Dhammapada, Dhamma Verses (KN 2)

66
Attavaggo
12. The Chapter about the Self
Attānañ-ce piyaṁ jaññā rakkheyya naṁ surakkhitaṁ,
If one regards oneself as dear one should guard oneself right well,
tiṇṇam-aññataraṁ yāmaṁ paṭijaggeyya paṇḍito. [157]
during one of the three watches (of the night) the wise one should stay alert. 1
Attānam-eva paṭhamaṁ patirūpe nivesaye,
First one should establish oneself in what is suitable,
athaññam-anusāseyya, na kilisseyya paṇḍito. [158]
then one can advise another, the wise one should not have (any) defilement.
Attānañ-ce tathā kay i rā yathaññam-anusāsati,
He should do himself as he would advise another (to do),
sudanto vata dametha, attā hi kira duddamo. [159]
being well-trained, he could surely train (another), for it is said the self is difficult to
train.
Attā hi attano nātho, ko hi nātho paro siyā?
For the self is the friend of self, for what other friend would there be?
Attanā va sudantena nāthaṁ labhati dullabhaṁ. [160]
When the self is well-trained, one finds a friend that is hard to find.
Attanā va kataṁ pāpaṁ, attajaṁ attasambhavaṁ,
That wickedness done by oneself, born in oneself, arising in oneself,
abhimatthati dummedhaṁ vaj i raṁ vasmamayaṁ maṇiṁ. [161]
crushes the one who is stupid, as a diamond (crushes) a rock-jewel. 2
1
The commentary takes yāma as meaning one of the three periods (of life): youth, adulthood and
old age; but the Buddha often recommended that one watch of the night should be spent in
meditation, and this is the meaning I follow here.
2
It seems odd to compare wickedness to a diamond and the self to a rock-jewel (presumably
meaning a fake jewel), and the simile is not convincing. It is presumably the ease with which a
diamond crushes a fake jewel which is being highlighted.