17. Wrath

221

Abandon anger; utterly renounce conceit; transcend the fetters. Sorrow does not fall on those who do not cling to mind and body, and who are free of attachment.⁽¹⁾

222

Whoever arrests the arising of wrath,
Like a chariot skidding one brings to a halt,
Could a ‘charioteer’ be deservedly named.
The remainder of men are but ‘holders of reins’.

223

By giving, tame the niggardly;
The wicked, by propriety;
The surly, by placidity;
The crooked, by integrity.

224

Speak what’s truthful;
Don’t be wrathful;
Give if asked,
At least a little.

Due to these
Conditions three,
You’ll reach the realm
Of deities.

225

The sage who from violence abstains;
Who, in body, is ever restrained;
From the state that is mortal he’ll leave.
Having left it, he’ll never more grieve.

226

In those who are ceaselessly wakeful,
Who practise by night and by day,
Who’ve committed themselves to Nibbana,
Their asavas dwindle away.

227

This, Atula’s, true of yore,
Not merely true today:
They blame those sitting silently,
And those with much to say;
Blame, too, the one of moderate words.
There’s no one free from blame on earth.

228

There never was, there isn’t now,
Nor will there be in future found,
A person given only blame,
Nor one who always gets acclaim.

229
&230

If, having watched someone day after day, intelligent people praise him, a sage, one of flawless conduct, possessed of virtue and wisdom, then who is justified to criticise him? The devas praise him; Brahma praises him; he is an ornament of purest gold.

231

Restrain unruly conduct;
In body be subdued;
Abandon wrong behaviour,
And righteous deeds pursue.

232

Restrain unruly discourse;
In speaking be subdued;
Abandon speech misconduct,
And righteous speech pursue.

233

Restrain unruly thinking;
In thinking be subdued;
Abandon thought misconduct,
And righteous thoughts pursue.

234

The one of comprehension,
Restrained in thought and speech,
Restrained in body conduct,
Is well-restrained, indeed.

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