Dhammapada, Dhamma Verses (KN 2)

4: The Chapter about Flowers – 31
Na paresaṁ vilomāni, na paresaṁ katākataṁ
Not the wrongs of others, or what others have done or have not done
attano va avekkheyya, katāni akatāni ca. [50]
one should consider, but what has been done and not done by oneself. 1
Yathā pi ruciraṁ pupphaṁ vaṇṇavantaṁ agandhakaṁ,
Just like a beautiful flower, which has colour, but lacks fragrance, 2
evaṁ subhāsitā vācā aphalā hoti akubbato. [51]
so are well-spoken words fruitless for the one who acts not (on them).
Yathā pi ruciraṁ pupphaṁ vaṇṇavantaṁ sagandhakaṁ,
Just like a beautiful flower, which has colour, and has fragrance,
evaṁ subhāsitā vācā saphalā hoti pakubbato. [52]
so are well-spoken words fruitful for the one who does act (on them).
Yathā pi puppharāsimhā kay i rā mālāguṇe bahū,
Just as from a heap of flowers one might make a lot of garlands,
evaṁ jātena maccena kattabbaṁ kusalaṁ bahuṁ. [53]
so should many good deeds be done by one who is born a mortal.
Na pupphagandho paṭivātam-eti,
The fragrance of flowers goes not against the wind,
na candanaṁ tagaramallikā vā,
nor does sandalwood or pinwheel or white jasmine,
satañ-ca gandho paṭivātam-eti,
but the fragrance 3 of the good goes against the wind,
sabbā disā sappuriso pavāyati. [54]
the true person’s (fragrance) permeates all directions.
1
This verse has no mention of flowers, or anything similar, and also does not seem to be connected
by word collocation, so its inclusion here is rather a mystery.
2 Gandha, fragrance, is connected to virtue, so the implication is that one who lacks virtue lacks
fragrance.
3
Meaning his virtue.