Dhammapada, Dhamma Verses (KN 2)

80
Buddhavaggo
14. The Chapter about the Buddha
Yassa jitaṁ nāvajīyati,
He whose victory cannot be undone,
jitaṁ assa no yāti koci loke,
whose victory no one here approaches,
tam-Buddham-anantagocaraṁ,
the Buddha, whose range is endless,
apadaṁ kena padena nessatha? [179]
by what path can you lead the pathless one?
Yassa jālinī visattikā,
* For him there is no desire, attachment,
taṇhā natthi kuhiñci netave,
or craving to lead (him) anywhere, 1
tam-Buddham-anantagocaraṁ,
the Buddha, whose range is endless,
apadaṁ kena padena nessatha? [180]
by what path can you lead the pathless one?
Ye jhānapasutā dhīrā, nekkhammūpasame ratā,
Those wise ones intent on meditation, 2 who delight in the peace of renunciation,
devā pi tesaṁ pihayanti, Sambuddhānaṁ satīmataṁ. [181]
even the gods are envious of them, the Sambuddhas, the ones who are mindful.
Kiccho manussapaṭilābho, kicchaṁ maccāna’ jīvitaṁ,
It is rare to acquire (birth as a) human, rare is the life of mortals,
kicchaṁ Saddhammasavanaṁ, kiccho Buddhānam-uppādo. [182]
it is rare to hear the True Dhamma, rare the arising of Buddhas.
1
This is the clue to the translation of this verse; what it is talking about is having none of the states
(padāni) of craving (taṇhā), etc. by which the one beyond those states (apadaṁ) could be led.
2
Comm: jhānapasutā ti lakkhaṇūpanijjhānaṃ ārammaṇūpanijjhānan-ti; intent on meditation
means meditating on the signs, meditating on the (concentration) object.