaṁ,A thoughtful person, seeing the meaning,⁴11.4Sevetha naṁ atthadaso mutīmā.would adopt the deportment <j>proper to a renunciate.

12.1No ve vikāle vicareyya bhikkhu,No way would a mendicant go out at the wrong time;12.2Gāme ca piṇḍāya careyya kāle;at the right time, they’d walk the village for alms.12.3Akālacāriñhi sajanti saṅgā,For chains bind one who wanders at the wrong time,12.4Tasmā vikāle na caranti buddhā.which is why the Buddhas avoid it.

13.1Rūpā ca saddā ca rasā ca gandhā,Sights, sounds, tastes, smells, and touches,13.2Phassā ca ye sammadayanti satte;which drive beings mad—13.3Etesu dhammesu vineyya chandaṁ,dispel desire for such things,13.4Kālena so pavise pātarāsaṁ.and enter for the morning meal at the right time.

14.1Piṇḍañca bhikkhu samayena laddhā,After receiving alms for the day,14.2Eko paṭikkamma raho nisīde;on returning a mendicant would sit in private alone.14.3Ajjhattacintī na mano bahiddhā,Inwardly reflective, they’d curb their mind14.4Nicchāraye saṅgahitattabhāvo.from outside things, keeping themselves collected.

15.1Sacepi so sallape sāvakena,Should they converse with a disciple,15.2Aññena vā kenaci bhikkhunā vā;with anyone else, or with a mendicant,15.3Dhammaṁ paṇītaṁ tamudāhareyya,they’d bring up only the sublime teaching,15.4Na pesuṇaṁ nopi parūpavādaṁ.not dividing or blaming.

16.1Vādañhi eke paṭiseniyanti,For some contend in debate,16.2Na te pasaṁsāma parittapaññe;but we praise not those of little wisdom.16.3Tato tato ne pasajanti saṅgā,In place after place they are bound in chains,16.4Cittañhi te tattha gamenti dūre.for they send their mind over there far away.

17.1Piṇḍaṁ vihāraṁ sayanāsanañca,Alms, a dwelling, a bed and seat,17.2Āpañca saṅghāṭirajūpavāhanaṁ;and water for rinsing the dust from the cloak—17.3Sutvāna dhammaṁ sugatena desitaṁ,after hearing the teaching of the Holy One,17.4Saṅkhāya seve varapaññasāvako.a disciple of outstanding wisdom <j>would use these after appraisal.

18.1Tasmā hi piṇḍe sayanāsane ca,That’s why, when it comes to alms and lodgings,18.2Āpe ca saṅghāṭirajūpavāhane;and water for rinsing the dust from the cloak,18.3Etesu dhammesu anūpalitto,a mendicant is unsullied in the midst of these things,18.4Bhikkhu yathā pokkhare vāribindu.like a droplet on a lotus-leaf.

19.1Gahaṭṭhavattaṁ pana vo vadāmi,Now I shall tell you the householder’s duty,19.2Yathākaro sāvako sādhu hoti;doing which one becomes a good disciple.19.3Na hesa labbhā sapariggahena,For one burdened with possessions <j>does not get to realize19.4Phassetuṁ yo kevalo bhikkhudhammo.the whole of the mendicant’s practice.

20.1Pāṇaṁ na hane na ca ghātayeyya,They’d not kill any creature, nor have them killed,20.2Na cānujaññā hanataṁ paresaṁ;nor grant permission for others to kill.20.3Sabbesu bhūtesu nidhāya daṇḍaṁ,They’ve laid aside violence toward all creatures20.4Ye thāvarā ye ca tasā santi loke.frail or firm that there are in the world.

21.1Tato adinnaṁ parivajjayeyya,Next, a disciple would avoid knowingly21.2Kiñci kvaci sāvako bujjhamāno;taking anything not given at all,21.3Na hāraye harataṁ nānujaññā,they’d not get others to do it, <j>nor grant them permission to steal;21.4Sabbaṁ adinnaṁ parivajjayeyya.they’d avoid <em>all</em> theft.

