Whoever is beaten by this wretched craving,Yaṁ esā sahate jammī, this attachment to the world,taṇhā loke visattikā; their sorrow grows,Sokā tassa pavaḍḍhanti, like grass in the rain.abhivaṭṭhaṁva bīraṇaṁ.
- Minor CollectionKhuddakanikāya
- Sayings of the Dhamma 334–359Dhammapada
24. CravingTaṇhāvagga
When a man lives heedlessly,Manujassa pamattacārino, craving grows in them like a camel’s foot creeper.Taṇhā vaḍḍhati māluvā viya; They jump from one thing to the next, like a langurSo plavatī hurā huraṁ, greedy for fruit in a forest grove.Phalamicchaṁva vanasmi vānaro.
But whoever prevails over this wretched craving,Yo cetaṁ sahate jammiṁ, so hard to get over in the world,taṇhaṁ loke duraccayaṁ; their sorrows fall from them,Sokā tamhā papatanti, like a drop from a lotus-leaf.udabinduva pokkharā.
I say this to you, good people,Taṁ vo vadāmi bhaddaṁ vo, all those who have gathered here:yāvantettha samāgatā; dig up the root of craving,Taṇhāya mūlaṁ khaṇatha, as you’d dig up grass in search of roots.usīratthova bīraṇaṁ; Don’t let Māra break you again and again,Mā vo naḷaṁva sotova, like a stream breaking a reed.māro bhañji punappunaṁ.
A tree grows back even when cut down,Yathāpi mūle anupaddave daḷhe, so long as its roots are strong and undamaged;Chinnopi rukkho punareva rūhati; suffering springs up again and again,Evampi taṇhānusaye anūhate, so long as the tendency to craving is not pulled out.Nibbattatī dukkhamidaṁ punappunaṁ.
A person of low viewsYassa chattiṁsati sotā, in whom the thirty-six streamsmanāpasavanā bhusā; that flow to pleasure are mighty,Mahāvahanti duddiṭṭhiṁ, is swept away by lustful thoughts.saṅkappā rāganissitā.
The streams flow everywhere;Savanti sabbadhi sotā, a weed springs up and remains.latā uppajja tiṭṭhati; Seeing this weed that has been born,Tañca disvā lataṁ jātaṁ, cut the root with wisdom.mūlaṁ paññāya chindatha.
A personage’s joysSaritāni sinehitāni ca, flow from senses and cravings.Somanassāni bhavanti jantuno; Seekers of happiness, bent on pleasure,Te sātasitā sukhesino, continue to be reborn and grow old.Te ve jātijarūpagā narā.
People governed by thirst,Tasiṇāya purakkhatā pajā, crawl about like a trapped rabbit.Parisappanti sasova bandhito; Bound and fettered, for a long timeSaṁyojanasaṅgasattakā, they return to pain time and again.Dukkhamupenti punappunaṁ cirāya.
People governed by thirst,Tasiṇāya purakkhatā pajā, crawl about like a trapped rabbit.Parisappanti sasova bandhito; That’s why one who longs for dispassionTasmā tasiṇaṁ vinodaye, should dispel thirst.Ākaṅkhanta virāgamattano.
Unsnarled, they set out for the jungle,Yo nibbanatho vanādhimutto, then they run right back to the jungle they left behind.Vanamutto vanameva dhāvati; Just look at this individual!Taṁ puggalametha passatha, Freed, they run to bondage.Mutto bandhanameva dhāvati.
The attentive say that shackle is not strongNa taṁ daḷhaṁ bandhanamāhu dhīrā, that’s made of iron, wood, or knots.Yadāyasaṁ dārujapabbajañca; But obsession with jeweled earrings,Sārattarattā maṇikuṇḍalesu, concern for your partners and children:Puttesu dāresu ca yā apekkhā.
this, say the attentive, is a strong shackleEtaṁ daḷhaṁ bandhanamāhu dhīrā, dragging the indulgent down, hard to escape.Ohārinaṁ sithilaṁ duppamuñcaṁ; Having cut this one too they go forth,Etampi chetvāna paribbajanti, unconcerned, having given up sensual pleasures.Anapekkhino kāmasukhaṁ pahāya.
