[13]
The trembling, fickle mind (citta), hard to guard, hard to check,
the wise one makes straight, as a fletcher straightens an arrow-shaft.
Like a fish cast upon dry land, drawn out from its watery abode,
this mind thrashes about, in order to abandon Māra's dominion.
Good is the taming of the mind — hard to restrain, swift,
alighting wherever it pleases; a tamed mind brings happiness.
Let the wise one guard the mind — so very hard to see, exceedingly subtle,
alighting wherever it pleases; a guarded mind brings happiness.
Faring far, wandering alone, bodiless, lying in a cave —
those who shall restrain the mind will be freed from Māra's bond.
For one whose mind is unsettled, who does not understand the true Dhamma (saddhamma),
whose confidence drifts and wavers, wisdom does not come to fullness.
For one whose mind is not sodden [by lust], whose heart is unassailed [by hate],
who has abandoned both merit and evil — for such a wakeful one there is no fear.
Knowing this body to be like a clay jar,
making fast this mind like a fortified city,
one should do battle¹ with Māra with the weapon of wisdom;
one should guard what has been won, and make no abode² [there].
Before long, alas, this body will lie upon the earth,
cast aside³, bereft of consciousness (viññāṇa), like a worthless log.
Whatever a foe might do to a foe, or a hater to one he hates,
a wrongly directed mind would do one worse than that.
Not mother nor father could do that, nor any other kin besides;
a rightly directed mind would do one better than that.
The Cittavagga, the Third Chapter.
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¹ Sī. reads "yojetha." ² In all the books it appears as "anivesano." ³ Ma., Yu. read "chuddho."
The Verses of the Dhammapada — the Fourth Chapter, the Pupphavagga (Flowers).
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.