Dhammapada Ch.2 - Appamâda (Vigilance)
21. [II.1]
Appamâdo amatapadaṃ,
pamâdo maccuno padaṃ,
appamattâ na mîyanti,
ye pamattâ yathâ matâ.
Vigilance is the path to the deathless
Negligence the path to death,
The vigilant do not die,
The negligent are as if dead.
Appamâda (nom. sg.) = Vigilance
Amata-padam (nom. sg.) = the way to the deathless
Pamâdo= negligence
Maccuno (gen. sg.)= of death
appamattâ (nom. pl.) = the vigilant
pamattâ (nom. pl.) = the negligent
yathâ = as if
mata = dead
22. [II.2]
Etaṃ visesato ñatvâ
appamâdamhi paṇḑitâ,
appamâde pamodanti,
ariyânaṃ gocare ratâ.
Knowing this distinctively,
The experts in vigilance
Rejoice in vigilance,
Delighting in the range of the Ariyas.
Etaṃ (acc. sg.) = this
visesato (abl. sg.) = distinctively
ñatvâ = knowing
appamâdahmhi (loc. sg.) = in vigilance
panditâ (nom. pl.) = the experts
appamâde (loc. sg.) = in vigilance
pamodanti = they rejoice
ariyânam (gen. pl.) = of the ariyas
gocare = in the field
rata (adj.) = delighting
23. [II.3]
Te jhâyino sâtatikâ,
niccaṃ daḷhaparakkamâ,
phusanti dhîrâ nibbâṇaṃ,
yogakkhemaṃ anuttaraṃ.
They practice jhâna, are persevering,
Constantly firm in their effort,
Wise, they touch the nibbâna,
This unexcelled release from bondange.
Jhâyin = meditative
sâtatika = persevering
niccaṃ = constantly
daḷha (adj.) = strong, firm (cf. latin fortis)
parakkama (adj.) = endeavouring
phusanti = they touch
dhîra (adj.) = firm wise
yoga-kkhemaṃ (acc. sg.) = peace from bondage
anuttara (adj.) = unexcelled
24. [II.4]
Uṭṭhânavato satimato,
sucikammassa nisammakârino,
saññatassa ca dhammajîvino,
appamattassa yasobhivaḍḍhati.
Full of zeal, mindful,
Pure in his action, acting considerately,
Skilled and living according to the Dhamma,
Vigilant, his glory grows.
Uṭṭhânavant (adj.) = possessed with zeal
satimata (adj.) = attentive
sucikamma (adj.) = of pure action
nisamma-kârin (adj.) = acting considerately
saññata (adj.) = skilled
dhamma-jîvin (adj.) = living in the Dhamma
appamatta (adj.) = vigilant
yasa (nom. sg.)= fame
abhivaḍḍhati = it grows
25. [II.5]
Uṭṭhânenappamâdena
saṃyamena damena ca,
dîpaṃ kayirâtha medhâvî,
yaṃ ogho nâbhikîrati.
Through zeal, through vigilance
Through restraint, through self-control
The wise makes an island,
Which no flood can submerge.
Uṭṭhânena (inst. sg.) = through zeal
appamâdena (inst. sg.)= through vigilance
saṃyamena (inst. sg.) = through restraint
damena (inst. sg.) = through self-contol
dîpaṃ (acc. sg.)
medhâvî (nom. sg.) = the wise
kayirâtha= he must do
ogha (nom. sg.) = the flood
abhikîrati = it overwhelms
26 [II.6]
Pamâdam-anuyuñjanti
bâlâ dummedhino janâ,
appamâdañ-ca medhâvî
dhanaṃ seṭṭhaṃ va rakkhati.
They cling to negligence,
- Stupid and ignorant people -
But the wise cherishes vigilance
As his supreme wealth.
