[12]
Heedfulness (appamāda) is the path to the Deathless (amata);
heedlessness (pamāda) is the path of death.
The heedful do not die;
the heedless are as though already dead.
Knowing this¹ distinctly,
the wise, established in heedfulness,
rejoice in heedfulness,
delighting in the resort of the noble ones (ariyā).
Those meditators (jhāyin), persevering,
constantly firm in their exertion —
those steadfast ones touch Nibbāna,
the unsurpassed security from bondage (yogakkhema).
For one who is energetic and mindful (sati),
pure in deed and acting with due consideration,
restrained, living by the Dhamma, and heedful,
fame increases exceedingly.
By energy, by heedfulness,
by restraint and by self-control,
let the intelligent one make an island
that no flood (ogha) can overwhelm.
Fools, people of poor intelligence,
give themselves over to heedlessness;
but the intelligent one guards heedfulness
as the finest of wealth.
Do not give yourselves over to heedlessness,
nor to intimacy with sensual delight;
for the heedful one, meditating,
attains abundant happiness.
When the wise one expels heedlessness
by means of heedfulness,
having ascended the palace of wisdom,
sorrowless, he surveys the sorrowing multitude;
as one standing upon a mountain surveys those standing on the ground below,
so the steadfast one surveys the fools.
Heedful among the heedless,
wide awake among those asleep,
the one of great wisdom goes on, leaving them behind,
as a swift horse leaves behind a horse without strength.
By heedfulness Maghavā
attained supremacy among the devas.
They praise heedfulness;
heedlessness is censured always.
A bhikkhu who delights in heedfulness,
or who sees danger in heedlessness,
advances like a burning fire,
consuming the fetters (saṃyojana), subtle and gross.
A bhikkhu who delights in heedfulness,
or who sees danger in heedlessness,
is incapable of falling away:
he is close indeed to Nibbāna.
¹ [Variant: the Burmese edition reads evaṃ, "thus," for etaṃ, "this."]
The Chapter on Heedfulness (Appamādavagga), the Second, is concluded.
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Dhammapada Verses: the Third Chapter, on the Mind (Cittavagga)
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.