The Dhammapada
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The Dhammapada proceeds through numbered chapters of verses. It opens with "The Twin-Verses," pairing evil and pure thought and contrasting those whom Mâra overthrows with those he cannot, before Chapter II sets earnestness as the path of immortality, citing Maghavan (Indra). "Thought" (III) and the chapter on flowers (IV) liken the mind to a straightened arrow and the sage to a bee, while chapters on the fool (V) and "The Wise Man" (VI) contrast the two. "The Venerable (Arhat)" (VII) and the chapter on thousands (VIII) exalt self-conquest and one meaningful word; chapters on evil (IX) and "Punishment" (X) trace how deeds ripen and warn against killing. "Old Age" (XI), "Self" (XII), and "The World" (XIII) turn to the frail body and self-mastery. "The Buddha (The Awakened)" (XIV) declares the trackless Awakened and names refuge in Buddha, the Law, and the Church. "Happiness" (XV) and the chapter on pleasure (XVI) praise living without hatred and warn that grief arises from affection. "Anger" (XVII) addresses Atula; "Impurity" (XVIII) names ignorance the greatest taint; "The Just" (XIX) distinguishes true elders and Samanas. The chapter on the way (XX) names the eightfold path and states the Tathâgatas only preach. "Miscellaneous" (XXI) invokes the disciples of Gotama; the chapter on the evil way (XXII) sends liars to hell; the elephant chapter (XXIII) praises self-taming; the chapter on thirst (XXIV) urges digging up craving's root; the Bhikshu chapter (XXV) commends restraint. The closing "Brâhmana" chapter (XXVI) repeatedly defines the true Brâhmana by conduct rather than birth.
Verse 334 compares the thoughtless man's thirst to a creeper, running from life to life like a monkey. 335 says thirst full of poison increases suffering like Bîrana grass; 336 says overcoming it lets suffering fall like water from a lotus leaf. 337 urges those assembled to dig up thirst's root so Mâra cannot crush them. 338–343 describe thirst returning like a cut tree, its thirty-six channels, snared hares, and urge the mendicant to drive out thirst. 344 addresses one who runs from forest back to forest. 345–350 contrast fetters, spiders, giving up past and future. 351–353 describe one without thirst reaching his last body, declaring "I have conquered all." 354 praises the gift of the law. 355 says pleasures destroy the foolish. 356–359 repeat that fields damaged by weeds parallel mankind damaged by passion, hatred, vanity, and lust.
Chapter XXIV, Section 1aChapter XXIV, Section 1bChapter XXIV, Section 1c