[10] This should be done by one who is skilled in the good,
having fully understood that state of peace:
he should be capable, upright, perfectly upright,
easy to admonish, gentle, free of excessive conceit;
content and easy to support,
with few duties and of frugal ways,
with faculties at peace, prudent,
not impudent, not greedily attached among families.
And he should not do even the slightest thing
for which other wise ones might reproach him.
May all beings be happy and secure;
may all beings be happy in themselves!
Whatever living beings there are,
whether trembling or firm, without exception —
those that are long or great,
middling, short, minute, or stout,
those seen¹ and those unseen,¹
those dwelling far and those near,
those who have come to be and those seeking birth —
may all beings be happy in themselves!
Let no one deceive another,
nor despise anyone² in any way anywhere;
through anger or through perception of repulsion
let them not wish suffering (dukkha) upon one another.
Just as a mother would protect her own child,
her only child, with her very life,
so toward all beings
should one develop a measureless mind (mānasa);
¹ M. (Burmese ed.): "ye va". ² M.: "na kiñci".
and with loving-kindness (mettā) for the whole world
one should develop a measureless mind —
above, below, and across,
unconfined, without enmity, without foes.
Whether standing, walking, seated,
or lying down, so long as one is free from drowsiness,
one should resolve upon this mindfulness (sati):
this, they say, is the divine abiding (brahmavihāra) here.¹
And not resorting to views (diṭṭhi),
virtuous, endowed with vision,
having removed² greed for sensual pleasures,
one surely comes never again to lie in a womb.
The Mettā Sutta is concluded.
The Khuddakapāṭha is completed.
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¹ M.: "vihāramidhamāhu". ² M.: "vinaya".
IN THE SUTTANTA PIṬAKA:
THE DHAMMAPADA VERSES OF THE KHUDDAKA NIKĀYA
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Homage to the Blessed One, the Arahant, the Fully Self-Enlightened One.
The Yamakavagga, the First Chapter of the Dhammapada Verses
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.