22.1Abrahmacariyaṁ parivajjayeyya,A sensible person would avoid the unchaste life,22.2Aṅgārakāsuṁ jalitaṁva viññū;like a burning pit of coals.22.3Asambhuṇanto pana brahmacariyaṁ,But if unable to remain chaste,22.4Parassa dāraṁ na atikkameyya.they’d not transgress with another’s partner.

23.1Sabhaggato vā parisaggato vā,In a council or assembly,23.2Ekassa veko na musā bhaṇeyya;or one on one, they would not lie.23.3Na bhāṇaye bhaṇataṁ nānujaññā,They’d not get others to lie, <j>nor grant them permission to lie;23.4Sabbaṁ abhūtaṁ parivajjayeyya.they’d avoid <em>all</em> untruths.

24.1Majjañca pānaṁ na samācareyya,A householder espousing this teaching24.2Dhammaṁ imaṁ rocaye yo gahaṭṭho;would not consume liquor or drink.24.3Na pāyaye pivataṁ nānujaññā,They’d not get others to drink, <j>nor grant them permission to drink;24.4Ummādanantaṁ iti naṁ viditvā.knowing that ends in intoxication.

25.1Madā hi pāpāni karonti bālā,For drunken fools do bad things,25.2Kārenti caññepi jane pamatte;and encourage other heedless folk.25.3Etaṁ apuññāyatanaṁ vivajjaye,Shun this field of demerit,25.4Ummādanaṁ mohanaṁ bālakantaṁ.the maddening, deluding frolic of fools.

26.1Pāṇaṁ na hane na cādinnamādiye,You shouldn’t kill living creatures, or steal,26.2Musā na bhāse na ca majjapo siyā;or lie, or drink liquor.26.3Abrahmacariyā virameyya methunā,Be chaste, refraining from sex,26.4Rattiṁ na bhuñjeyya vikālabhojanaṁ.and don’t eat at night, the wrong time.

27.1Mālaṁ na dhāre na ca gandhamācare,Not wearing garlands or applying fragrance,27.2Mañce chamāyaṁ va sayetha santhate;you should sleep on a low bed, <j>or a mat on the ground.27.3Etañhi aṭṭhaṅgikamāhuposathaṁ,This is the eight-factored sabbath, they say,27.4Buddhena dukkhantagunā pakāsitaṁ.revealed by the Buddha, <j>who has gone to suffering’s end.

28.1Tato ca pakkhassupavassuposathaṁ,Then having rightly undertaken the sabbath28.2Cātuddasiṁ pañcadasiñca aṭṭhamiṁ;complete in all its eight factors28.3Pāṭihāriyapakkhañca pasannamānaso,on the fourteenth, fifteenth, <j>and eighth of the fortnight,28.4Aṭṭhaṅgupetaṁ susamattarūpaṁ.as well as on the fortnightly special displays,

29.1Tato ca pāto upavutthuposatho,at daybreak after the sabbath29.2Annena pānena ca bhikkhusaṅghaṁ;a clever person, rejoicing with confident heart,29.3Pasannacitto anumodamāno,would distribute food and drink29.4Yathārahaṁ saṁvibhajetha viññū.to the mendicant Saṅgha as is fitting.

30.1Dhammena mātāpitaro bhareyya,One should rightfully support one’s parents,30.2Payojaye dhammikaṁ so vaṇijjaṁ;and undertake a legitimate business.30.3Etaṁ gihī vattayamappamatto,A diligent layperson observing these duties30.4Sayampabhe nāma upeti deve”ti.ascends to the gods named ‘self-radiant’.”

30.5Dhammikasuttaṁ cuddasamaṁ.

30.6Cūḷavaggo dutiyo.

31.0Tassuddānaṁ

31.1Ratanāmagandho hiri ca,31.2maṅgalaṁ sūcilomena;31.3Dhammacariyañca brāhmaṇo,31.4nāvā kiṁsīlamuṭṭhānaṁ.

32.1Rāhulo puna kappo ca,32.2paribbājaniyaṁ tathā;32.3Dhammikañca viduno āhu,32.4cūḷavagganti cuddasāti.