The Self

If you knew your self as beloved, you’d look after it so well. In one of the night’s three watches, an astute person would remain alert.

Attānañce piyaṁ jaññā, rakkheyya naṁ surakkhitaṁ; Tiṇṇaṁ aññataraṁ yāmaṁ, paṭijaggeyya paṇḍito.

If you knew your self as beloved, Attānañce piyaṁ jaññā, you’d look after it so well. rakkheyya naṁ surakkhitaṁ; In one of the night’s three watches, Tiṇṇaṁ aññataraṁ yāmaṁ, an astute person would remain alert. paṭijaggeyya paṇḍito.

The astute would avoid being corrupted by first grounding themselves in what is suitable, and then instructing others.

Attānameva paṭhamaṁ, patirūpe nivesaye; Athaññamanusāseyya, na kilisseyya paṇḍito.

The astute would avoid being corrupted Attānameva paṭhamaṁ, by first grounding themselves patirūpe nivesaye; in what is suitable, Athaññamanusāseyya, and then instructing others. na kilisseyya paṇḍito.

If one were to treat oneself*Accept Pali reading of attānaṁ as accusative, but note the Prakrit variant attanā in instrumental. as one instructs another, the well-tamed indeed would tame:*Read dametha as third singular optative reflexive. for the self, it seems, is hard to tame.

Attānañce tathā kayirā, yathāññamanusāsati; Sudanto vata dametha, attā hi kira duddamo.

If one were to treat oneself*Accept Pali reading of attānaṁ as accusative, but note the Prakrit variant attanā in instrumental.Attānañce tathā kayirā, as one instructs another, yathāññamanusāsati; the well-tamed indeed would tame:*Read dametha as third singular optative reflexive.Sudanto vata dametha, for the self, it seems, is hard to tame. attā hi kira duddamo.

One is indeed the lord of oneself, for who else would be one’s lord? By means of a well-tamed self, one gains a lord that’s rare indeed.

Attā hi attano nātho, ko hi nātho paro siyā; Attanā hi sudantena, nāthaṁ labhati dullabhaṁ.

One is indeed the lord of oneself, Attā hi attano nātho, for who else would be one’s lord? ko hi nātho paro siyā; By means of a well-tamed self, Attanā hi sudantena, one gains a lord that’s rare indeed. nāthaṁ labhati dullabhaṁ.

For the evil that is done by oneself, born and produced in oneself, grinds down a simpleton, as diamond grinds a lesser gem.

Attanā hi kataṁ pāpaṁ,*Attanā hi → attanā va (bj, sya-all, pts1ed, pts2ed) Attajaṁ attasambhavaṁ; Abhimatthati dummedhaṁ,*Abhimatthati → abhimanthati (bj) Vajiraṁvasmamayaṁ maṇiṁ.*Vajiraṁvasmamayaṁ → vajiraṁvamhayaṁ (sya-all); vajiraṁva'mhamayaṁ (pts1ed, pts2ed, mr)

For the evil that is done by oneself, Attanā hi kataṁ pāpaṁ,*Attanā hi → attanā va (bj, sya-all, pts1ed, pts2ed)born and produced in oneself, Attajaṁ attasambhavaṁ; grinds down a simpleton, Abhimatthati dummedhaṁ,*Abhimatthati → abhimanthati (bj)as diamond grinds a lesser gem. Vajiraṁvasmamayaṁ maṇiṁ.*Vajiraṁvasmamayaṁ → vajiraṁvamhayaṁ (sya-all); vajiraṁva'mhamayaṁ (pts1ed, pts2ed, mr)

One choked by immorality, as a sal tree by a creeper, does to themselves what a foe only wishes.

Yassa accantadussilyaṁ, māluvā sālamivotthataṁ; Karoti so tathattānaṁ, yathā naṁ icchatī diso.

One choked by immorality, Yassa accantadussilyaṁ, as a sal tree by a creeper, māluvā sālamivotthataṁ; does to themselves Karoti so tathattānaṁ, what a foe only wishes. yathā naṁ icchatī diso.

It’s easy to do bad things harmful to oneself, but good things that are helpful are the hardest things to do.

Sukarāni asādhūni, attano ahitāni ca; Yaṁ ve hitañca sādhuñca, taṁ ve paramadukkaraṁ.

It’s easy to do bad things Sukarāni asādhūni, harmful to oneself, attano ahitāni ca; but good things that are helpful Yaṁ ve hitañca sādhuñca, are the hardest things to do. taṁ ve paramadukkaraṁ.

On account of wicked views— scorning the guidance of the perfected ones, the noble ones living righteously— the idiot begets their own self’s demise, like the bamboo bearing fruit.

Yo sāsanaṁ arahataṁ, ariyānaṁ dhammajīvinaṁ; Paṭikkosati dummedho, diṭṭhiṁ nissāya pāpikaṁ; Phalāni kaṭṭhakasseva, attaghātāya phallati.*attaghātāya → attaghaññāya (bj, sya-all, pts1ed, pts2ed)

On account of wicked views—Yo sāsanaṁ arahataṁ, scorning the guidance ariyānaṁ dhammajīvinaṁ; of the perfected ones, Paṭikkosati dummedho, the noble ones living righteously—diṭṭhiṁ nissāya pāpikaṁ; the idiot begets their own self’s demise, Phalāni kaṭṭhakasseva, like the bamboo bearing fruit. attaghātāya phallati.*attaghātāya → attaghaññāya (bj, sya-all, pts1ed, pts2ed)

For it is by oneself that evil’s done, one is corrupted by oneself. It’s by oneself that evil’s not done, one is purified by oneself. Purity and impurity are personal matters, no one can purify another.

Attanā hi kataṁ pāpaṁ,*Attanā hi → attanā va (bj, sya-all, pts1ed, pts2ed) attanā saṅkilissati; Attanā akataṁ pāpaṁ, attanāva visujjhati; Suddhī asuddhi paccattaṁ, nāñño aññaṁ visodhaye.*aññaṁ → nāññamañño (bj)

For it is by oneself that evil’s done, Attanā hi kataṁ pāpaṁ,*Attanā hi → attanā va (bj, sya-all, pts1ed, pts2ed)one is corrupted by oneself. attanā saṅkilissati; It’s by oneself that evil’s not done, Attanā akataṁ pāpaṁ, one is purified by oneself. attanāva visujjhati; Purity and impurity are personal matters, Suddhī asuddhi paccattaṁ, no one can purify another. nāñño aññaṁ visodhaye.*aññaṁ → nāññamañño (bj)

Never neglect what is good for yourself for the sake of another, however great. Knowing well what is good for yourself, be intent upon your heart’s goal.

Attadatthaṁ paratthena, bahunāpi na hāpaye; Attadatthamabhiññāya, sadatthapasuto siyā.

Never neglect what is good for yourself Attadatthaṁ paratthena, for the sake of another, however great. bahunāpi na hāpaye; Knowing well what is good for yourself, Attadatthamabhiññāya, be intent upon your heart’s goal. sadatthapasuto siyā.