The Rod

All tremble at the rod, all fear death. Treating others like oneself, neither kill nor incite to kill.

Sabbe tasanti daṇḍassa, sabbe bhāyanti maccuno; Attānaṁ upamaṁ katvā, na haneyya na ghātaye.

All tremble at the rod, Sabbe tasanti daṇḍassa, all fear death. sabbe bhāyanti maccuno; Treating others like oneself, Attānaṁ upamaṁ katvā, neither kill nor incite to kill. na haneyya na ghātaye.

All tremble at the rod, all love life. Treating others like oneself, neither kill nor incite to kill.

Sabbe tasanti daṇḍassa, sabbesaṁ jīvitaṁ piyaṁ; Attānaṁ upamaṁ katvā, na haneyya na ghātaye.

All tremble at the rod, Sabbe tasanti daṇḍassa, all love life. sabbesaṁ jīvitaṁ piyaṁ; Treating others like oneself, Attānaṁ upamaṁ katvā, neither kill nor incite to kill. na haneyya na ghātaye.

Creatures love happiness, so if you harm them with a stick*This verse parallels Ud 2.3 where it is clear an actual stick is meant. in search of your own happiness, after death you won’t find happiness.

Sukhakāmāni bhūtāni, yo daṇḍena vihiṁsati; Attano sukhamesāno, pecca so na labhate sukhaṁ.

Creatures love happiness, Sukhakāmāni bhūtāni, so if you harm them with a stick*This verse parallels Ud 2.3 where it is clear an actual stick is meant.yo daṇḍena vihiṁsati; in search of your own happiness, Attano sukhamesāno, after death you won’t find happiness. pecca so na labhate sukhaṁ.

Creatures love happiness, so if you don’t harm them with a stick in search of your own happiness, after death you will find happiness.

Sukhakāmāni bhūtāni, yo daṇḍena na hiṁsati; Attano sukhamesāno, pecca so labhate sukhaṁ.

Creatures love happiness, Sukhakāmāni bhūtāni, so if you don’t harm them with a stick yo daṇḍena na hiṁsati; in search of your own happiness, Attano sukhamesāno, after death you will find happiness. pecca so labhate sukhaṁ.

Don’t speak harshly, they may speak harshly back. For aggressive speech is painful, and the rod may spring back on you.

Māvoca pharusaṁ kañci, vuttā paṭivadeyyu taṁ;*paṭivadeyyu taṁ → paṭivadeyyuṁ taṁ (mr) Dukkhā hi sārambhakathā, paṭidaṇḍā phuseyyu taṁ.*paṭidaṇḍā phuseyyu taṁ → phuseyyuṁ taṁ (mr)

Don’t speak harshly, Māvoca pharusaṁ kañci, they may speak harshly back. vuttā paṭivadeyyu taṁ;*paṭivadeyyu taṁ → paṭivadeyyuṁ taṁ (mr)For aggressive speech is painful, Dukkhā hi sārambhakathā, and the rod may spring back on you. paṭidaṇḍā phuseyyu taṁ.*paṭidaṇḍā phuseyyu taṁ → phuseyyuṁ taṁ (mr)

If you still yourself like a broken gong, you reach extinguishment and know no conflict.

Sace neresi attānaṁ, kaṁso upahato yathā; Esa pattosi nibbānaṁ, sārambho te na vijjati.

If you still yourself Sace neresi attānaṁ, like a broken gong, kaṁso upahato yathā; you reach extinguishment Esa pattosi nibbānaṁ, and know no conflict. sārambho te na vijjati.

As a cowherd drives the cows to pasture with the rod, so too old age and death drive life from living beings.

Yathā daṇḍena gopālo, gāvo pājeti gocaraṁ; Evaṁ jarā ca maccu ca, āyuṁ pājenti pāṇinaṁ.

As a cowherd drives the cows Yathā daṇḍena gopālo, to pasture with the rod, gāvo pājeti gocaraṁ; so too old age and death Evaṁ jarā ca maccu ca, drive life from living beings. āyuṁ pājenti pāṇinaṁ.

The fool does not understand the evil that they do. But because of those deeds, that simpleton is tormented as if burnt by fire.

Atha pāpāni kammāni, karaṁ bālo na bujjhati; Sehi kammehi dummedho, aggidaḍḍhova tappati.

The fool does not understand Atha pāpāni kammāni, the evil that they do. karaṁ bālo na bujjhati; But because of those deeds, that simpleton Sehi kammehi dummedho, is tormented as if burnt by fire. aggidaḍḍhova tappati.

