dhp.221-234 Dhammapada

One should abandon anger, one should abandon conceit,
one should overcome every fetter,
without clinging to mind and bodily form,
sufferings never do befall the one having no possessions.

Whoever should hold back arisen anger just like a swerving chariot,
that one I say is a charioteer, other people are just rein-holders.

Through kindness one should overcome anger, through goodness one should overcome a lack of goodness,
through gifts one should overcome stinginess, through truth one should overcome lying speech.
One should speak out the truth, one should not get angry, when requested give, if only a little,
through these three conditions one can go to the presence of the gods.

Those sages without violence, constantly restrained in body,
go to the deathless Nibbāna, having gone there they do not grieve.
For those who are always wakeful, who train both by day and by night,
who are intent on Nibbāna, the pollutants are laid to rest.

This is something of old, Atula, this is not something of today:
they blame the one who sits silently, they blame the one who talks a lot,
they blame the one who talks in moderation, there is no one in the world not blamed.

There was not and there will not be, and at present there is not found
a person totally blameworthy, or one totally praiseworthy.

The one who, after being examined day by day, is praised by the wise,
faultless in conduct, sagacious, attending to virtue and wisdom,
one who is like a golden coin, who is there worthy to blame him?
That one is praised by the gods, and has been praised by the Brahmās too.

One should guard against bodily anger, one should be restrained bodily,
abandoning wrong bodily conduct, one should have good bodily conduct.

One should guard against verbal anger, one should be restrained verbally,
abandoning wrong verbal conduct, one should have good verbal conduct.
One should guard against mental anger, one should be restrained mentally,
abandoning wrong mental conduct, one should have good mental conduct.

The wise are restrained bodily, then they are restrained verbally,
the wise are restrained mentally, they are indeed very well-restrained.

Abandon anger, give up pride,
Overcome every fetter.
For afflictions do not beset one who has nothing,
Who is unattached to mind and body.

The one who would restrain anger as it arises,
Like a careening chariot,
I proclaim a true charioteer,
While another just holds the reins.

Conquer anger with conciliation,
Evil with good,
Stinginess with giving,
And a liar with the truth.

Speak the truth,
Have no anger,
Give when asked, even from little.
By these three, would you enter the presence of the
gods.

The wise do no harm,
Ever-restrained in body.
Having gone to the Unshakable State,
They grieve no more.

For those who are always awake,
Learning day and night,
Intent on Nibbāna,
The toxins disappear.

O Atula, this is not new but very old:
They criticize one who sits silently, they criticize
one who talks much,
And they criticize one who speaks moderately.
No one in the world goes uncriticized.

There was not, is not, and never will be
A person wholly criticized or wholly praised.

Who is worthy to reprove the one
Whom the intelligent, having examined day after
day, praise,

Whose conduct is faultless,
Who is intelligent, endowed with wisdom and
virtue,
Who is like a coin of fine gold:
Even the gods praise him;
Even by Brahmā he is praised.

Guard yourself from violence;
In body, be restrained.
Having now renounced this physical misconduct,
Act properly with the body.

Guard yourself from angry speech;
In speech, be restrained.
Having now renounced this verbal misconduct,
Act properly with speech.

Guard yourself against an angry mind;
In mind, be restrained.
Having now renounced this mental misconduct,
Act properly with the mind.

The wise who are restrained in body, restrained in
speech,
And restrained in mind, are indeed thoroughly
restrained.

One should give up anger, renounce pride, and overcome all fetters. Suffering never befalls him who clings not to mind and body and is detached.

He who checks rising anger as a charioteer checks a rolling chariot, him I call a true charioteer. Others only hold the reins.

Overcome the angry by non-anger; overcome the wicked by goodness; overcome the miser by generosity; overcome the liar by truth.

Speak the truth; yield not to anger; when asked, give even if you only have a little. By these three means can one reach the presence of the gods.

Those sages who are inoffensive and ever restrained in body, go to the Deathless State, where, having gone, they grieve no more.

Those who are ever vigilant, who discipline themselves day and night, and are ever intent upon Nibbana—their defilements fade away.

O Atula! Indeed, this is an ancient practice, not one only of today: they blame those who remain silent, they blame those who speak much, they blame those who speak in moderation. There is none in the world who is not blamed.

There never was, there never will be, nor is there now, a person who is wholly blamed or wholly praised.

But the man whom the wise praise, after observing him day after day, is one of flawless character, wise, and endowed with knowledge and virtue.

Who can blame such a one, as worthy as a coin of refined gold? Even the gods praise him; by Brahma, too, is he praised.

Let a man guard himself against irritability in bodily action; let him be controlled in deed. Abandoning bodily misconduct, let him practice good conduct in deed.

Let a man guard himself against irritability in speech; let him be controlled in speech. Abandoning verbal misconduct, let him practice good conduct in speech.

Let a man guard himself against irritability in thought; let him be controlled in mind. Abandoning mental misconduct, let him practice good conduct in thought.

The wise are controlled in bodily action, controlled in speech and controlled in thought. They are truly well-controlled.