From:
Patna Dharmapada Patna Dhammapada
9. Tahna 9. The Chapter about Craving
manujassa pramattacāriṇo tahnāvaddhatimālutā iva । For a human who lives life heedlessly craving increases like a clinging creeper,
sā prāplavate hurāhuraṁ phalameṣī va vanamhi vānnaro ।। he rushes from one place to another like a monkey seeking fruit in the forest.
yaṁ cesā sahate jaṁmī tahnā loke duraccayā । That one who is overcome by these low cravings in the world, which are difficult to get past,
śokā tassa pravaddhaṁti ovaṭṭhā beruṇā iva ।। for him griefs increase like grass that has been rained upon.
yo cetāṁ sahate jaṁmiṁ tahnāṁ loke duraccayāṁ । Whoever overcomes this low craving in the world, which is difficult to get past,
śokā tassa vivaṭṭanti udabindū va pukkhare ।। griefs roll from him like a drop of water on a lotus.
taṁ vo vademi bhadraṁ vo yāvaṁt-ittha samāgatā । This I say to you: “Good luck to as many as have assembled here”,
tahnāṁ samūlāṁ khaṇatha uṣīrātthī va beruṇiṁ । dig up the root of craving, like one seeking the root digs up grass,
tahnāya khatamūlāya nāsti śokā kato bhayaṁ ।। for one who has cut off the root of craving there are no griefs, how is there fear?
tahnabitiyo puruṣo drīgham addhāna saṁsari । A man with craving as companion has a long time in births-and-deaths,
etthabhāvaṁñathābhāvaṁ tattha tattha punappuno ।। in this existence or another existence, here and there, again and again.
etam ādīnavaṁ nyāttā tahnā dukkhassa saṁbhavaṁ । Having understood the danger, that craving is the origination of suffering,
vītatahno anādāno sato bhikkhū parivraje ।। free from craving, without attachment, the monastic should wander mindfully.
na taṁ dṛḍhaṁ bandhanam āhu dhīrā yad āyasaṁ dārujaṁ babbajaṁ vā । That bondage is not so strong say the wise, that is made of iron or wood or reeds,
sārattarattā maṇikuṇḍalesu putresu dāresu ca yā apekhā ।। impassioned and excited they seek out jewels and earrings and children and wives—
etaṁ dṛḍhaṁ bandhanam āhu dhīrā ohārimaṁ sukhumaṁ dupramuñcaṁ । that bondage is strong say the wise, dragging down, subtle, hard to get free from,
etappi chettāna vrajanti santo anapekhino sabbadukhaṁ prahāya ।। having cut this down the good go peacefully seeking nothing, abandoning all suffering.
na kāhāpaṇavāsena ttrettī kāmesu vijjati । Not through a rain of coins is satisfaction found for sense desires,
appāssādā dukhā kāmā iti viṁñāya paṇḍito ।। the wise one knowing: “Sense pleasures have little joy, much suffering,”
api divvesu kāmesu ratiṁ so nādhigacchati ।। does not find delight even in heavenly pleasures.
tahnakkhayarato hoti saṁmasaṁbuddhasāvako ।। The disciple of the Perfect Sambuddha delights in craving’s destruction.
vītatahno anādāno niruttīpadakovido । Without craving, without attachment, skilled in words and their explanation,
akkharāṇāṁ sannipātena ñāyyā pūrvvāparāṇi so । knowing how syllables are arranged, which come before and which after,
sa ve antimaśārīro mahāpraṁño ti vuccati ।। the one in his final body is said to be one of great wisdom.
saritāni sinehitāni ca somanassāni bhavanti jantuno । There are flowing streams of affection and mental happinesses for a person,
ye sātasitā sukheṣiṇo te ve jātijaropagā ।। pleasure-dependent they seek happiness, those people undergo birth and old age.
tahnāya purekkhaṭā prajā parisappanti śaśo va bādhito । People surrounded by craving crawl round like a hare in a trap,
te saṁjotanasaṅgasattā gabbham upenti punappuno ciraṁ pi ।। they are attached and clinging to fetters, they come back again and again to the womb for a long time.
muñca pure muñca pacchato majjhe muñca bhavassa pāragū । Be free of the past, be free of the future, be free of the present, after crossing over all existence,
sabbattha vimuttamānaso na puno jātijarām upehisi ।। with mind liberated in every way, you will not return to birth and old age.
yo nivvanadho vanā tu mutto vanamutto vanam eva dhāvati । The one who is free from desires, who is free in the forest, though free from the forest, runs back to the forest,
taṁ puggalam etha paśśatha mutto bandhanam eva dhāvati ।। come here and look at that person, though free, he runs back to bondage.
ttriṇadoṣāṇi khettrāṇi rāgadoṣā ayaṁ prajā । Fields are ruined by grassy weeds, these people are ruined by passion,
tassā hi vītarāgesu dinnaṁ hoti mahapphalaṁ ।। therefore there is great fruit for that given to those without passion.
ttriṇadoṣāṇi khettrāṇi doṣadoṣā ayaṁ prajā । Fields are ruined by grassy weeds, these people are ruined by hatred,
tassā hi vītadoṣesu dinnaṁ hoti mahapphalaṁ ।। therefore there is great fruit for that given to those without hatred.
ttriṇadoṣāṇi khettrāṇi mohadoṣā ayaṁ prajā । Fields are ruined by grassy weeds, these people are ruined by delusion,
tassā hi vītamohesu dinnaṁ hoti mahapphalaṁ ।। therefore there is great fruit for that given to those without delusion.
ramaṇīyaṁ vatā ’raṇṇaṁ yamhiṁ na ramate jano । The delightful wilderness wherein the people do not delight,
vītarāgāttha raṁsanti nāṁñe kāmagaveṣiṇo ।। those without passion delight therein, but not those who seek sense pleasures.
yathā pi mūle anupadrute dṛḍhe chinno pi rukkho punar-īva jāyati । Just as when the root remains firm and undamaged though the tree was cut down, it springs up again,
em eva tahnānuśaye anūhate nivvattate dukkham idaṁ punappuno ।। so when the tendency to craving is not rooted out this suffering appears again and again.
Tahnavarggaḥ The Chapter about Craving