780
Those who are evil-minded dispute - of course.
But some whose hearts are set on Truth also dispute.
However, a sage does not enter a dispute that has arisen.
Therefore, nowhere is he drawn into unfriendliness.
Vadanti ve duṭṭhamanāpi eke athopi ve saccamanā vadanti
Vādañca jātaṃ muni no upeti tasmā munī natthi khilo kuhiñci
781
How could someone motivated by longing,
Bent on pleasure,
Overcome the fixed views which he has himself concocted?
Having come to his own conclusions,
Then, just as he sees things,
So would he speak.
Sakañhi diṭṭhiṃ kathamaccayeyya chandānunīto ruciyā niviṭṭho
Sayaṃ samattāni pakubbamāno yathā hi jāneyya tathā vadeyya
782
Whoever unasked,
Boasts to others of his precepts and practices,
Speaking of himself of his own accord,
Is ignoble, say the good.
Yo attano sīlavatāni jantu anānupuṭṭhova paresa pāva
Anariyadhammaṃ kusalā tamāhu yo ātumānaṃ sayameva pāva
783
But a monk who is peaceful,
Having completely extinguished the illusion of Self,
Who does not boast about his virtue, “I am like this”,
Who is not conceited about anything in the world
Is noble, say the good.
Santo ca bhikkhu abhinibbutatto itihanti sīlesu akatthamāno
Tamariyadhammaṃ kusalā vadanti yassussadā natthi kuhiñci loke
784
Whoever's religious teachings have been
Concocted,
Conjured up,
And blindly followed
Are not cleansed.
Whatever good result from them he might see in himself,
If he is tethered to that result,
Any satisfaction he obtains is dependent on what is unstable.
Pakappitā saṅkhatā yassa dhammā purakkhatā santi avīvadātā
Yadattani passati ānisaṃsaṃ taṃ nissito kuppapaṭicca santiṃ
785
It is not easy to transcend opinionatedness in regards to dogmatic religious teachings.
Because of this, men reject or accept religious teachings in accordance with their opinions.
Diṭṭhīnivesā na hi svātivattā dhammesu niccheyya samuggahītaṃ
Tasmā naro tesu nivesanesu nirassatī ādiyatī ca dhammaṃ
786
One who is purified
Concocts no fixed view about anything in existence.
Having detached from deceit and pride,
By what attachment would such a person go?
He is without attachment.
Dhonassa hi natthi kuhiñci loke pakappitā diṭṭhi bhavābhavesu
Māyañca mānañca pahāya dhono sa kena gaccheyya anūpayo so
787
One who is attached argues over religious teachings.
But how, and about what, can you argue with one who is without attachment?
For him there is no view clung to, and none to relinquish.
He has indeed shaken off every fixed view in the world.
Upayo hi dhammesu upeti vādaṃ anūpayaṃ kena kathaṃ vadeyya
Attā nirattā na hi tassa atthi adhosi so diṭṭhimidheva sabbanti
Notes on Translation:
