Dhammapada, Dhamma Verses (KN 2)

20: The Chapter about the Path – 108
Vanaṁ chindatha mā rukkhaṁ, vanato jāyatī bhayaṁ,
Cut down the forest (of defilements) 1 not just a tree, from the forest arises a danger,
chetvā vanañ-ca vanathañ-ca, nibbanā hotha bhikkhavo. [283]
having cut down the forest and thicket, you should be without forests, monastics.
Yāva hi vanatho na chijjati
* For as long as an atom of desire 2
aṇumatto pi narassa nārisu,
of a man for a woman is not cut down,
paṭibaddhamano va tāva so,
for just so long is the mind in bondage,
vaccho khīrapako va mātari. [284]
like a calf (in bondage) to mother’s milk.
Ucchinda sineham-attano,
Cut off (any) affection for one’s self,
kumudaṁ sāradikaṁ va pāṇinā,
like an autumn lotus (plucked) with the hand,
santimaggam-eva brūhaya
develop fully the path to peace and
Nibbānaṁ Sugatena desitaṁ. [285]
Nibbāna taught by the Fortunate One.
“Idha vassaṁ vasissāmi, idha hemantagimhisu”,
“Here I will dwell during the rains, here during winter and summer”,
iti bālo vicinteti, antarāyaṁ na bujjhati. [286]
in just such a way a fool thinks, not understanding the danger.
1 Comm: rāgādikilesavanaṁ.
2
This is a play on the word vanatha, which also occurs in the previous verse, and means both a
thicket and in metaphorical usage the thicket of desire.