Taking Up ArmsAttadaṇḍasutta

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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