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## Dhammapada XII

# Self

Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
For free distribution only.

Read an alternate translation by Acharya Buddharakkhita

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157*:

> If you hold yourself dear
> then guard, guard yourself well.
> The wise person would stay awake
> nursing himself
> in any of the three watches of the night,
> the three stages of life.

158:

> First
> he'd settle himself
> in what is correct,
> only then
> teach others.
> He wouldn't stain his name
> : he is wise.

159:

> If you'd mold yourself
> the way you teach others,
> then, well-trained,
> go ahead & tame --
> for, as they say,
> what's hard to tame is you
> yourself.

160:

> Your own self is
> your own mainstay,
> for who else could your mainstay be?
> With you yourself well-trained
> you obtain the mainstay
> hard to obtain.

161:

> The evil he himself has done
> -- self-born, self-created --
> grinds down the dullard,
> as a diamond, a precious stone.

162*:

> When overspread by extreme vice --
> like a sal tree by a vine --
> you do to yourself
> what an enemy would wish.

163:

> They're easy to do --
> things of no good
> & no use to yourself.
> What's truly useful & good
> is truly harder than hard to do.

164*:

> The teaching of those who live the Dhamma,
> worthy ones, noble:
> whoever maligns it
> -- a dullard,
> inspired by evil view --
> bears fruit for his own destruction,
> like the fruiting of the bamboo.

165*:

> Evil is done by oneself
> by oneself is one defiled.
> Evil is left undone by oneself
> by oneself is one cleansed.
> Purity & impurity are one's own doing.
> No one purifies another.
> No other purifies one.

166*:

> Don't sacrifice your own welfare
> for that of another,
> no matter how great.
> Realizing your own true welfare,
> be intent on just that.

Revised: Wed 16 May 2001