MahākaccānaMahākaccāyanattheragāthā

Don’t get involved in lots of work,“Kammaṁ bahukaṁ na kāraye, avoid people, and don’t try to acquire things.Parivajjeyya janaṁ na uyyame; If you’re eager and greedy for flavors,So ussukko rasānugiddho, you’ll miss the goal that brings such happiness.Atthaṁ riñcati yo sukhādhivāho.

They know it really is a bog,Paṅkoti hi naṁ avedayuṁ, this homage and veneration in respectable families.Yāyaṁ vandanapūjanā kulesu; Honor is a subtle dart, hard to extract,Sukhumaṁ sallaṁ durubbahaṁ, and hard for a reprobate to give up.Sakkāro kāpurisena dujjaho.

The deeds of a mortal aren’t badNa parassupanidhāya, because of what others do.kammaṁ maccassa pāpakaṁ; You yourself should not do bad,Attanā taṁ na seveyya, for mortals have deeds as their kin.kammabandhū hi mātiyā.

You’re not a bandit because of what someone says,Na pare vacanā coro, you’re not a sage because of what someone says;na pare vacanā muni; but as you know yourself,Attā ca naṁ yathāvedi, so the gods will know you.devāpi naṁ tathā vidū.

When others do not understand,Pare ca na vijānanti, let us, who do understand this,mayamettha yamāmase; restrain ourselves in this regard;Ye ca tattha vijānanti, for that is how conflicts are laid to rest.tato sammanti medhagā.

A wise person lives onJīvate vāpi sappañño, even after loss of wealth;api vittaparikkhayo; but without gaining wisdom,Paññāya ca alābhena, even a rich person doesn’t really live.vittavāpi na jīvati.

All is heard with the ear,Sabbaṁ suṇāti sotena, all is seen with the eye;sabbaṁ passati cakkhunā; the attentive ought not discardNa ca diṭṭhaṁ sutaṁ dhīro, all that is seen and heard.sabbaṁ ujjhitumarahati.

Though you have eyes, be as if blind;Cakkhumāssa yathā andho, though you have ears, be as if deaf;sotavā badhiro yathā; though you have wisdom, be as if dumb;Paññavāssa yathā mūgo, though you have strength, be as if feeble.balavā dubbaloriva; And when issues come upAtha atthe samuppanne, lie as still as a corpse.sayetha matasāyikan”ti.