Arnold E. - A Poetical translation of Chapter I of The Dhammapada

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A Poetical translation of Chapter I of The Dhammapada

Sir Edwin Arnold

(English: Edwin Arnold, A Poetical translation of Chapter I of The Dhammapada)

Publications:

• Lucifer, vol. 4, no. 24, August 1889, pp. 452-454

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Title for references: Arnold E. - A Poetical translation of Chapter I of The Dhammapada
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452

A Poetical Translation of Chapter I. of the Dhammapada
By Sir Edwin Arnold, K.C.I.E., C.S.I.
Author of “The Light of Asia,” &c.
[Written specially for “The Buddhist.”]

Thought in the mind hath made us. What we are   By thought was wrought and built. If a man’s mind Hath evil thoughts, pain comes on him as comes   The wheel the ox behind. All that we are is what we thought and willed;   Our thoughts shape us and frame. If one endure In purity of thought, joy follows him   As his own shadow – sure. “He hath defamed me, wronged me, injured me,   Abased me, beaten me!” If one should keep Thoughts like these angry words within his breast   Hatreds will never sleep. “He hath defamed me, wronged me, injured me,   Abased me, beaten me!” If one shall send Such angry words away for pardoning thoughts   Hatreds will have an end. For never anywhere at any time   Did hatred cease by hatred. Always ’tis By love that hatred ceases – only Love,   The ancient Law is this. The many, who are foolish, have forgot –   Or never knew – how mortal wrongs pass by: But they who know and who remember, let   Transient quarrels die. Whoso abides, looking for joy, unschooled,   Gluttonous, weak, in idle luxuries, Mâra will overthrow him, as fierce winds   Level short-rooted trees.

453

Whoso abides, disowning joys, controlled,   Temperate, faithful, strong, shunning all ill, Mâra shall no more overthrow that man   Than the wind doth a hill. Whoso Kâshya wears – the yellow robe –   Being anishkashya – not sin-free, Nor heeding truth and governance – unfit   To wear that dress is he. But whoso, being nishkashya, pure,   Clean from offence, doth still in virtues dwell, Regarding temperance and truth – that man   Weareth Kâshya well. Whoso imagines truth in the untrue,   And in the true finds untruth – he expires Never attaining knowledge: life is waste;   He follows vain desires. Whoso discerns in truth the true, and sees   The false in falseness with unblinded eye, He shall attain to knowledge; life with such   Aims well before it die. As rain breaks through an ill-thatched roof, so break   Passions through minds that holy thought despise; As rain runs from a perfect thatch, so run   Passions from off the wise. The evil-doer mourneth in this world,   And mourneth in the world to come; in both He grieveth. When he sees fruits of his deeds   To see he will be loath; The righteous man rejoiceth in this world   And in the world to come: in both he takes Pleasure. When he shall see fruit of his works   The good sight gladness makes. Glad is he living, glad in dying, glad   Having once died; glad always, glad to know What good deeds he hath done, glad to foresee   More good where he shall go.

454

The lawless man, who, not obeying Law,   Leaf after leaf recites, and line by line, No Buddhist is he, but a foolish herd   Who counts another’s kine. The law-obeying, loving one, who knows   Only one verse of Dharma, but hath ceased From envy, hatred, malice, foolishness –   He is the Buddhist Priest.

London, May 14th, 1889. Edwin Arnold.

Footnotes

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