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The Dhammapada

Anonymous (Pali canon) · tr. F. Max Müller · c. 3rd century BCE (tr. 1881) · 11,903 words

The Buddha’s path in verse: mind is the forerunner of all things, and the one who conquers himself is the greatest of conquerors.

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Opening

Chapter I: The Twin-Verses

1. All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him, as the wheel follows the foot of the ox that draws the carriage.

2. All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him.

3. "He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me,"—in those who harbour such thoughts hatred will never cease.

4. "He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me,"—in those who do not harbour such thoughts hatred will cease.

5. For hatred does not cease by hatred at any time: hatred ceases by love, this is an old rule.

6. The world does not know that we must all come to an end here;—but those who know it, their quarrels cease at once.

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Contents

  1. Chapter I: The Twin-Verses
  2. Chapter II: On Earnestness
  3. Chapter III: Thought
  4. Chapter IV: Flowers
  5. Chapter V: The Fool
  6. Chapter VI: The Wise Man (Pandita)
  7. Chapter VII: The Venerable (Arhat)
  8. Chapter VIII: The Thousands
  9. Chapter IX: Evil
  10. Chapter X: Punishment
  11. Chapter XI: Old Age
  12. Chapter XII: Self
  13. Chapter XIII: The World
  14. Chapter XIV: The Buddha (The Awakened)
  15. Chapter XV: Happiness
  16. Chapter XVI: Pleasure
  17. Chapter XVII: Anger
  18. Chapter XVIII: Impurity
  19. Chapter XIX: The Just
  20. Chapter XX: The Way
  21. Chapter XXI: Miscellaneous
  22. Chapter XXII: The Downward Course
  23. Chapter XXIII: The Elephant
  24. Chapter XXIV: Thirst
  25. Chapter XXV: The Bhikshu (Mendicant)
  26. Chapter XXVI: The Brahmana (Arhat)

About this edition

Source: Project Gutenberg #2017

Public domain: First published c. 3rd century BCE (tr. 1881); public domain in the United States.

What’s included: Müller’s translation of all twenty-six chapters (Sacred Books of the East, vol. X).

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