From:
Patna Dharmapada Patna Dhammapada
19. Citta 19. The Chapter about the Mind
phandanaṁ capalaṁ cittaṁ durakkhaṁ dunnivārayaṁ । An agitated, unsteady mind, difficult to guard, difficult to ward,
ujjuṁ karoti medhāvī uṣukāro va tejanā ।। the sagacious one makes straight, as a fletcher does his arrows.
vārijo va thale khitto okamokātu ubbhato । Like a fish thrown up on dry land, pulled out from its watery home,
pariphandatimaṁ cittaṁ māradheyaṁ prahātaye ।। the mind is agitated, one ought to throw off the sway of Māra.
dūraṁgamaṁ ekacaraṁ aśarīraṁ guhāśayaṁ । Those who will restrain the mind that roams far,
ye cittaṁ saṁyyamehinti mokkhaṁte mārabaṁdhanā ।। is lonesome, without a body, hidden, gain release from the bonds of Māra.
dunniggrahassa laghuno yatthakāmanipātino । For the mind that is difficult to subdue, flighty, flitting wherever it will,
cittassa damatho sādhu cittaṁ dāntaṁ sukhāvahaṁ ।। restraint is good, a restrained mind brings happiness.
sududdaśaṁ sunipuṇaṁ yatthakāmanipātinaṁ । Hard to see, very subtle, flitting wherever it will,
cittaṁ rakkheya medhāvī tadahi guttaṁ sukhāvahaṁ ।। the sage should guard the mind, for guarded it brings happiness.
anaprāśrayamāṇassa ananvāhatacetaso । For the one with mind that is not dependent, for the one with mind unperplexed,
hettā kallāṇapāpāni nāsti jāgarato bhayaṁ ।। having abandoned the wholesome and demerit, for the watchful, there is no fear.
dhammaprītirasaṁ pāttā viprasannena cetasā । The one who drinks the tasty Dhamma drink, with a clear mind,
ayirapravedite dhamme sadā ramati paṇḍito ।। the wise one will always delight in the Dhamma that is made known by the Noble.
acirā vata ayaṁ kāyo paṭhaviṁ abhiśehiti । Before long has passed by, alas, this body will lie on the ground,
chūḍo apetaviṁnyāṇo nirātthaṁ vā kaṭiṁgaraṁ ।। rejected, without consciousness, just like a useless piece of wood.
kuṁbhopamaṁ kāyam imaṁ vidittā nagaropamaṁ cittam adhiṣṭhihittā । Knowing this body is frail like a jar, govern the mind like a fortress,
yodheya māraṁ praṁñāyudhena jitaṁ ca rakkhe aniveśano siyā ।। one should fight Māra with the weapon of wisdom, guard your success, and do not be attached.
yathā agāraṁ ducchannaṁ vaṭṭhī samitivijjhati । Just as the rain penetrates a house with thatching that is poor,
evaṁ abhāvitaṁ cittaṁ rāgo samitivijjhati ।। so passion penetrates a mind that is undeveloped.
yathā agāraṁ succhannaṁ vaṭṭhī na samitivijjhati । Just as rain does not penetrate a house with thatching that is good,
evaṁ subhāvitaṁ cittaṁ rāgo na samitivijjhati ।। so passion cannot penetrate a mind that is well-developed.
yathā agāraṁ ducchannaṁ vaṭṭhī samitivijjhati । Just as the rain penetrates a house with thatching that is poor,
evaṁ abhāvitaṁ cittaṁ doṣo samitivijjhati ।। so hatred penetrates a mind that is undeveloped.
yathā agāraṁ succhannaṁ vaṭṭhī na samitivijjhati । Just as rain does not penetrate a house with thatching that is good,
evaṁ subhāvitaṁ cittaṁ doṣo na samitivijjhati ।। so hatred cannot penetrate a mind that is well-developed.
yathā agāraṁ ducchannaṁ vaṭṭhī samitivijjhati । Just as the rain penetrates a house with thatching that is poor,
evaṁ abhāvitaṁ cittaṁ moho samitivijjhati ।। so delusion penetrates a mind that is undeveloped.
yathā agāraṁ succhannaṁ vaṭṭhī na samitivijjhati । Just as rain does not penetrate a house with thatching that is good,
evaṁ subhāvitaṁ cittaṁ moho na samitivijjhati ।। so delusion cannot penetrate a mind that is well-developed.
sabbapāpassa akaraṇaṁ kuśalassa apasaṁpadā । The non-doing of anything wicked, undertaking of what is good,
sacittapariyodamanaṁ etaṁ buddhāna śāsanaṁ ।। the training of one’s mind—this is the teaching of the Buddhas.
Cittavarggaḥ The Chapter about the Mind