One who violently attacks the peaceful and the innocent swiftly falls to one of ten bad states:

Yo daṇḍena adaṇḍesu, appaduṭṭhesu dussati; Dasannamaññataraṁ ṭhānaṁ, khippameva nigacchati.

One who violently attacks Yo daṇḍena adaṇḍesu, the peaceful and the innocent appaduṭṭhesu dussati; swiftly falls Dasannamaññataraṁ ṭhānaṁ, to one of ten bad states: khippameva nigacchati.

harsh pain; loss; the breakup of the body; serious illness; mental distress;

Vedanaṁ pharusaṁ jāniṁ, sarīrassa va bhedanaṁ;*sarīrassa va bhedanaṁ → sarīrassa pabhedanaṁ (cck) Garukaṁ vāpi ābādhaṁ, cittakkhepaṁ va pāpuṇe.*cittakkhepaṁ va → cittakkhepañca (pts1ed, pts2ed, csp1ed)

harsh pain; loss; Vedanaṁ pharusaṁ jāniṁ, the breakup of the body; sarīrassa va bhedanaṁ;*sarīrassa va bhedanaṁ → sarīrassa pabhedanaṁ (cck)serious illness; Garukaṁ vāpi ābādhaṁ, mental distress; cittakkhepaṁ va pāpuṇe.*cittakkhepaṁ va → cittakkhepañca (pts1ed, pts2ed, csp1ed)

hazards from rulers; vicious slander; loss of kin; destruction of wealth;

Rājato vā upasaggaṁ,*upasaggaṁ → upassaggaṁ (bj, pts1ed, pts2ed) Abbhakkhānaṁ va dāruṇaṁ;*Abbhakkhānaṁ va → abbhakkhānañca (csp1ed) Parikkhayaṁ va ñātīnaṁ,*Parikkhayaṁ va → parikkhayañca (csp1ed) Bhogānaṁ va pabhaṅguraṁ.*Bhogānaṁ va → bhogānañca (csp1ed) | pabhaṅguraṁ → pabhaṅguṇaṁ (sya-all, pts1ed, pts2ed); pabhaṅgunaṁ (mr)

hazards from rulers; Rājato vā upasaggaṁ,*upasaggaṁ → upassaggaṁ (bj, pts1ed, pts2ed)vicious slander; Abbhakkhānaṁ va dāruṇaṁ;*Abbhakkhānaṁ va → abbhakkhānañca (csp1ed)loss of kin; Parikkhayaṁ va ñātīnaṁ,*Parikkhayaṁ va → parikkhayañca (csp1ed)destruction of wealth; Bhogānaṁ va pabhaṅguraṁ.*Bhogānaṁ va → bhogānañca (csp1ed) | pabhaṅguraṁ → pabhaṅguṇaṁ (sya-all, pts1ed, pts2ed); pabhaṅgunaṁ (mr)

or else their home is consumed by fire. When their body breaks up, that witless person is reborn in hell.

Atha vāssa agārāni, aggi ḍahati pāvako;*ḍahati → ḍayhati (mr) Kāyassa bhedā duppañño, nirayaṁ sopapajjati.*sopapajjati → so upapajjati (bj, sya-all, pts1ed)

or else their home Atha vāssa agārāni, is consumed by fire. aggi ḍahati pāvako;*ḍahati → ḍayhati (mr)When their body breaks up, that witless person Kāyassa bhedā duppañño, is reborn in hell. nirayaṁ sopapajjati.*sopapajjati → so upapajjati (bj, sya-all, pts1ed)

Not nudity, nor matted hair, nor mud, nor fasting, nor lying on bare ground, nor wearing dust and dirt, or squatting on the heels, will cleanse a mortal not free of doubt.

Na naggacariyā na jaṭā na paṅkā, Nānāsakā thaṇḍilasāyikā vā; Rajojallaṁ ukkuṭikappadhānaṁ, Sodhenti maccaṁ avitiṇṇakaṅkhaṁ.

Not nudity, nor matted hair, nor mud, Na naggacariyā na jaṭā na paṅkā, nor fasting, nor lying on bare ground, Nānāsakā thaṇḍilasāyikā vā; nor wearing dust and dirt, or squatting on the heels, Rajojallaṁ ukkuṭikappadhānaṁ, will cleanse a mortal not free of doubt. Sodhenti maccaṁ avitiṇṇakaṅkhaṁ.

