Dhammapada 17

Minor Collection

Sayings of the Dhamma 221–234

17. Anger

221 Give up anger, get rid of conceit,

and escape every fetter.

Sufferings don’t befall one who has nothing,

not clinging to name and form.

222 When anger surges like a lurching chariot,

keep it in check.

That’s what I call a charioteer;

others just hold the reins.

223 Defeat anger with kindness,

villainy with virtue,

stinginess with giving,

and lies with truth.

224 Speak the truth, do not be angry,

and give when asked, if only a little.

By these three means,

you may enter the presence of the gods.

225 Those harmless sages,

always restrained in body,

go to the state that does not pass,

where there is no sorrow.

226 Always wakeful,

practicing night and day,

focused only on extinguishment,

their defilements come to an end.

227 It’s always been this way, Atula,

it’s not just today.

They blame you when you’re silent,

they blame you when you speak a lot,

and even when you speak just right:

no one in the world escapes blame.

228 There never was, nor will be,

nor is there today,

someone who is wholly praised

or wholly blamed.

229 If, after watching them day in day out,

discerning people praise

that sage of impeccable conduct,

endowed with ethics and wisdom;

230 like a pendant of Black Plum River gold,

who is worthy to criticize them?

Even the gods praise them,

and by the Divinity, too, they’re praised.

231 Guard against ill-tempered deeds,

be restrained in body.

Giving up bad bodily conduct,

conduct yourself well in body.

232 Guard against ill-tempered words,

be restrained in speech.

Giving up bad verbal conduct,

conduct yourself well in speech.

233 Guard against ill-tempered thoughts,

be restrained in mind.

Giving up bad mental conduct,

conduct yourself well in mind.

234 An attentive one is restrained in body

restrained also in speech,

in thought, too, they are restrained:

they are restrained in every way.