Help | Home » Tipitaka » Sutta Pitaka » Khuddaka Nikaya » Sutta Nipata » Context of this sutta

### Sutta Nipata II.8

# Nava Sutta

# A Boat

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

Read an alternate translation by John D. Ireland

Translator's Note: Although it is often lost in translation, this poem in the Pali has a clearly articulated over-all structure. The first seven verses -- coming under the "because" (yasma) -- state reasons, while the last verse, under the "so" (tasma), draws the conclusion: find a good teacher and practice the Dhamma.

> Because:

> when you honor
> -- as the devas, Indra --
> one from whom
> you might learn the Dhamma,
> he, learned, honored,
> confident in you,
> shows you the Dhamma.

> You, enlightened, heedful,
> befriending a teacher like that,
> practicing the Dhamma in line with the Dhamma,
> pondering,
> giving it priority,
> become
> knowledgeable,
> clear-minded,
> wise.

> But if you consort with a piddling fool
> who's envious,
> hasn't come to the goal,
> you'll go to death
> without having cleared up the Dhamma right here,
> with your doubts unresolved.

> Like a man gone down to a river --
> turbulent, flooding, swift-flowing --
> and swept away in the current:
> how can he help others across?

> Even so:
> he who hasn't
> cleared up the Dhamma,
> attended to the meaning
> of what the learned say,
> crossed over his doubts:
> how can he get others
> to comprehend?

> But as one who's embarked
> on a sturdy boat,
> with rudder & oars,
> would -- mindful, skillful,
> knowing the needed techniques --
> carry many others across,

> even so
> an attainer-of-knowledge, learned,
> self-developed, unwavering
> can get other people to comprehend --
> if they're willing to listen,
> ready to learn.

> So:
> you should befriend
> a person of integrity --
> learned, intelligent.
> Practicing so
> as to know the goal,
> when you've experienced the Dhamma,

> you get bliss.

Revised: Mon 10 September 2001