Translated by F. Max Müller · 1881
One of the sources behind Buddha.
Chapter I. The Twin-Verses
1. All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with an evil tho…
3 passages
Chapter II. On Earnestness & Chapter III. Thought
21. Earnestness is the path of immortality (Nirvana), thoughtlessness the path of death. Those who are in earnest do not die, those who are thoughtless are as i…
3 passages
Chapter IV. Flowers
44. Who shall overcome this earth, and the world of Yama (the lord of the departed), and the world of the gods? Who shall find out the plainly shown path of vir…
3 passages
Chapter V. The Fool
60. Long is the night to him who is awake; long is a mile to him who is tired; long is life to the foolish who do not know the true law. 61. If a traveller doe…
3 passages
Chapter VI. The Wise Man (Pandita) & Chapter VII. The Venerable (Arhat).
76. If you see an intelligent man who tells you where true treasures are to be found, who shows what is to be avoided, and administers reproofs, follow that wis…
4 passages
Chapter VIII. The Thousands
100. Even though a speech be a thousand (of words), but made up of senseless words, one word of sense is better, which if a man hears, he becomes quiet. 101. E…
3 passages
Chapter IX. Evil
116. If a man would hasten towards the good, he should keep his thought away from evil; if a man does what is good slothfully, his mind delights in evil. 117. …
2 passages
Chapter X. Punishment
129. All men tremble at punishment, all men fear death; remember that you are like unto them, and do not kill, nor cause slaughter. 130. All men tremble at pun…
2 passages
Chapter XI. Old Age & Chapter XII. Self
146. How is there laughter, how is there joy, as this world is always burning? Why do you not seek a light, ye who are surrounded by darkness? 147. Look at thi…
3 passages
Chapter XIII. The World & Chapter XIV. The Buddha (The Awakened)
167. Do not follow the evil law! Do not live on in thoughtlessness! Do not follow false doctrine! Be not a friend of the world. 168. Rouse thyself! do not be i…
4 passages
Chapter XV. Happiness & Chapter XVI. Pleasure
197. Let us live happily then, not hating those who hate us! among men who hate us let us dwell free from hatred! 198. Let us live happily then, free from ailm…
3 passages
Chapter XVII. Anger & Chapter XVIII. Impurity
221. Let a man leave anger, let him forsake pride, let him overcome all bondage! No sufferings befall the man who is not attached to name and form, and who call…
5 passages
Chapter XIX. The Just
256, 257. A man is not just if he carries a matter by violence; no, he who distinguishes both right and wrong, who is learned and leads others, not by violence,…
3 passages
Chapter XX. The Way
273. The best of ways is the eightfold; the best of truths the four words; the best of virtues passionlessness; the best of men he who has eyes to see. 274. Th…
3 passages
Chapter XXI. Miscellaneous
290. If by leaving a small pleasure one sees a great pleasure, let a wise man leave the small pleasure, and look to the great. 291. He who, by causing pain to …
2 passages
Chapter XXII. The Downward Course & Chapter XXIII. The Elephant
306. He who says what is not, goes to hell; he also who, having done a thing, says I have not done it. After death both are equal, they are men with evil deeds …
4 passages
Chapter XXIV. Thirst
334. The thirst of a thoughtless man grows like a creeper; he runs from life to life, like a monkey seeking fruit in the forest. 335. Whomsoever this fierce th…
5 passages
Chapter XXV. The Bhikshu (Mendicant)
360. Restraint in the eye is good, good is restraint in the ear, in the nose restraint is good, good is restraint in the tongue. 361. In the body restraint is …
3 passages
Chapter XXVI. The Brahmana (Arhat)
383. Stop the stream valiantly, drive away the desires, O Brahmana! When you have understood the destruction of all that was made, you will understand that whic…
6 passages