Dhammapada, Dhamma Verses (KN 2)
Pāli verses with English translation in this collection of 423 Dhamma verses, along with a discussion of their meaning and their collection.
Pāli verses with English translation in this collection of 423 Dhamma verses, along with a discussion of their meaning and their collection.
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118<br />
Nāgavaggo<br />
23. The Chapter about the Elephant<br />
Ahaṁ nāgo va saṅgāme cāpāto patitaṁ saraṁ<br />
Like an elephant in battle (endures) an arrow shot from bow<br />
ativākyaṁ titikkhissaṁ, dussīlo hi bahujjano. [320]<br />
(so) will I endure abuse, for many people are unvirtuous.<br />
Dantaṁ nayanti samitiṁ, dantaṁ rājābhirūhati,<br />
They lead one trained into a crowd, a king mounts one who has been trained,<br />
danto seṭṭho manussesu, yotivākyaṁ titikkhati. [321]<br />
amongst humans one trained is best, the one who can endure abuse.<br />
Varam-assatarā dantā, ājānīyā ca Sindhavā,<br />
Noble are the well-trained horses, the well-bred horses from Sindh,<br />
kuñjarā ca mahānāgā, attadanto tato varaṁ. [322]<br />
and the great tusker elephants, (and even) more noble than that is the one who has trained<br />
himself.<br />
Na hi etehi yānehi gaccheyya agataṁ disaṁ,<br />
Not by these vehicles can one go to the place beyond destinations, 1<br />
yathattanā sudantena, danto dantena gacchati. [323]<br />
as one through training himself well, being trained by the training, goes.<br />
Dhanapālakŏ nāma kuñjaro<br />
The tusker named Dhanapālaka<br />
kaṭukappabhedano dunnivārayo,<br />
musty in rut, difficult to restrain,<br />
baddho kabalaṁ na bhuñjati,<br />
bound, he doesn’t eat (even) a morsel,<br />
sumarati nāgavanassa kuñjaro. [324]<br />
the tusker remembers the elephant forest. 2<br />
1<br />
I.e. Nibbāna.<br />
2<br />
The verse is unusual in that it has no moral outside of the story which is attached to it.