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dhp.90-99 Dhammapada

The Chapter about the Arahats

For the one who has reached his goal, who grieves not, being released on all sides,
who has abandoned all the knots, no consuming fever is found.

The mindful ones who are striving do not delight in a dwelling,
like geese who abandon a lake, they abandon fondness for homes.

For those who have no stores, those who comprehend food aright,
for those whose resort is the liberation that is empty or signless,
like the birds in the sky, their track is hard to find.
For him whose pollutants are destroyed, who is not dependent on the foods,
for him whose resort is the liberation that is empty or signless,
like the birds in the sky, his footprint is hard to find.

For the one whose senses are stilled,
like horses well-trained by their charioteer,
who has abandoned conceit, who is without pollutants –
even the gods envy such a one.

One untroubled just like the earth,
steadfast just like a city-post,
like a lake mud-free –
such a one continues not in births and deaths.

His mind is calm, his speech and his actions are also calm,
liberated by right knowledge, such a one is truly peaceful.

The person who is beyond mere faith, who knows that which is unmade, who has cut off rebirth-linking,
who has destroyed the occasion, who has thrown out hope and desire, is surely the person supreme.

Whether in the village or wilds, whether on low or on high ground,
wherever the Arahats live, that ground is surely delightful.

The delightful wildernesses where the people do not delight,
those without passion will take delight, but not those who seek sense pleasures.

- Translator: Bhikkhu Ānandajoti

- Editor: Aminah Borg-Luck


The Arahant

There is no fever for one
Who has completed the journey,
Who is without sorrow,
Who has abandoned all fetters,
Who is freed in every way.

Those who are mindful depart;
They do not delight in a house.
They leave behind every home,
Like geese who abandon a pond.

The one who is not acquisitive,
Who knows well the role of food,
Whose field is empty, unmarked freedom,
Is like a bird in the sky
Whose destination is difficult to discern.

The one who has destroyed all toxins,
Who is unattached to food,
Whose field is empty, unmarked freedom,
Is like a bird in the sky
Whose path is difficult to discern.

One whose senses are as calm
As horses well-tamed by a charioteer,
Who has abandoned pride and is free from toxins,
Is envied even by the gods.

For one who, like the earth, does not oppose,
Who is like a pillar of Indra,
Who is deeply devout,
Who is like a deep unclouded pond,
There is no more wandering.

Calm is the mind, speech, and action
Of such a one freed by right understanding.

The one who is faithless [beyond believing], Who is ungrateful [knows the Uncreated], Who is a burglar [severs connections], Who destroys opportunities [breaks the chain of
rebirth], Who is despondent [throws off desire]: This is the ultimate person.

Whether in the village, forest, valley, or highland,
Wherever the arahants dwell is a place of delight.

Delightful are the forests where few find delight.
There, those who seek no sensual pleasures,
Who are free of passion, will delight.

- Translator: Peter Feldmeier

- Editor: Aminah Borg-Luck


The Arahant or Perfected One

The fever of passion exists not for him who has completed the journey, who is sorrowless and wholly set free, and has broken all ties.

The mindful ones exert themselves. They are not attached to any home; like swans that abandon the lake, they leave home after home behind.

Those who do not accumulate and are wise regarding food, whose object is the Void, the Unconditioned Freedom—their track cannot be traced, like that of birds in the air.

He whose cankers are destroyed and who is not attached to food, whose object is the Void, the Unconditioned Freedom—his path cannot be traced, like that of birds in the air.

Even the gods hold dear the wise one, whose senses are subdued like horses well trained by a charioteer, whose pride is destroyed and who is free from the cankers.

There is no more worldly existence for the wise one who, like the earth, resents nothing, who is firm as a high pillar and as pure as a deep pool free from mud.

Calm is his thought, calm his speech, and calm his deed, who, truly knowing, is wholly freed, perfectly tranquil and wise.

The man who is without blind faith, who knows the Uncreated, who has severed all links, destroyed all causes (for karma, good and evil), and thrown out all desires—he, truly, is the most excellent of men.

Inspiring, indeed, is that place where Arahants dwell, be it a village, a forest, a vale, or a hill.

Inspiring are the forests in which worldlings find no pleasure. There the passionless will rejoice, for they seek no sensual pleasures.

- Translator: Ācāriya Buddharakkhita

- Editor: Bhikkhu Sujato