Like a fish pulled from the seaVārijova thale khitto, and cast upon the shore,okamokataubbhato; this mind flounders about,Pariphandatidaṁ cittaṁ, trying to throw off Māra’s dominion.māradheyyaṁ pahātave.
- Minor CollectionKhuddakanikāya
- Sayings of the Dhamma 33–43Dhammapada
3. The MindCittavagga
The mind quivers and shakes,Phandanaṁ capalaṁ cittaṁ, hard to guard, hard to curb.dūrakkhaṁ dunnivārayaṁ; The discerning straighten it out,Ujuṁ karoti medhāvī, like a fletcher an arrow.usukārova tejanaṁ.
Hard to hold back, flighty,Dunniggahassa lahuno, alighting where it will;yatthakāmanipātino; it’s good to tame the mind;Cittassa damatho sādhu, a tamed mind leads to bliss.cittaṁ dantaṁ sukhāvahaṁ.
So hard to see, so subtle,Sududdasaṁ sunipuṇaṁ, alighting where it will;yatthakāmanipātinaṁ; the discerning protect the mind,Cittaṁ rakkhetha medhāvī, a guarded mind leads to bliss.cittaṁ guttaṁ sukhāvahaṁ.
The mind travels far, wandering alone;Dūraṅgamaṁ ekacaraṁ, incorporeal, it lies hidden in the heart.asarīraṁ guhāsayaṁ; Those who will restrain the mindYe cittaṁ saṁyamissanti, are freed from Māra’s bonds.mokkhanti mārabandhanā.
Those of unsteady mind,Anavaṭṭhitacittassa, who don’t understand the true teaching,saddhammaṁ avijānato; and whose confidence wavers,Pariplavapasādassa, do not perfect their wisdom.paññā na paripūrati.
One whose mind is not festering,Anavassutacittassa, whose heart is undamaged,ananvāhatacetaso; who’s given up right and wrong,Puññapāpapahīnassa, alert, has nothing to fear.natthi jāgarato bhayaṁ.
Knowing this body breaks like a pot,Kumbhūpamaṁ kāyamimaṁ viditvā, and fortifying the mind like a citadel,Nagarūpamaṁ cittamidaṁ ṭhapetvā; attack Māra with the sword of wisdom,Yodhetha māraṁ paññāvudhena, guard your conquest, and never settle.Jitañca rakkhe anivesano siyā.
All too soon this bodyAciraṁ vatayaṁ kāyo, will lie upon the earth,pathaviṁ adhisessati; bereft of consciousness,Chuddho apetaviññāṇo, tossed aside like a worthless log.niratthaṁva kaliṅgaraṁ.
A wrongly directed mindDiso disaṁ yaṁ taṁ kayirā, would do you more harmverī vā pana verinaṁ; than a hater to the hated,Micchāpaṇihitaṁ cittaṁ, or an enemy to their foe.pāpiyo naṁ tato kare.
A rightly directed mindNa taṁ mātā pitā kayirā, would do you more goodaññe vāpi ca ñātakā; than your mother or fatherSammāpaṇihitaṁ cittaṁ, or any other relative.seyyaso naṁ tato kare.