[16]
6.
Should one see a person who points out one's faults as one who reveals hidden treasures —
one who speaks in reproof, intelligent — let one associate with such a wise person (paṇḍita);
for one who associates with such a one, it becomes better, not worse.
Let him advise, let him instruct, let him restrain one from what is base;
for he is dear to the good, but to the bad he is not dear.
One should not associate with evil friends; one should not associate with the vilest of men.
One should associate with virtuous friends; one should associate with the best of men.
One who drinks of the Dhamma (dhammapīti) sleeps at ease, with a mind serene;
the wise one ever delights in the Dhamma proclaimed by the noble ones.
Irrigators lead the water;
fletchers bend the arrow shaft;
carpenters bend the wood;
the wise tame themselves.
Just as a rock of one solid mass is not stirred by the wind,
even so the wise do not waver¹ amid blame and praise.
Just as a lake that is deep, limpid, and unclouded,
even so the wise, having heard the teachings, become serene.
Truly, the good (sappurisa) go on² in every circumstance;
the good do not prattle out of desire for sensual pleasures;
touched by happiness or else by suffering (dukkha),
the wise show neither elation nor dejection.
Not for one's own sake nor for the sake of another
should one desire a son, or wealth, or a kingdom;
one should not desire one's own success by unrighteous means —
such a one would be virtuous, wise, and righteous.
Few among human beings are the people who go to the far shore;
the rest of humankind merely runs along the bank.
But those who practice in accord with the Dhamma when the Dhamma has been rightly proclaimed —
those people will go to the far shore, beyond the realm of Death (maccudheyya), so hard to cross.
Having abandoned the dark state, the wise person should develop the bright,
having come from home to homelessness, into seclusion (viveka), where it is hard to delight.
There let him desire delight; having given up sensual pleasures, having nothing,
let the wise one cleanse himself of the defilements of the mind (citta).
Those whose mind is rightly well developed in the factors of awakening (sambodhiyaṅga),
who, without clinging, delight in the relinquishing of grasping —
they, with taints (āsava) destroyed, radiant, have attained final Nibbāna (parinibbuta) in the world.
The Chapter on the Wise (Paṇḍitavagga), the Sixth.
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Verses of the Dhammapada: the Seventh Chapter, on Arahants (Arahantavagga)
¹ The M. and Yu. editions read "samiñjanti."
² The M. and Yu. editions read "cajanti" ("give up").
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.