Pamâdam (acc. sg.) = negligence
anuyuñjanti = they cling to
bâla (adj.) = stupid
janâ (nom. sg.) = people
dummedhina (adj.) = foolish, ignorant
medhâvin (adj.) = sage
appamâdaṃ (acc. sg.) = vigilance
dhanaṃ (acc. sg.) = wealth
seṭṭha (adj.) = supreme
rakkhati = he protects
27. [II.7]
Mâ pamâdam-anuyuñjetha
mâ kâmaratisanthavaṃ,
appamatto hi jhâyanto
pappoti vipulaṃ sukhaṃ.
May he not cling to negligence
nor to intimacy with sensual pleasures
He who is vigilant, who practices meditation
Obtains an abundant happiness.
Kâma-rati-santhava (adj.) = dwelling in the sensual pleasures
appamatta (adj.) = vigilant
jhâyant (adj.) = they meditate
pappoti = he obtains
vipula (adj.) = abundant
sukhaṃ (acc. sg.) = happiness
28. [II.8]
Pamâdaṃ appamâdena
yadâ nudati paṇḍito,
paññâpâsâdam-âruyha,
asoko sokiniṃ pajaṃ,
abbataṭṭho va bhummaṭṭhe
dhîro bâle avekkhati.
When through vigilance,
The wise drives away negligence,
Having climbed to the serenity of wisdom,
Sorrow-free, he observes the sorrowing crowd
as the enlightend man, standing on a mountain
observes the fools on the ground below.
Nudati = he drives away
pandita (adj.) =expert, wise
paññâ-pasâdam = the joy of wisdom
âruyha = having climbed
asoka (adj.) = without sorrow
sokin (adj.) = sorrowing
pajaṃ (acc. sg.) = crowd
pabbata-ṭṭha (adj.) = standind on a moutain
bhumma-ṭṭha (adj.) = standing on the earth
bâla (adj.) = stupid, fool
avekkhati =he observes, he looks at
29.[II.9] Appamatto pamattesu, suttesu bahujâgaro, abalassaṃ va sîghasso hitvâ yâti sumedhaso. Vigilant among the negligent, Wide awake among those asleep, Like a swift horse leaving the weak behind, The wise advances. Appamatta (adj.) = vigilant pamatta (adj.) = negligent sutta (adj.) = asleep bahujâgara (adj.) = wide awake sîghassa (nom. sg.) = a swift horse abalassaṃ (acc. sg.) = a weak horse hitvâ = having left yâti = he goes sumedha (adj.) = wise 30. [II.10] Appamâdena maghavâ devânaṃ seṭṭhataṃ gato, appamâdaṃ pasaṃsanti, pamâdo garahito sadâ. Through vigilance Indra Acquired lordship over the gods, One praises vigilance, Negligence is always blamed. Maghavâ = Indra devânaṃ (gen. pl.) = of the godes seṭṭhataṃ (acc. sg.) = lordship gata = gone pasaṃsanti = they praise garahita = blamed sadâ = always Appamâdarato bhikkhu, pamâde bhayadassivâ, saṃyojanaṃ aṇuṃ-thulaṃ ḍahaṃ aggî va gacchati. The bhiikkhu who delights in vigilance, Who sees the danger in negligence Advances like fire , burning The fetters, large and small. Appâmada-rata = who delights in vigilance bhaya = fear dassin (adj.) = seeing aṇu (adj.) = small thûla (adj.) = large dahant= burning saṃyojanaṃ (acc. sg.) = the fetter aggî (nom. sg.) = fire gacchati = it goes 32 [II.12] Appamâdarato bhikkhu, pamâde bhayadassivâ, abhabbo parihâṇâya, nibbâṇasseva santike. The bhikkhu who delights in vigilance Who sees danger in negligence Unable of falling back Is close to nibbâna. Abhabba = unable parihâṇâya (dat. sg.) = falling back nibbâṇassa (gen. sg.) = of nibbâna eva = itself santike (loc. sg.) = in the presence
31. [II.11]