Latest / Sacred Texts Archive / 23 - The Elephant - The Dhammapada
Transcript
- Chapter twenty three. The elephant silently, shall I endure abuse as the elephant in battle endures the arrow sent from the bow, For the world is ill natured. They lead a tame elephant to battle. The king mounts a tamed elephant. The tamed is the best among men, he who silently endures abuse. Mules are good if tamed, and noble sindow horses and elephants with large tusks. But he who tames himself is better still. For with these animals does no man reach the untrodden country Nirvana, where a tamed man goes on a tamed animal, namely on his own well tamed self. The elephant called don Apolloca, his temples running with sap and difficult to hold, does not eat a morsel. When bound, the elephant longs for the elephant grove. If a man becomes fat and a great eater, if he is sleepy and rolls himself about, that fool like a hog fed on wash, is born again and again. This mind of mine went formerly wandering about as it liked, as it listed as it pleased. But I shall now hold it in thoroughly, as the rider who holds the hook holds in the furious elephant. Be not thoughtless, watch your thoughts. Draw yourself out of the evil way, like an elephant sunk in mud. If a man find a prudent companion who walks with him is wise and lives soberly, he may walk with him overcoming all dangers, happy, but considerate. If a man find no prudent companion who walks with him is wise and lives soberly, let him walk alone, like a king who has left his conquered country behind. Like an elephant in the forest. It is better to live alone. There is no companionship with a fool. Let a man walk alone. Let him commit no sin, with few wishes, like an elephant in the forest. If an occasion arises, friends are pleasant, Enjoyment is pleasant, whatever be the cause. A good work is pleasant. In the hour of death, the giving up of all grief is pleasant. Pleasant In the world is the state of a mother pleasant, The state of a father pleasant, the state of a somana pleasant, the state of a bramina pleasant is virtue lasting to old age. Pleasant is a faith firmly rooted. Pleasant is attainment of intelligence. Pleasant is avoiding of sins. End of Chapter twenty three,