Dressed up they may be, but if they live well— peaceful, tamed, committed to the spiritual path, having laid aside violence towards all creatures— they are a brahmin, an ascetic, a mendicant.

Alaṅkato cepi samaṁ careyya, Santo danto niyato brahmacārī; Sabbesu bhūtesu nidhāya daṇḍaṁ, So brāhmaṇo so samaṇo sa bhikkhubhikkhuUn hombre que ha renunciado a la vida de hogar para vivir una vida de virtud elevada (ver sīla) de acuerdo con el Vinaya en general, y las reglas del Pātimokkha en particular. La raíz de la palabra significa «mendicante», es decir, uno que vive de limosnas. Como el masculino se usa como género por defecto en pali, el término bhikkhu a menudo incluye también a las monjas, por lo que «mendicante» puede usarse como traducción de género neutro. Ver saṅgha, parisā, upasampadā.Ver en el glosario.

Dressed up they may be, but if they live well—Alaṅkato cepi samaṁ careyya, peaceful, tamed, committed to the spiritual path, Santo danto niyato brahmacārī; having laid aside violence towards all creatures—Sabbesu bhūtesu nidhāya daṇḍaṁ, they are a brahmin, an ascetic, a mendicant. So brāhmaṇo so samaṇo sa bhikkhubhikkhuUn hombre que ha renunciado a la vida de hogar para vivir una vida de virtud elevada (ver sīla) de acuerdo con el Vinaya en general, y las reglas del Pātimokkha en particular. La raíz de la palabra significa «mendicante», es decir, uno que vive de limosnas. Como el masculino se usa como género por defecto en pali, el término bhikkhu a menudo incluye también a las monjas, por lo que «mendicante» puede usarse como traducción de género neutro. Ver saṅgha, parisā, upasampadā.Ver en el glosario.

Can a person constrained by conscience be found in the world? Who shies away from blame, like a fine horse from the whip?

Hirīnisedho puriso, koci lokasmi vijjati; Yo niddaṁ apabodheti,*niddaṁ → nindaṁ (bj, pts1ed, pts2ed sn1.18:1 [18. Hirīsutta]) | apabodheti → apabodhati (bj sn1.18:1 [18. Hirīsutta]); appabodheti (cck); appabodhati (pts1ed, pts2ed) asso bhadro kasāmiva.

Can a person constrained by conscience Hirīnisedho puriso, be found in the world? koci lokasmi vijjati; Who shies away from blame, Yo niddaṁ apabodheti,*niddaṁ → nindaṁ (bj, pts1ed, pts2ed sn1.18:1 [18. Hirīsutta]) | apabodheti → apabodhati (bj sn1.18:1 [18. Hirīsutta]); appabodheti (cck); appabodhati (pts1ed, pts2ed)like a fine horse from the whip? asso bhadro kasāmiva.

Like a fine horse under the whip, be keen and full of urgency. With faith, ethics, and energy, immersion, and investigation of principles, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, mindful, give up this vast suffering.

Asso yathā bhadro kasāniviṭṭho, Ātāpino saṁvegino bhavātha; Saddhāya sīlena ca vīriyena ca, Samādhinā dhammavinicchayena ca; Sampannavijjācaraṇā patissatā, Jahissatha dukkhamidaṁ anappakaṁ.*Jahissatha → pahassatha (bj, sya-all, pts1ed, pts2ed)

Like a fine horse under the whip, Asso yathā bhadro kasāniviṭṭho, be keen and full of urgency. Ātāpino saṁvegino bhavātha; With faith, ethics, and energy, Saddhāya sīlena ca vīriyena ca, immersion, and investigation of principles, Samādhinā dhammavinicchayena ca; accomplished in knowledge and conduct, mindful, Sampannavijjācaraṇā patissatā, give up this vast suffering. Jahissatha dukkhamidaṁ anappakaṁ.*Jahissatha → pahassatha (bj, sya-all, pts1ed, pts2ed)

While irrigators guide water, fletchers shape arrows, and carpenters carve timber— those true to their vows tame themselves.

Udakañhi nayanti nettikā, Usukārā namayanti tejanaṁ; Dāruṁ namayanti tacchakā, Attānaṁ damayanti subbatā.

While irrigators guide water, Udakañhi nayanti nettikā, fletchers shape arrows, Usukārā namayanti tejanaṁ; and carpenters carve timber—Dāruṁ namayanti tacchakā, those true to their vows tame themselves. Attānaṁ damayanti subbatā.