Besotted by lust they fall into the stream,Ye rāgarattānupatanti sotaṁ, like a spider caught in the web she wove.Sayaṅkataṁ makkaṭakova jālaṁ; The attentive proceed, having cut this one too,Etampi chetvāna vajanti dhīrā, unconcerned, having given up all suffering.Anapekkhino sabbadukkhaṁ pahāya.
Let go of the past, let go of the future,Muñca pure muñca pacchato, let go of the present, having gone beyond rebirth.Majjhe muñca bhavassa pāragū; With your heart freed in every respect,Sabbattha vimuttamānaso, you’ll not come again to rebirth and old age.Na punaṁ jātijaraṁ upehisi.
For a personage churned by thoughts,Vitakkamathitassa jantuno, very lustful, focusing on beauty,Tibbarāgassa subhānupassino; their craving grows and grows,Bhiyyo taṇhā pavaḍḍhati, tying them with a stout bond.Esa kho daḷhaṁ karoti bandhanaṁ.
But one who loves to calm their thoughts,Vitakkūpasame ca yo rato, developing perception of ugliness, ever mindful,Asubhaṁ bhāvayate sadā sato; will surely eliminate that craving,Esa kho byanti kāhiti, cutting off the bonds of Māra.Esa checchati mārabandhanaṁ.
One who is confident, unafraid,Niṭṭhaṅgato asantāsī, rid of craving, free of blemish,vītataṇho anaṅgaṇo; having struck down the arrows flying to future lives,Acchindi bhavasallāni, this bag of bones is their last.antimoyaṁ samussayo.
Rid of craving, free of grasping,Vītataṇho anādāno, expert in the definition of terms,Niruttipadakovido; knowing the correctAkkharānaṁ sannipātaṁ, structure and sequence of syllables,Jaññā pubbāparāni ca; they are said to be one who bears their final body,Sa ve “antimasārīro, one of great wisdom, a great person.Mahāpañño mahāpuriso”ti vuccati.
I am the vanquisher of all, the knower of all,Sabbābhibhū sabbavidūhamasmi, unsullied in the midst of all things.Sabbesu dhammesu anūpalitto; I’ve given up all, freed in the ending of craving.Sabbañjaho taṇhakkhaye vimutto, Since I know for myself, whose follower should I be?Sayaṁ abhiññāya kamuddiseyyaṁ.
The gift of the teaching surmounts all other gifts;Sabbadānaṁ dhammadānaṁ jināti, the taste of the teaching surmounts all other tastes;Sabbarasaṁ dhammaraso jināti; the joy of the teaching surmounts all other joys;Sabbaratiṁ dhammarati jināti, the ending of craving surmounts all suffering.Taṇhakkhayo sabbadukkhaṁ jināti.
Riches ruin a simpleton,Hananti bhogā dummedhaṁ, but not a seeker of the far shore.no ca pāragavesino; From craving for wealth, a simpletonBhogataṇhāya dummedho, ruins themselves and others.hanti aññeva attanaṁ.
Weeds are the bane of crops,Tiṇadosāni khettāni, but greed is these folk’s bane.rāgadosā ayaṁ pajā; That’s why a gift to one rid of greedTasmā hi vītarāgesu, is so very fruitful.dinnaṁ hoti mahapphalaṁ.
Weeds are the bane of crops,Tiṇadosāni khettāni, but hate is these folk’s bane.dosadosā ayaṁ pajā; That’s why a gift to one rid of hateTasmā hi vītadosesu, is so very fruitful.dinnaṁ hoti mahapphalaṁ.
Weeds are the bane of crops,Tiṇadosāni khettāni, but delusion is these folk’s bane.mohadosā ayaṁ pajā; That’s why a gift to one rid of delusionTasmā hi vītamohesu, is so very fruitful.dinnaṁ hoti mahapphalaṁ.
Weeds are the bane of crops,Tiṇadosāni khettāni, but desire is these folk’s bane.icchādosā ayaṁ pajā; That’s why a gift to one rid of desireTasmā hi vigaticchesu, is so very fruitful.dinnaṁ hoti mahapphalaṁ.