Dhammapada, Dhamma Verses (KN 2)

50
Sahassavaggo
8. The Chapter about the Thousands
Sahassam-api ce vācā anatthapadasaṁhitā,
Though there are a thousand sayings consisting of useless words,
ekaṁ atthapadaṁ seyyo yaṁ sutvā upasammati. [100]
better is one useful word hearing which one is brought to peace.
Sahassam-api ce gāthā anatthapadasaṁhitā,
Though there are a thousand verses consisting of useless words,
ekaṁ gāthāpadaṁ seyyo yaṁ sutvā upasammati. [101]
better is one word of a verse hearing which one is brought to peace.
Yo ce gāthāsataṁ bhāse anatthapadasaṁhitā,
One may speak a thousand verses consisting of useless words,
ekaṁ Dhammapadaṁ seyyo, yaṁ sutvā upasammati. [102]
better is one verse of Dhamma, hearing which one is brought to peace.
Yo sahassaṁ sahassena saṅgāme mānuse jine,
One may conquer a thousand men a thousand times in a battle,
ekañ-ca jeyya attānaṁ, sa ve saṅgāmajuttamo. [103]
but having conquered one’s own self, one would surely be supreme in battle.
Attā have jitaṁ seyyo yā cāyaṁ itarā pajā,
Conquest over self is better than that over other people,
attadantassa posassa, niccaṁ saññatacārino, [104]
for the person who conquers himself, who lives constantly well-restrained,
neva devo na gandhabbo, na Māro saha Brahmunā,
neither gods, nor gandhabbas, nor Māra together with Brahmās,
jitaṁ apajitaṁ kay i rā tathārūpassa jantuno. [105]
can turn conquest into defeat for a person who is like this.