GodattaGodattattheragāthā

Just as a fine thoroughbred,“Yathāpi bhaddo ājañño, yoked to a carriage, endures the load.dhure yutto dhurassaho; Though oppressed by the heavy burden,Mathito atibhārena, it doesn’t shake off the yoke.saṁyugaṁ nātivattati.

So too, those who are as full of wisdomEvaṁ paññāya ye tittā, as the ocean is with water,samuddo vārinā yathā; don’t look down on others;Na pare atimaññanti, this is the teaching of the noble ones <j>for living creatures.ariyadhammova pāṇinaṁ.

People who fall under the sway of time,Kāle kālavasaṁ pattā, the sway of rebirth in this or that state,bhavābhavavasaṁ gatā; undergo suffering,Narā dukkhaṁ nigacchanti, and those young men grieve in this life.tedha socanti māṇavā.

Elated by things that bring happiness,Unnatā sukhadhammena, downcast by things that bring suffering:dukkhadhammena conatā; this pair destroys the foolDvayena bālā haññanti, who doesn’t see things as they are.yathābhūtaṁ adassino.

But those who in suffering, and in happiness,Ye ca dukkhe sukhasmiñca, and in the middle have overcome the weaver—majjhe sibbinimaccagū; they stand like Indra’s pillar,Ṭhitā te indakhīlova, neither elated nor downcast.na te unnataonatā.

Not to gain nor loss,Na heva lābhe nālābhe, not to fame nor reputation,na yase na ca kittiyā; not to criticism nor praise,Na nindāyaṁ pasaṁsāya, not to suffering nor happiness—na te dukkhe sukhamhi ca.

the wise cling to nothing,Sabbattha te na limpanti, like a droplet on a lotus-leaf.udabinduva pokkhare; They are happy everywhere,Sabbattha sukhitā dhīrā, and victorious everywhere.sabbattha aparājitā.

There’s legitimate loss,Dhammena ca alābho yo, and there’s illegitimate gain.yo ca lābho adhammiko; Legitimate loss is betterAlābho dhammiko seyyo, than illegitimate gain.yañce lābho adhammiko.

There’s the fame of the unintelligent,Yaso ca appabuddhīnaṁ, and there’s the disrepute of the discerning.viññūnaṁ ayaso ca yo; The disrepute of the discerning is betterAyasova seyyo viññūnaṁ, than the fame of the unintelligent.na yaso appabuddhinaṁ.

There’s praise by simpletons,Dummedhehi pasaṁsā ca, and there’s criticism by the discerning.viññūhi garahā ca yā; Criticism by the discerning is betterGarahāva seyyo viññūhi, than praise by fools.yañce bālappasaṁsanā.

There’s the happiness of sensual pleasures,Sukhañca kāmamayikaṁ, and there’s the suffering of seclusion.dukkhañca pavivekiyaṁ; The suffering of seclusion is betterPavivekadukkhaṁ seyyo, than the happiness of sensual pleasures.yañce kāmamayaṁ sukhaṁ.

There’s life without principles,Jīvitañca adhammena, and there’s death with principles.dhammena maraṇañca yaṁ; Death with principles is betterMaraṇaṁ dhammikaṁ seyyo, than life without principles.yañce jīve adhammikaṁ.

Those who’ve given up desire and anger,Kāmakopappahīnā ye, their minds at peace <j>regarding rebirth in this or that state,santacittā bhavābhave; wander in the world unattached,Caranti loke asitā, for them nothing is beloved or unloved.natthi tesaṁ piyāpiyaṁ.

Having developed the awakening factors,Bhāvayitvāna bojjhaṅge, the faculties and the powers,indriyāni balāni ca; having arrived at ultimate peace,Pappuyya paramaṁ santiṁ, the undefiled become fully quenched.parinibbantināsavā”ti.