 | Potiphar's Wife and Other Poems |  |
102
CHAPTER I. OF THE DHAMMAPADA.
Thought in the mind hath made us. What thou art
By thought was wrought and builded. If a soul
Hath evil thoughts, pain comes as wheels of cart
Behind its oxen roll.
By thought was wrought and builded. If a soul
Hath evil thoughts, pain comes as wheels of cart
Behind its oxen roll.
All that we are is what we think and will:
Our thoughts shape us and frame. If one endure
In purity of thought, joy follows still
As his own shadow—sure!
Our thoughts shape us and frame. If one endure
In purity of thought, joy follows still
As his own shadow—sure!
“He hath defamed me, wronged me, broken trust,
Abased me, beaten me!” If one shall keep
Thoughts like these angry words within his breast
Hatreds will never sleep!
Abased me, beaten me!” If one shall keep
Thoughts like these angry words within his breast
Hatreds will never sleep!
103
“He hath defamed me, wronged me, vilely wrought,
Abased me, beaten me!” If one shall send
Such angry words away for pardoning thought
Hatreds will have an end.
Abased me, beaten me!” If one shall send
Such angry words away for pardoning thought
Hatreds will have an end.
For, never anywhere at any time
Did hatred cease by hatred. Always 'tis
By Love that hatred ceaseth. From the prime
The ancient Rule is this.
Did hatred cease by hatred. Always 'tis
By Love that hatred ceaseth. From the prime
The ancient Rule is this.
The many, who live foolish, do forget
Or never knew, how mortal wrongs pass by:
But they who know, and who remember, let
Transient quarrels die.
Or never knew, how mortal wrongs pass by:
But they who know, and who remember, let
Transient quarrels die.
Whoso abides, looking for pleasures, vain,
Gluttonous, proud, in idle luxuries,
Mâra will him o'erthrow, as wind and rain
Level short-rooted trees.
Gluttonous, proud, in idle luxuries,
Mâra will him o'erthrow, as wind and rain
Level short-rooted trees.
104
Whoso abides, disowning joys, controlled,
Temperate, faithful, firm, shunning all ill,
Mâra shall no more shake that man strong-souled
Than the wind doth a hill.
Temperate, faithful, firm, shunning all ill,
Mâra shall no more shake that man strong-souled
Than the wind doth a hill.
Whoso Kâshya bears—the yellow dress—
Being anishkashya , not sin-free
Nor heeding Truth and Law—in wrongfulness
That holy robe wears he.
Being anishkashya , not sin-free
Nor heeding Truth and Law—in wrongfulness
That holy robe wears he.
But whoso, living nishkashya aright,
Clean from offence, doth still in virtue dwell
Observing temperance and truth—that wight
Weareth Kashya well.
Clean from offence, doth still in virtue dwell
Observing temperance and truth—that wight
Weareth Kashya well.
Whoso imagines truth in the untrue
And in the true finds untruth—he expires
Never attaining Knowledge—life's to rue
He follows vain desires.
And in the true finds untruth—he expires
Never attaining Knowledge—life's to rue
He follows vain desires.
105
Whoso discerns in truth the true, and sees
The false in falseness with unblinded eye,
He doth attain to knowledge. Life with these
Aims well before they die.
The false in falseness with unblinded eye,
He doth attain to knowledge. Life with these
Aims well before they die.
As rain breaks through an ill-thatched roof, so break
Passions through minds which holy thoughts despise:
As rain runs from a well-laid roof—so shake
Their passions off, the wise.
Passions through minds which holy thoughts despise:
As rain runs from a well-laid roof—so shake
Their passions off, the wise.
The Evil-doer mourneth this life long
And mourneth in the life to come. In both
He grieveth. When he seeth fruit of wrong
To see he will be loath.
And mourneth in the life to come. In both
He grieveth. When he seeth fruit of wrong
To see he will be loath.
The righteous man in this world hath his boot,
And in the world to come. From both he takes
Pleasaunce. When he doth see his works bear fruit
The good sight gladness makes.
And in the world to come. From both he takes
Pleasaunce. When he doth see his works bear fruit
The good sight gladness makes.
106
Glad is he living, glad in dying, glad
Having once died: glad alway, glad to know
What good deeds he had done, glad that he had
More good where he did go.
Having once died: glad alway, glad to know
What good deeds he had done, glad that he had
More good where he did go.
The lawless man, who Law not following,
Leaf after leaf recites, and line by line;
No Buddhist is he, but a hireling
Who counts another's kine.
Leaf after leaf recites, and line by line;
No Buddhist is he, but a hireling
Who counts another's kine.
The law-obeying, loving one who learns
Only one verse of Dharma, but hath ceased
From envy, hatred, malice, ill concerns,
He is the Buddhist Priest!
Only one verse of Dharma, but hath ceased
From envy, hatred, malice, ill concerns,
He is the Buddhist Priest!
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