Dhammapada Ch.3 Cittavagga (The mind)
33 [III.1]
Phandanaṃ capalaṃ cittaṃ
durakkhaṃ dunnivârayaṃ,
ujuṃ karoti medhàvî
usukâro va tejanaṃ.
Wavering, unsteady,
Hard to guard, hard to check,
The mind – The wise makes it straight,
As the fletcher an arrow.
Phanada (adj.)= wavering
capala (adj.) = unsteady
cittaṃ (nom. sg.) = the mind
durakkha (adj.) = hard to guard
dunnivâraya (adj.) = hard to check
uju (adj.) = straight
karoti = he does
medhâvin = wise
usu-kâra = an arrow-maker, a fletcher
tejanaṃ (acc. sg.) = an arrow
34. [III.2]
Vârijo va thale khitto
okam-okata' ubbhato,
pariphandatidaṃ cittaṃ
mâradheyyaṃ pahâtave.
Like a fish pulled out
From water and thrown on land:
This mind quivers
To escape the realm of Mâra.
Vârija (nom. sg.) = a fish
thale (loc. sg.) = on dry ground
khitta = thrown
okam = okasya -gen. sg.) =from water
okato (abl. sg.) = from the safety place
ubbhata = drawn out
pariphandatida = it quivers
mâra-dheyya = in the realm of Mâra
34. [III.3]
Dunniggahassa lahuno
yatthakâmanipâtino,
cittassa damatho sâdhu,
cittaṃ dantaṃ sukhâvahaṃ.
Hard to seize, ever swift
Wandering wherever it wishes:
The mind. It is good to tame it.
A tamed mind brings happiness.
Duniggaha (adj.) = hard to seize
lahu (adj.) = light, swift
yattha-kâma-nipâtin (adj.) = chancing upon where it wishes
damatha(nom. sg.) = the taming
sâdhu (adj.) = good
danta = tamed
sukhâvaha (adj.) = leading to happiness
36. [III.4]
Sududdasaṃ sunipunaṃ
yatthakâmanipâtinaṃ,
cittaṃ rakkhetha medhâvî,
cittaṃ guttaṃ sukhâvahaṃ.
Difficult to see, subtle,
Wandering where it wishes,
The mind – the wise should guard it,
A protected mind lbrings happiness.
Sududdasa (adj.) = difficult to see
sunipuna (adj.) = subtle
yattha-kâma-nipâtin (adj.) = chancing upon where it wishes
rakkhetha = he should protect
medhavin (adj.) = wise
gutta = protectd
sukhâvaha (adj.) = leading to happiness
37. [III.5]
Dûraṅgamaṃ ekacaraṃ
asarîraṃ guhâsayaṃ,
ye cittaṃ saññam-essanti
mokkhanti mârabandhanâ
Wanderng far, going alone,
Bodiless, lying in a cave,
The mind – Those who restrain it
Are released from the fetters of Mâra.
dûraṅgamaṃ = wandering far
ekacaram = going alone
asarîram = bodiless
guhâsaya = llying in a cave
saññam-essanti = they restrain
mokkhanti = they are released
mâra-bandhanâ = from the fetters of Mâra
38. [III.6]
Anavaṭṭhitacittassa
saddhammaṃ avijânato,
paripalavapasâdassa
paññà na paripûrati.
For those with an unsteady mind
Ignoring the true dhamma
With wavering faith
Wisdom does not grow full.
sad-dhammaṃ (acc. sg.) = the true Dhamma
paripalava-pasâda (adj.) = with wavering faith
paññâ (nom. sg.) = wisdom
paripûrati = grows full, becomes perfect
39.[III.7]
Anavassutacittassa
ananvâhatacetaso,
puññapâpapahîṇassa
natthi jâgarato bhayaṃ.
With his mindsteady,
With unassaulted awareness
Having abondoned merit and evil,
The wakeful knows no more fear.
Anavassuta-citta (adj.) = with an steady mind
anavâhatacetasa (adj.) = with unassaulted awareness
puñña-pâpa-pahîṇa =having given up merit and evil
natthi = there is no
bhayaṃ (nom. sg.) =danger, fear
jâgara (adj.) = wakeful
40. [III.8]
Kumbhûpamaṃ kâyam-imaṃ viditvâ,
nagarûpamaṃ cittam-idaṃ ṭhapetvâ,
yodhetha mâraṃ paññâyudhena,
jitañ-ca rakkhe anivesano siyâ.
Knowing this body is like a clay pot,
Fortifying this mind like a well-fortified city
One should fight Mâra with the sword of wisdom,
Then, unattached, one should guard the conquest.
Kumbh-ûpama = ressembling a jar
kâyam-imam (acc. sg.) = this body
viditvâ = knowing
nagar-ûpama = ressembling a well-fortified city
cittam-idam (acc. sg.) = this mind
yodetha = one should fight
pañña-yudhena (inst. sg.) = with the sword of wisdom
jita (pp. Of jayati) = conquered
rakkhe = one should protect
anivesana = unattached
siyâ = he shoud be
41. [III.9]
Aciraṃ vatayaṃ kâyo
pañhaviṃ adhisessati,
chuddho apetaviññâṇo
niratthaṃ va kaliṅgaraṃ.
All too soon, this body
will lie upon the earth,
thrown away,
bereft of consciousness,
like a useless log.
aciraṃ = not long
vatayaṃ= alas!
Kâya (nom. sg.) = body
panhaviaM (acc. sg.)= the earth, the ground
adhisessati = will lien on
chuddha (adj.) = thrown away
apetaviññaṇa (adj.) = bereft of consciousness
nirattha (adj.) = useless
kaliṅgaraṃ (nom. sg.) = a log, a piece of wood.
42. [III.10]
Diso disaṃ yantaṃ
kayirâ verî vâ pana
verinaṃ micchâpaṇihitaṃ
cittaṃ pâpiyo naṃ tato kare.
Whatever harm an enemy
might do to an enemy
or a hater to a hater,an -ill directed mind
inflicts on ones elf even worse.
Disa (nom. sg.)= enemy
disaṃ (acc. sg.)= enemy
kayirâ = might do
vâ pana =or else
verî (nom. sg.)= a hater
verinaṃ (acc. sg.)= a ahter
micchâpaṇihita (adj.) = ill directed
43. [III.11]
Na taṃ mâtâ pitâ kayirâ
aññe vâ pi ca ñâtakâ
sammâpaṇihitaṃ cittaṃ
seyyaso naṃ tato kare.
Mâtâ (nom. sg.) = mother
Pîtâ (nom. sg.) = father
aññe ñâtakâ (nom. pl.) = the other relatives
sammâpaṇihita (adj.) = well-directed
seyyaso (abl. sg. As adv.) = still better
kare = can do
tato (abl. sg.) = further
Neither mother, father
nor any other relative
can do one greater good
than one's own well-directed mind.
For those with an unsteady mind
Ignoring the true dhamma
With wavering faith
Wisdom does not grow full.
Anavaṭṭhitacitta (adj.) = unsteady