Sahassavaggo : Chapter 8. Thousand
From this Chapter 8 onwards, the Buddha’s teachings are applied.
What is “sahassa” ?
The theme of this chapter is verses associated with numbers such as sahassa ‘thousand‘ and sataṃ ‘hundred‘ are collected.
DhP.8-100
Sahassamapi ce vācā, thousand-if even speech anatthapadasaṃhitā; nonsense-word-accompany Ekaṃ atthapadaṃ seyyo, one meaningful-word better yaṃ sutvā upasammati. whenever heard grow-calm
Even if a thousand speeches
are meaningless,
it is better to listen to
a single meaningful word
that quiets the mind.
explanation
The present day is an age of confusion, with an overflow of useless and useful information. In such a situation, what should we choose to do better?
Shouldn’t we choose one public speech that is calming, mind-growing and beneficial?
What is it? We think it it the Buddhas’ public speech.
DhP.8-101
Sahassamapi ce gāthā, thousand-if even verse anatthapadasaṃhitā; nonsense-word-accompany Ekaṃ gāthāpadaṃ seyyo, one verse-word better yaṃ sutvā upasammati. whenever heard grow-calm
Even if a thousand verses
are meaningless,
it is better to listen to
a single word of verse
that quiets the mind.
explanation
It does not matter how many words you say or how long your speech, as long as it is for someone benefit.
DhP.8-102
Yo ca gāthā sataṃ bhāse, he if verse hundred verses anatthapadasaṃhitā; nonsense-word-accompany Ekaṃ dhammapadaṃ seyyo, one dhamma-word better yaṃ sutvā upasammati. whenever heard grow-calm
Rather than a hundred
meaningless discussions,
it is better to listen to
a single word of Dhamma
that quiets the mind.
explanation
Meaningless discussions are a waste of time. It is a waste of your own time, not to mention the time of others.
DhP.8-103
Yo sahassaṃ sahassena, one thousand thousand saṅgāme mānuse jine; battle human conquered Ekañca jeyyamattānaṃ, one-but conquered-oneself sa ve saṅgāmajuttamo. he truly victorious-highest
Mans can conquer million in battle,
but the greatest victor is the one
who can conquer himself.
explanation
Thousand × thousand = million. Winning yourself is extremely valuable. The 103, 104 and 105 are linked verses.
DhP.8-104
Attā have jitaṃ seyyo, self indeed conquered better yā cāyaṃ itarā pajā; what but-this other people Attadantassa posassa, self-restrained person niccaṃ saññatacārino. constant self-controlled
It is better to conquer oneself
than to conquer others.
One who is always self-controlled
has conquered himself.
episode
A Brahmin, a gambler, asked Buddha, “What does it mean to lose?” The Buddha listed six detrimental acts that cause loss of wealth.
- Sleeping in the morning
- laziness
- violence
- addiction to alcohol and drugs
- roaming the streets at night
- sexual misbehaviour
The Buddha said, “All this means losing to yourself. Better than winning a gamble, better than winning others, is winning yourself“.
DhP.8-105
Neva devo na gandhabbo, not-indeed deva not celestial musician na māro saha brahmunā; not mara with brahma Jitaṃ apajitaṃ kayirā, conquered defeat does tathārūpassa jantuno. like-that-seeing man
Even God,
the celestial musician,
Māra or Brahma
cannot defeat such a victor.
explanation
Deva: God of deva-loka , celestial being, angel. Gandharva: Celestial musician. Māra: Mara. Brahmā: Lords over the heavenly realm of rebirth called the Brahma-loka, one of the highest realms in Buddhist cosmology.
DhP.8-106
Māse māse sahassena, month month thousand yo yajetha sataṃ samaṃ; he sacrifice hundred year Ekañca bhāvitattānaṃ, one-and trained-self muhuttamapi pūjaye; a-moment-even should-respect Sāyeva pūjanā seyyo, it-indeed veneration yañce vassasataṃ hutaṃ. it-even century offering
If a person who makes
a thousand monthly offerings
for a hundred years
pays homage to one who is enlightened,
even for a moment,
it is better than a hundred years of offerings.
episode
Sāriputta(one of the top disciples of the Buddha)’s uncle was a Brahmin priest. Every month, he offered a large sum of money to his leader so that he could go to the Brahma world in the next life.
Sāriputta explained to him that his leaders were giving him false expectations and that he too did not know the way to the Brahma world. Then Sāriputta took his uncle to the Buddha and asked him to preach the Dhamma that would surely lead one to the Brahma world.
The Buddha said to the Brahmin priest, “To give a spoonful of alms to one ascetic monk is far better than to give a large sum of money to your leader”.
DhP.8-107
Yo ca vassasataṃ jantu, he and year-hundred person aggiṃ paricare vane; sacred-fire honour forest Ekañca bhāvitattānaṃ, one-and trained-self muhuttamapi pūjaye; a-moment-even should-respect Sāyeva pūjanā seyyo, it-indeed veneration yañce vassasataṃ hutaṃ. it-even century offering
Also, if a person who worships fire
in the forest for a hundred years
pays homage to one who is enlightened,
even for a moment,
it is better than a hundred years of offerings.
explanation
Sāriputta’s nephew brahmin wanted to go to the Brahma world in his next life, so he sacrificed a goat every month and worshipped fire. When Sāriputta heard about this, he took him to the Buddha and the Buddha spoke this verse.
