dhp.290-305 Dhammapada

If, by renouncing a small good, he might see a good that is large,
the wise one should renounce that small good, seeing the good that is extensive.

One who desires happiness for oneself by causing suffering for another,
being associated thus with hatred, is not fully released from that hatred.

That to be done is rejected, but what is not to be done is done,
for the insolent, the heedless, their pollutants increase.

But for those who always properly undertake mindfulness of the body
who do not practice what is not to be done, persisting in what is to be done,
for those mindful ones, those fully aware, the pollutants are laid to rest.

Destroying mother and father, and then two noble kings,
destroying a kingdom and its followers, the brahmin proceeds untroubled.

Destroying mother and father, and two prosperous kings,
destroying a tiger as the fifth, the brahmin proceeds untroubled.

Gotama’s disciples always awake to a good wakening,
those who day and night constantly have mindfulness of the Buddha.

Gotama’s disciples always awake to a good wakening,
those who day and night constantly have mindfulness of the Dhamma.

Gotama’s disciples always awake to a good wakening,
those who day and night constantly have mindfulness of the Saṅgha.

Gotama’s disciples always awake to a good wakening,
those who day and night constantly have mindfulness of the body.

Gotama’s disciples always awake to a good wakening,
those who day and night have a mind that delights in non-violence.

Gotama’s disciples always awake to a good wakening,
those who day and night have a mind that delights in cultivation.

The going forth is hard, it is hard to find delight therein, but it is also hard to dwell in households that are suffering,
dwelling together with those different is suffering, travellers in the round of births are affected by suffering,
therefore do not be a traveller, do not be affected by suffering.

The faithful one who is endowed with virtue, and has wealth and fame,
whatever district he resorts to, right there and then he is worshipped.

The good are visible from far, like a mountain covered in snow,
but the wicked are not seen here, just like arrows shot in the night.

Sitting alone, lying down alone, walking alone, diligent,
the solitary one who trains himself will delight in the edge of a forest.

If by renouncing a small happiness
One could see a great happiness,
Then, let the wise one, seeing the great happiness,
Renounce the small happiness.

One who, contaminated by anger,
Would seek happiness at the expense of another’s
affliction,
Is hostility’s prisoner.

The toxins increase for the proud and negligent.
They reject what should be done
And do what should not be done.

But those who are well-resolved, ever-mindful of
the body,
Who do not practice what should not be done,
But persevere in what should be done;
For those, mindful and knowing, the toxins
dissipate.

Having slain mother, father,
And two warrior kings;
Having slain the kingdom and its subjects,
The brahmin, undisturbed, proceeds.

Having slain mother, father,
And two learned kings, with a tiger as fifth,
The brahmin, undisturbed, proceeds.

The disciples of Gotama,
They awaken well-awake,
As their mindfulness, day and night,
Is ever-directed to the Buddha.

The disciples of Gotama,
They awaken well-awake,
Their mindfulness, day and night,
Is ever-directed to the Dhamma.

The disciples of Gotama,
They awaken well-awake.
Their mindfulness, day and night,
Is ever-directed to the Sangha.

The disciples of Gotama,
They awaken well-awake.
Their mindfulness, day and night,
Is ever-directed to the body.

The disciples of Gotama,
They awaken well-awake.
Their mind, day and night,
Is ever-devoted to non-violence.

The disciples of Gotama,
They awaken well-awake.
Their mind, day and night,
Is ever-devoted to meditation.

Difficult it is to go forth, difficult to delight thus.
Difficult it is to inhabit households, which are
afflictive.
Painful is the company of people so different.
Suffering afflicts a traveler.
So be neither a traveler nor befallen by suffering.

The one who is faithful, endowed in virtue,
Possessed of fame and wealth—
Wherever he goes, he is honored.

The good are seen from afar,
Like snowy mountains.
The bad are unseen here,
Like arrows shot into the night.

Sitting alone, resting alone,
Roaming alone, keenly attentive,
Mastering himself in solitude:
Such a one would delight in the forest.

If by renouncing a lesser happiness one may realize a greater happiness, let the wise man renounce the lesser, having regard for the greater.

Entangled by the bonds of hate, he who seeks his own happiness by inflicting pain on others, is never delivered from hatred.

The cankers only increase for those who are arrogant and heedless, who leave undone what should be done and do what should not be done.

The cankers cease for those mindful and clearly comprehending ones who always earnestly practice mindfulness of the body, who do not resort to what should not be done, and steadfastly pursue what should be done.

Having slain mother (craving), father (self-conceit), two warrior-kings (eternalism and nihilism), and destroyed a country (sense organs and sense objects) together with its treasurer (attachment and lust), ungrieving goes the holy man.

Having slain mother, father, two brahman kings (two extreme views), and a tiger as the fifth (the five mental hindrances), ungrieving goes the holy man.

Those disciples of Gotama ever awaken happily who day and night constantly practice the Recollection of the Qualities of the Buddha.

Those disciples of Gotama ever awaken happily who day and night constantly practice the Recollection of the Qualities of the Dhamma.

Those disciples of Gotama ever awaken happily who day and night constantly practice the Recollection of the Qualities of the Sangha.

Those disciples of Gotama ever awaken happily who day and night constantly practice Mindfulness of the Body.

Those disciples of Gotama ever awaken happily whose minds by day and night delight in the practice of non-violence.

Those disciples of Gotama ever awaken happily whose minds by day and night delight in the practice of meditation.

Difficult is life as a monk; difficult is it to delight therein. Also difficult and sorrowful is the household life. Suffering comes from association with unequals; suffering comes from wandering in samsara. Therefore, be not an aimless wanderer, be not a pursuer of suffering.

He who is full of faith and virtue, and possesses good repute and wealth—he is respected everywhere, in whatever land he travels.

The good shine from afar, like the Himalaya mountains. But the wicked are unseen, like arrows shot in the night.

He who sits alone, sleeps alone, and walks alone, who is strenuous and subdues himself alone, will find delight in the solitude of the forest.