1.1“Attadaṇḍā bhayaṁ jātaṁ,Peril stems from those who take up arms—1.2janaṁ passatha medhagaṁ;just look how people conflict!1.3Saṁvegaṁ kittayissāmi,I shall extol how I came to be1.4yathā saṁvijitaṁ mayā.stirred with a sense of urgency.

2.1Phandamānaṁ pajaṁ disvā,I saw this population flounder,2.2macche appodake yathā;like a fish in a little puddle.2.3Aññamaññehi byāruddhe,Seeing them at odds with each other,2.4disvā maṁ bhayamāvisi.fear came upon me.

3.1Samantamasāro loko,The world around was volatile,3.2disā sabbā sameritā;all directions were in turmoil.3.3Icchaṁ bhavanamattano,Wanting a home for myself,3.4nāddasāsiṁ anositaṁ.I saw nowhere unsettled.¹

4.1Osāne tveva byāruddhe,Yet even in their settlement they were at odds—²4.2Disvā me aratī ahu;seeing that, I grew uneasy.4.3Athettha sallamaddakkhiṁ,Then I saw a dart there,4.4Duddasaṁ hadayanissitaṁ.so hard to see, stuck in the heart.

5.1Yena sallena otiṇṇo,When struck by that dart,5.2disā sabbā vidhāvati;you run around in all directions.5.3Tameva sallamabbuyha,But when that same dart has been plucked out,5.4na dhāvati na sīdati.you neither run around nor sink down.

6.1Tattha sikkhānugīyanti,(On that topic, the trainings are recited.)³6.2yāni loke gadhitāni;Whatever attachments there are in the world,6.3Na tesu pasuto siyā,don’t pursue them.6.4nibbijjha sabbaso kāme;Having pierced through sensual pleasures <j>in every way,6.5Sikkhe nibbānamattano.train yourself for extinguishment.

7.1Sacco siyā appagabbho,Be truthful, not rude,7.2amāyo rittapesuṇo;free of deceit, and rid of slander;7.3Akkodhano lobhapāpaṁ,without anger, a sage would cross over7.4vevicchaṁ vitare muni.the evils of greed and avarice.

8.1Niddaṁ tandiṁ sahe thīnaṁ,Prevail over sleepiness, sloth, and drowsiness,8.2pamādena na saṁvase;don’t abide in negligence,8.3Atimāne na tiṭṭheyya,A person intent on quenching8.4nibbānamanaso naro.would not stand for arrogance.

9.1Mosavajje na nīyetha,Don’t be led into lying,9.2rūpe snehaṁ na kubbaye;or get caught up in affection for form.9.3Mānañca parijāneyya,Completely understand conceit,9.4sāhasā virato care.and desist from hasty conduct.

10.1Purāṇaṁ nābhinandeyya,Don’t relish the old,10.2Nave khantiṁ na kubbaye;or welcome the new.10.3Hiyyamāne na soceyya,Don’t grieve for what is running out,10.4Ākāsaṁ na sito siyā.or get attached to things that pull you in.

11.1Gedhaṁ brūmi mahoghoti,Greed, I say, is the great flood,11.2Ājavaṁ brūmi jappanaṁ;and longing is the current—11.3Ārammaṇaṁ pakappanaṁ,the basis, the compulsion,11.4Kāmapaṅko duraccayo.the swamp of sensuality so hard to get past.

12.1Saccā avokkamma muni,The sage never strays from the truth;12.2Thale tiṭṭhati brāhmaṇo;the brahmin stands on solid ground.12.3Sabbaṁ so paṭinissajja,Having given up everything,12.4Sa ve santoti vuccati.they are said to be at peace.

13.1Sa ve vidvā sa vedagū,They have truly known, they’re a knowledge master,13.2Ñatvā dhammaṁ anissito;understanding the teaching, they are independent.13.3Sammā so loke iriyāno,They rightly proceed in the world,13.4Na pihetīdha kassaci.not coveting anything here.

14.1Yodha kāme accatari,One who has crossed over sensuality here,14.2Saṅgaṁ loke duraccayaṁ;the chain in the world so hard to get past,14.3Na so socati nājjheti,grieves not, nor hopes;14.4Chinnasoto abandhano.they’ve cut the strings, they’re no longer bound.

15.1Yaṁ pubbe taṁ visosehi,What came before, let wither away,15.2Pacchā te māhu kiñcanaṁ;and after, let there be nothing.15.3Majjhe ce no gahessasi,If you don’t grasp at the middle,15.4Upasanto carissasi.you will live at peace.

16.1Sabbaso nāmarūpasmiṁ,One who has no sense of ownership16.2Yassa natthi mamāyitaṁ;in the whole realm of name and form,16.3Asatā ca na socati,does not grieve for that which is not,16.4Sa ve loke na jīyati.they suffer no loss in the world.

17.1Yassa natthi idaṁ meti,If you don’t think of anything17.2Paresaṁ vāpi kiñcanaṁ;as belonging to yourself or others,17.3Mamattaṁ so asaṁvindaṁ,not finding any possessiveness,17.4Natthi meti na socati.you won’t grieve, thinking “I don’t have it”.

18.1Aniṭṭhurī ananugiddho,Not bitter, not fawning,18.2Anejo sabbadhī samo;unstirred, everywhere even;18.3Tamānisaṁsaṁ pabrūmi,when asked about one who is unwavering,18.4Pucchito avikampinaṁ.I declare that that is the benefit.

19.1Anejassa vijānato,For the unstirred who understand,19.2Natthi kāci nisaṅkhati;there’s no performance of deeds.19.3Virato so viyārabbhā,Desisting from instigation,19.4Khemaṁ passati sabbadhi.they see sanctuary everywhere.

20.1Na samesu na omesu,A sage doesn’t speak of themselves as being20.2Na ussesu vadate muni;among superiors, inferiors, or equals.20.3Santo so vītamaccharo,Peaceful, rid of stinginess,20.4Nādeti na nirassatī”ti.they are neither ditching nor taking up.

20.5Attadaṇḍasuttaṁ pannarasamaṁ.