Don’t ever get too closeMā piyehi samāgañchi, to those you like or dislike.appiyehi kudācanaṁ; For not seeing the liked is suffering,Piyānaṁ adassanaṁ dukkhaṁ, and so is seeing the disliked.appiyānañca dassanaṁ.
- Minor CollectionKhuddakanikāya
- Sayings of the Dhamma 209–220Dhammapada
16. The BelovedPiyavagga
Applying yourself where you ought not,Ayoge yuñjamattānaṁ, neglecting what you should be doing,yogasmiñca ayojayaṁ; forgetting your goal, you cling to what you hold dear,Atthaṁ hitvā piyaggāhī, jealous of those devoted to their heart’s goal.pihetattānuyoginaṁ.
Therefore don’t hold anything dear,Tasmā piyaṁ na kayirātha, for it’s bad to lose those you love.piyāpāyo hi pāpako; No ties are found in they whoGanthā tesaṁ na vijjanti, hold nothing loved or loathed.yesaṁ natthi piyāppiyaṁ.
Sorrow springs from what we hold dear,Piyato jāyatī soko, fear springs from what we hold dear;piyato jāyatī bhayaṁ; one free from holding anything dearPiyato vippamuttassa, has no sorrow, let alone fear.natthi soko kuto bhayaṁ.
Sorrow springs from attachment,Pemato jāyatī soko, fear springs from attachment;pemato jāyatī bhayaṁ; one free from attachmentPemato vippamuttassa, has no sorrow, let alone fear.natthi soko kuto bhayaṁ.
Sorrow springs from relishing,Ratiyā jāyatī soko, fear springs from relishing;ratiyā jāyatī bhayaṁ; one free from relishingRatiyā vippamuttassa, has no sorrow, let alone fear.natthi soko kuto bhayaṁ.
Sorrow springs from desire,Kāmato jāyatī soko, fear springs from desire;kāmato jāyatī bhayaṁ; one free from desireKāmato vippamuttassa, has no sorrow, let alone fear.natthi soko kuto bhayaṁ.
Sorrow springs from craving,Taṇhāya jāyatī soko, fear springs from craving;taṇhāya jāyatī bhayaṁ; one free from cravingTaṇhāya vippamuttassa, has no sorrow, let alone fear.natthi soko kuto bhayaṁ.
One accomplished in virtue and vision,Sīladassanasampannaṁ, firmly principled, and truthful,dhammaṭṭhaṁ saccavedinaṁ; doing oneself what ought be done:Attano kamma kubbānaṁ, that’s who the people love.taṁ jano kurute piyaṁ.
One eager to realize the ineffableChandajāto anakkhāte, would be filled with awareness.Manasā ca phuṭo siyā; Their mind not bound to pleasures of sense,Kāmesu ca appaṭibaddhacitto, they’re said to be heading upstream.Uddhaṁsototi vuccati.
When a man returns safelyCirappavāsiṁ purisaṁ, after a long time spent abroad,dūrato sotthimāgataṁ; family, friends, and loved onesÑātimittā suhajjā ca, celebrate his return.abhinandanti āgataṁ.
Just so, when one who has done goodTatheva katapuññampi, goes from this world to the next,asmā lokā paraṁ gataṁ; their good deeds receive them there,Puññāni paṭigaṇhanti, as family welcomes home one they love.piyaṁ ñātīva āgataṁ.