dhp.33-43 Dhammapada

An agitated, unsteady mind, difficult to guard, difficult to ward,
the sagacious one makes straight, as a fletcher does his arrow.

Like a fish thrown up on dry land, pulled out from its watery home,
the mind is agitated, one ought to throw off the sway of Māra.

For the mind that is difficult to subdue, flighty, flitting wherever it will,
restraint is good, a restrained mind brings happiness.

Hard to see, very subtle, flitting wherever it will,
the sage should guard the mind, a guarded mind brings happiness.

Those who will restrain the mind that roams far,
is lonesome, without a body, hidden, gain release from the bonds of Māra.

For the one with unsettled mind, who does not know the True Dhamma,
whose confidence is wavering, wisdom is unfulfilled.

For the one with mind free of lust, for the one with mind unperplexed,
for the one who has abandoned making merit and demerit, for the watchful, there is no fear.

Knowing this body is frail like a jar,
establishing the mind like a fortress,
fight Māra with the weapon of wisdom,
guard your success, and do not be attached.

Before long has passed by, alas, this body will lie on the ground,
rejected, without consciousness, just like a useless piece of wood.

Whatever an aggressor might do to an aggressor, or an enemy to an enemy –
a mind that is badly-directed can do far worse than that to him.

Mother and father might not do for him, or other relatives,
as much good as a mind that is well-directed can do for him.

The mind is wavering and unsteady,
Difficult to guard, hard to restrain.
The wise one sets it straight,
As a fletcher straightens the arrow’s shaft.

Like a fish thrown on land from its home in the
water,
This mind thrashes to escape Māra’s realm.

Good is the taming of the mind,
So difficult to control, so swift,
Jumping toward what it desires.
The tamed mind brings happiness.

The wise should guard the mind,
So difficult to perceive, so subtle,
Jumping at what it desires.
The protected mind brings happiness.

The mind wanders far and alone,
Incorporeal and resting in the cavern (of the body).
Those who restrain it
will be released from Māra’s bonds.

Wisdom does not mature in one of unsteady mind
And drifting faith,
Who knows not the true Dhamma.

For the one who is awake,
Whose mind is neither afflicted nor filled with desire,
Who has transcended merit and demerit,
There is no fear.

Having understood this body as a clay pot,
Having established this mind as a fortress,
One should battle Māra with the sword of wisdom,
And protect what has been conquered, clinging to nothing.

Soon indeed, this body will lie on the earth,
Without consciousness,
Cast away as a worthless log.

Whatever an enemy would do to an enemy,
A hater to one hated,
Worse than that is the harm that a wrongly directed
mind can do to itself.

Whatever mother, father, or other relative may do,
Better still, the good that a well-directed
mind can do for itself.

Just as a fletcher straightens an arrow shaft, even so the discerning man straightens his mind—so fickle and unsteady, so difficult to guard.

As a fish when pulled out of water and cast on land throbs and quivers, even so is this mind agitated. Hence should one abandon the realm of Mara.

Wonderful, indeed, it is to subdue the mind, so difficult to subdue, ever swift, and seizing whatever it desires. A tamed mind brings happiness.

Let the discerning man guard the mind, so difficult to detect and extremely subtle, seizing whatever it desires. A guarded mind brings happiness.

Dwelling in the cave (of the heart), the mind, without form, wanders far and alone. Those who subdue this mind are liberated from the bonds of Mara.

Wisdom never becomes perfect in one whose mind is not steadfast, who knows not the Good Teaching and whose faith wavers.

There is no fear for an awakened one, whose mind is not sodden (by lust) nor afflicted (by hate), and who has gone beyond both merit and demerit.

Realizing that this body is as fragile as a clay pot, and fortifying this mind like a well-fortified city, fight out Mara with the sword of wisdom. Then, guarding the conquest, remain unattached.

Ere long, alas! This body will lie upon the earth, unheeded and lifeless, like a useless log.

Whatever harm an enemy may do to an enemy, or a hater to a hater, an ill-directed mind inflicts on oneself a greater harm.

Neither mother, father, nor any other relative can do one greater good than one’s own well-directed mind.