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.
The chapter opens with verse 383, addressed to the Brâhmana, urging him to stop the stream, drive away desires, and, upon understanding the destruction of all that was made, to understand that which was not made. Verse 384 concerns the Brâhmana who reaches the other shore in both laws. Verse 385 defines the Brâhmana as one for whom there is neither this shore, that shore, nor both. Verses 386 and 387 describe the thoughtful, blameless Brâhmana and compare the brightness of sun, moon, warrior, Brâhmana, and Buddha. Verse 388 gives derivations for Brâhmana, Samana, and Pravragita. Verse 389 states no one should attack a Brâhmana, and no Brâhmana should retaliate. Verses 390 through 392 concern holding back the mind, offending by body, word, or thought, and worshipping the law as the Brâhmana worships the sacrificial fire. Verses 393 through 395 state that platted hair, family, and birth do not make a Brâhmana, addressing the fool about goat-skins and inner ravening, and naming the emaciated forest-dweller. From verse 396 onward, each verse repeats "Him I call indeed a Brâhmana," describing one free from attachments, who has cut all fetters, endures reproach, is free from anger, does not cling to pleasures, knows the end of suffering, keeps aloof from laymen and mendicants, does not kill, is tolerant, takes nothing not given, fosters no desires, is above good and evil, has reached the other shore, travels homeless, has risen above bondage to gods, knows the destruction and return of beings, whose path the gods do not know, who calls nothing his own, and who knows his former abodes and sees heaven and hell.
Chapter XXVI, Section 1aChapter XXVI, Section 1bChapter XXVI, Section 1cChapter XXVI, Section 1dChapter XXVI, Section 1e