DHAMMAPADA
47
Moving alone, far-travelling, bodiless, hidden
i th’ heart, who trains
His thought and binds it by his will shall be
released from Mara’s chains.
Who stills not thought, nor knows true laws;
in whom distraction is not dumb,
Troubling his peace of mind; he shall to
perfect knowledge never come.
His thoughts concentred, unperplexed his
mind renouncing good and ill
Alike, for him there is no fear if only he
be watchful still.
Knowing this body to be frail, making this
thought a fortalice, do thou aright
Mara with wisdom’s shaft assail! Watch
him when conquered. Never cease thou
from the fight.
Alas! ere long a useless log, this body on
the earth will lie
Contemned of all, and void of sense and
understanding’s unity.
What foe may wreak on foe, or hate work
on the hated from the hater,
Surely an ill directed mind on us will do
a mischief greater.
Father and mother, kith and kin, of these
can none do service kind
So great to us, as to ourselves the good
direction of the mind.
IV.
FLOWERS.
O who shall overcome this earth, the world
of God’s and Yama’s ! power !
Who find the well taught Path as skill of
herbist finds the proper flower?
1 Hades plus Minos; he both rules and
judges the dead, according to Hindu mytho-
logy.
The seeker shall subdue this earth, the world
of God’s and Yama’s power;
The seeker find that Path as skill of
t herbist
finds the proper flower.
Like unto foam this body whoso sees, its
mirage-nature comprehends aright,
Breaking dread Mara’s flower-pointed shaft
he goes, Death’s monarch shall not meet
his sight.
Like one who strayeth gathering flowers, is
he who Pleasure lusteth on ;
As the flood whelms the sleeping village, so
Death snaps him—he is gone.
Like one who strayeth gathering flowers is
he whose thoughts to Pleasure cling ;
While yet unsatisfied with lusts, there con-
quereth him the Iron King.
As the bee gathers nectar, hurts not the
flower’s colour, its sweet smell
In no wise injureth, so let the Sage within
his hamlet dwell.
To others’ failures, others’ sins done or good
deeds undone let swerve
Never the thought; thine own misdeeds,
omissions, —these alone observe.
Like to a lovely flower of hue bright, that
hath yet no odour sweet,
So are his words who speaketh well, fruitless,
by action incomplete.
Like to a lovely flower of hue delightful and
of odour sweet
So are his words who speaketh well, fruitful,
by action made complete.
As from a heap of flowers can men make
many garlands, so, once born,
A man a-many noble deeds by doing may
his life adorn.