[18]
Though there be even a thousand utterances
made up of words without benefit,
better is a single word of benefit (atthapada),
hearing which, one attains peace.
Though there be even a thousand verses
made up of words without benefit,
better is a single line of verse,
hearing which, one attains peace.
And though one should recite a hundred verses
made up of words without benefit,
better is a single word of Dhamma (dhammapada),
hearing which, one attains peace.
Though one should conquer in battle
a thousand times a thousand men,
he who conquers but one — himself —
is truly the supreme victor in battle.
Better indeed is the conquest of oneself
than of all this other folk;
for a person who has tamed himself,
who fares ever restrained,
neither a deva nor a gandhabba,
nor Māra together with Brahmā,
could turn into defeat the victory
of a being such as that.
Though month after month, for a hundred years,
one should offer sacrifice with a thousand,
yet were one to venerate, even for a moment,
a single one who has developed himself (bhāvitatta),
that veneration alone is better
than a hundred years of sacrifice.
And though a person for a hundred years
should tend the fire in the forest,
yet were one to venerate, even for a moment,
a single one who has developed himself,
that veneration alone is better
than a hundred years of sacrifice.
Whatever offering or oblation in the world
one seeking merit might sacrifice for a whole year,
all of it does not come to a fourth part:
homage to the upright is better.
For one whose habit is homage,
who ever honors the elders,
four things increase:
long life, beauty, happiness, and strength.
And though one should live a hundred years,
immoral, unconcentrated (asamāhita),
better is a single day's life
of one virtuous and meditative.
And though one should live a hundred years,
devoid of wisdom, unconcentrated,
better is a single day's life
of one wise and meditative.
And though one should live a hundred years,
indolent, feeble in energy (vīriya),
better is a single day's life
of one who firmly arouses energy.
And though one should live a hundred years
not seeing arising and passing away (udayabbaya),
better is a single day's life
of one who sees arising and passing away.
And though one should live a hundred years
not seeing the deathless state (amataṃ padaṃ),
better is a single day's life
of one who sees the deathless state.
And though one should live a hundred years
not seeing the supreme Dhamma,
better is a single day's life
of one who sees the supreme Dhamma.
The Chapter of the Thousands (Sahassavagga), the Eighth.
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In the Verses of the Dhammapada, the Ninth Chapter: the Chapter on Evil (Pāpavagga)
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.