DhP.8-108
Yaṃ kiñci yiṭṭhaṃ va hutaṃ va loke, it whatever sacrificed or offered or this-world saṃvaccharaṃ yajetha puññapekkho; a-year worship hoping-for-merit Sabbampi taṃ na catubhāgameti, all-even it not 4th-1part-reach abhivādanā ujjugatesu seyyo. bowing-down for-right-going better
In this world,
make offerings and worship
all year round to gain merits.
It is not even a quarter of the bowing to one
who is on the right path.
explanation
Abhivādana: bowing down. It means three type. 1: Bowing as a greeting. 2: Bowing as an apology. 3: Bowing in respect. Polite bowings are more important than rituals and ceremonies.
DhP.8-109
Abhivādanasīlissa, bowing-down-having-a-habit niccaṃ vuḍḍhāpacāyino; constantly old-ripeness-one Cattāro dhammā vaḍḍhanti, four nature increasing āyu vaṇṇo sukhaṃ balaṃ. life appearance happiness power
One who is mindful of bowing
and always respects elders
increases four qualities: life,
appearance, happiness and power.
explanation
If you always greet people politely, apologise honestly when you make mistakes and respect your elders, your relationships will be good. Naturally, your life will improve, your appearance will look more vibrant and radiant, your presence will increase and you will be happier.
DhP.8-110
Yo ca vassasataṃ jīve, one or a-century life dussīlo asamāhito; immoral uncontrolled Ekāhaṃ jīvitaṃ seyyo, one-day life better sīlavantassa jhāyino. virtuous meditative-one
It is better to live one day
meditating to develop virtues
than to live for a hundred years
without moral and self-control.
explanation
A day of self-reflection is more meaningful than a hundred years of living with emotions.
DhP.8-111
Yo ca vassasataṃ jīve, one or a-century life duppañño asamāhito; no-wisdom uncontrolled Ekāhaṃ jīvitaṃ seyyo, one-day life better paññavantassa jhāyino. wisdom meditative-one
It is better to live one day
meditating for wisdom
than to live a hundred years
without self-control in ignorance.
explanation
Paññā means “wisdom“. It is not knowledge or intelligence, but it is wisdom that appears intuitively and the understanding of the true nature of phenomena.
DhP.8-112
Yo ca vassasataṃ jīve, one or a-century life kusīto hīnavīriyo; slothful poor-effort Ekāhaṃ jīvitaṃ seyyo, one-day life better vīriyamārabhato daḷhaṃ. effort-to-bigin strongly
It is better to live one day
diligently and ardently than to live
a hundred years in idleness.
explanation
Viriya: It is translated as “energy“, “diligence” or “effort“. It means concentration of the mind on one thing, to strive hard, to make a dedicated effort.
Living beings have always had a basic nature to move in the direction of greater comfort and ease. Our turning over in bed and our desire to improve our lives are all due to this nature. People want to sleep and idle around all the time. It is easier because we don’t have to think or worry. So if we are not consciously diligent, we can quickly spend a hundred years being idle.
DhP.8-113
Yo ca vassasataṃ jīve, one or a-century live apassaṃ udayabbayaṃ; not-find birth-and-death Ekāhaṃ jīvitaṃ seyyo, one-day live better passato udayabbayaṃ. find birth-and-death
It is better to live one day
finding the phenomena
arise and decay
than to live a hundred years
without finding them.
explanation
Udayabbaya: means “arising and passing away“, “birth and death“. The knowledge gained through “insight meditation (Vipassana)” is the fact that all physical and mental phenomena are not immutable or permanent; they always arise and decay. It represents “impermanence.”
DhP.8-114
Yo ca vassasataṃ jīve, one or a-century live apassaṃ amataṃ padaṃ; not-find deathless step Ekāhaṃ jīvitaṃ seyyo, one-day live better passato amataṃ padaṃ. find deathless step
One day of finding the path of deathless
is better than a hundred years of living
without finding it.
explanation
The path of deathless does not mean immortality (eternal existence). One who has attained full enlightenment and reached nirvana is out of the cycle of samsara, which means that he or she is no longer reborn. Thus, it is deathlessness.
DhP.8-115
Yo ca vassasataṃ jīve, one or a-century live apassaṃ dhammamuttamaṃ; not-find truth-excellent Ekāhaṃ jīvitaṃ seyyo, one-day live better passato dhammamuttamaṃ. find truth-excellent
One day of finding a great truth
is better than a hundred years of living
without finding it.
explanation
“Dhamma” is a word with a wide range of meanings. It is the truth (verse 102), the law of universe = the law of nature. And at the same time, it is also all phenomena and nature (verse 109).
Sahassavaggo aṭṭhamo niṭṭhito. thousand-chapter 8th finish
8. The thousand chapter is ended.