Dhammapada, Dhamma Verses (KN 2)

122
Taṇhāvaggo
24. The Chapter about Craving
Manujassa pamattacārino
For a human who lives life heedlessly
taṇhā vaḍḍhati māluvā viya,
craving increases like a clinging creeper,
so palavatī hurāhuraṁ
he rushes from one place to another
phalam-icchaṁ va vanasmi’ vānaro. [334]
like a monkey desiring fruit in the forest.
Yaṁ esā sahatī jammī taṇhā loke visattikā,
That one who is overcome by these low cravings and attachments in the world,
sokā tassa pavaḍḍhanti abhivaṭṭhaṁ va bīraṇaṁ. [335]
for him griefs increase like grass that has had heavy rain.
Yo cetaṁ sahatī jammiṁ taṇhaṁ loke duraccayaṁ,
Whoever overcomes this low craving in the world, which is difficult to get past,
sokā tamhā papatanti udabindu va pokkharā. [336]
griefs fall from him like a drop of water from a lotus.
Taṁ vo vadāmi: “Bhaddaṁ vo yāvantettha samāgatā”,
This I say to you: “Good luck to as many as have assembled here”,
taṇhāya mūlaṁ khaṇatha, usīrattho va bīraṇaṁ,
dig up the root of craving, like one seeking the root 1 (digs up) grass,
mā vo naḷaṁ va soto va Māro bhañji punappunaṁ. [337]
do not let Māra push you down again like a stream (pushes down) the reed.
1
The commentary paraphrases with: usīrena atthiko.