Dhammapada, Dhamma Verses (KN 2)

47
Arahantavaggo
7. The Chapter about the Arahats
Gataddhino visokassa vippamuttassa sabbadhi,
For the one who has reached his goal, who grieves not, being released on all sides,
sabbaganthappahīnassa, pariḷāho na vijjati. [90]
who has abandoned all the knots, 1 no consuming fever 2 is found.
Uyyuñjanti satīmanto na nikete ramanti te,
The mindful ones who are striving do not delight in a dwelling,
haṁsā va pallalaṁ hitvā, okam-okaṁ jahanti te. [91]
like geese who abandon a lake, they abandon fondness for homes. 3
Yesaṁ sannicayo natthi, ye pariññātabhojanā,
For those who have no stores, 4 those who comprehend food aright, 5
suññato animitto ca vimokkho yesa’ gocaro,
for those whose resort is the liberation that is empty or signless, 6
ākāse va sakuntānaṁ, gati tesaṁ durannayā. [92]
like the birds in the sky, their track 7 is hard to find.
1
Usually enumerated as four: abhijjhā-, byāpāda-, sīlabbataparāmāsa-,
idaṁsaccābhinivesagantha; the knots of avarice, ill-will, grasping at virtue and practices, and
inclination to (insisting that) ‘this is the truth’.
2
Passion is the consuming fever which is implied here.
3
It is hard to get across all the double meanings in this verse, but niketa means: home, company
and attachment; and oka means water, home and attachment.
4
The commentary defines this as having stores of kamma, which would lead to rebirth; the Arahat
of course has no such stores.
5
Seeing its disgusting nature.
6
This is a reference to the three liberations (vimokkha), which are defined as being signless
(animitta), desireless (apanihita) and empty (suññatā). The second is implied, rather than stated
here.
7
Gati may mean their course, track or destiny; it means that they cannot be known either in this
world, or when gone beyond.