From:
Patna Dharmapada Patna Dhammapada
17. Ātta 17. The Chapter about Self
yassa accantadośśillaṁ malutā sālam ivo ’tatā । The one who has an exceeding lack of virtue, like a deadly creeper covering a Sal tree,
karoti so tathāttānaṁ yathā naṁ biṣam icchati ।। makes himself the same as his enemy wishes him to be.
āttanā hi kataṁ pāpaṁ āttajaṁ āttasaṁbhavaṁ । That wickedness done by oneself, born in oneself, arising in oneself,
anumaṁdhati dummedhaṁ vayiraṁ vā ahmamayaṁ maṇiṁ ।। crushes the one who is stupid, as a diamond crushes a rock-jewel.
āttanā hi kataṁ pāpaṁ āttanā saṁkiliśśati । By oneself alone is a wicked deed done, by oneself is one defiled,
āttanā akataṁ pāpaṁ āttanā ye viśujjhati । by oneself is a wicked deed left undone, by oneself is one purified,
śoddhī aśoddhī praccattaṁ nāṁño aṁñaṁ viśodhaye ।। purity and impurity come from oneself, for no one purify another.
na paresaṁ vilomāni na paresaṁ katā ’kataṁ । Not the wrongs of others, or what others have done or have not done
āttanā ye aveccheyā katāni akatāni ca ।। one should consider, but what has been done and not done by oneself.
na paresaṁ vilomāni na paresaṁ samāsamaṁ । Not the wrongs of others, or what is just and unjust for others
āttanā ye aveccheyā samāni viṣamāṇi ca ।। one should consider, but what is just and unjust for oneself.
āttānañ ce priyaṁ ñāyyā rakkheyā naṁ surakkhitaṁ । If one regards oneself as dear one should guard oneself right well,
na etaṁ sulabhaṁ hoti sukhaṁ dukkatakāriṇāṁ ।। for happiness is not easy to gain by those who do wrong.
āttānaṁ ce priyaṁ ñāyyā rakkheyā naṁ surakkhitaṁ । If one regards oneself as dear one should guard oneself right well,
ttiṇṇam añataraṁ yāmānaṁ paṭijāggreya paṇḍito ।। during one of the three watches of the night the wise one should stay alert.
ekāsanaṁ ekaśeyaṁ ekacariyām atandrito । Sitting alone, lying down alone, walking alone, diligent,
eko ramayam āttānaṁ vanānte ramitā siyā ।। the solitary one who delights in himself will delight in the edge of a forest.
yo śāsanaṁ arahatāṁ ayirāṇāṁ dhammajīvināṁ । Whoever reviles the worthy teaching of the Noble Ones who live by Dhamma,
paṭikrośati dummedho dṛṣṭiṁ niśśāya pāpikāṁ । that stupid one, depending on wicked views,
karoti so tathāttānaṁ yathā naṁ biṣam icchati ।। makes himself the same as his enemy wishes him to be.
yo śāsanaṁ arahatāṁ ayirāṇāṁ dhammajīvināṁ । Whoever reviles the worthy teaching of the Noble Ones who live by Dhamma,
paṭikrośati dummedho dṛṣṭiṁ niśśaya pāpikāṁ । that stupid one, depending on wicked views,
phalāni kaṇṭakasseva āttaghannāya phallati ।। like the bamboo when it bears fruit, brings about his own destruction.
āttānam eva paṭhamaṁ atthe dhaṁme niveśaye । First one should establish oneself in the good and the Dhamma,
athāṁñam anuśāseyā evaṁ hohi yathā ahaṁ ।। then one can advise another, saying: ‘You must be as I am’.
āttānam eva paṭhamaṁ paṭirūpe niyojaye । First one should commit oneself to what is suitable,
athāṁñam anuśāsanto na kiliśśati praṁñavā ।। then when advising another, the wise one should not have any defilement.
āttanā ye tathā kayirā yathāṁñam anuśāsaye । He should do himself as he would advise another to do,
adānto vata dameyā āttā hi kira duddamo ।। being untrained, he should surely train himself, for it is said the self is difficult to train.
āttā hi bhe varaṁ dānto yacchāyam itarā prajā । A tamed self is better than that of other people,
āttadāntassa poṣassa sadā saṁyyatacāriṇo ।। for the person who conquers himself, who lives always well-restrained,
neva devā na gandhabbā na māro saha brahmuṇā । neither gods, nor gandhabbas, nor Māra together with Brahmās,
jitaṁ apajitaṁ kayirā tattharūpassa jantuno ।। can turn conquest into defeat for a person who is like this.
āttā hi āttano nātho ko hi nātho paro siyā । For the self is the friend of self, for what other friend would there be?
āttanā hi sucinnena nāthaṁ labhati dullabhaṁ ।। When the self is well-practiced, one finds a friend that is hard to find.
āttā hi āttano nātho āttā hi āttano gatī । Self is the protector of self, self is the refuge of self,
tassā saṁyyamayā ’ttānaṁ aśśaṁ bhadraṁ va vāṇijo ।। therefore one should restrain oneself, as a merchant restrains his noble horse.
āttānam eva damaye aśśasugatiyā sadā । One should tame oneself always, that will be for a good destiny,
daṁma śaṁma ujjuṁ hohi tato akuṭilo bhava ।। be tamed, be peaceful, be upright, and from that be honest,
tato dānto sukhī hohi anupādāya nivṛto । then, tamed, be happy, unattached and cooled down.
āttanā codayā ’ttānaṁ parimaśāttānam āttanā । By oneself one should censure self, by oneself one should be controlled,
so āttagutto satimā sukhaṁ bhikkhū vihāhisi । he who guards himself, mindful, will live happily, monastic.
āttadātthaṁ parātthena bahunā pi na hāpaye । One should not neglect one’s own good for another’s, however great;
āttadātthaṁ paraṁ ñāttā sadātthaparamo siyā ।। knowing further what is good for oneself should be the supreme good.
nevāttaheto na parassa heto na saggam icche na dhanaṁ na rāṣṭaṁ । Not for one’s own sake and not for another’s sake, not desiring heaven, riches, or a kingdom—
necche adhammeṇa samṛddhim āttano so śīlavā praṁñavā dhāṁmiko siyā ।। he should not desire his success through corruption; he should be both virtuous and wise and righteous.
Āttavarggaḥ The Chapter about Self