Dhammapada, Dhamma Verses (KN 2)

25
Cittavaggo
3. The Chapter about the Mind
Phandanaṁ capalaṁ cittaṁ, 1 dūrakkhaṁ dunnivārayaṁ,
An agitated, unsteady mind, difficult to guard, difficult to ward,
ujuṁ karoti medhāvī, usukāro va tejanaṁ. [33]
the sagacious one makes straight, as a fletcher does his arrow.
Vārijo va thale khitto, oka-m-okata ubbhato,
Like a fish thrown up on dry land, pulled out from its watery home, 2
pariphandatidaṁ cittaṁ, Māradheyyaṁ pahātave. [34]
the mind is agitated, (one ought) to throw off the sway of Māra. 3
Dunniggahassa lahuno yatthakāmanipātino,
* For the mind that is difficult to subdue, flighty, flitting wherever it will,
cittassa damatho sādhu, cittaṁ dantaṁ sukhāvahaṁ. [35]
restraint is good, a restrained mind brings happiness.
Sududdasaṁ sunipuṇaṁ yatthakāmanipātinaṁ,
Hard to see, very subtle, flitting wherever it will,
cittaṁ rakkhetha medhāvī, cittaṁ guttaṁ sukhāvahaṁ. [36]
the sage should guard the mind, a guarded mind brings happiness.
Dūraṅgamaṁ ekacaraṁ, asarīraṁ guhāsayaṁ,
* Those who will restrain the mind that roams far,
ye cittaṁ saññam-essanti, mokkhanti Mārabandhanā. [37]
is lonesome, without a body, hidden, gain release from the bonds of Māra.
1
In every case in this chapter citta is in the singular, and must mean mind, not thoughts (plural) as
many translations have it, which also makes more sense contextually.
2
Oka has both meanings: water and home.
3
The grammar is not clear here, and words need to be supplied to make good sense, the bold words
are added into these translations: Norman: this thought quivers all over in order to escape the
dominion of Māra; Carter: This mind flaps; [Fit] to discard [is] Māra’s sway; Burlingame: These
thoughts writhe and quiver in their efforts to shake off the power of Māra. I think the ethical force
of the verse really demands the imperative interpretation.