GEMSTONES OF THE GOOD DHAMMA – PART 9: SUTAVAGGA – LEARNING

GEMSTONES OF THE GOOD DHAMMA – PART 9: SUTAVAGGA – LEARNING

76. Sussusa sutavaddhani
sutam paññaya vaddhanam
paññaya attham janati
nato attho sukhavaho.

Desire to learn increases learning;
learning makes wisdom increase.
By wisdom is the goal known;
knowing the goal brings happiness.

77. Bahussutam upaseyya
sutañ ca na vinasaye
tam mulam brahmacariyassa
tasma dhammadharo siya.

One should follow the learned man,
and should not neglect learning,
for that is the foundation of the holy life.
Therefore be well versed in Dhamma.

78. Bahussutam dhammadharam
sappaññam buddhasavakam
nekkham jambonadass’eva
ko tam ninditum arahati
devapi nam pasamsanti
brahmunapi pasamsito.

Learned, knowing the Dhamma,
truly wise, the Buddha’s disciple
is like the finest gold of Jambu.
Who can find any blame in him?
Even the gods sing his praise;
Brahma himself sings his praise. ^[1]

79. Appassuto pi ce hoti
silesu susamahito
silato nam pasamsanti
nassa sampajjate sutam.

If one who has little learning
is strong in virtue, others
will praise his virtue only,
because his learning is incomplete.

80. Bahusuto pi ce hoti
silesu samahito
silato nam garahanti
tassa sampajjate sutam.

If one who has much learning
is weak in virtue, others
will blame him for his conduct
though his learning is complete.

81. Bahussuto pe ce hoti
silesu susamahito
ubhayena nam pasamsanti
silato ca sutena ca.

But if one has much learning
and is also strong in virtue,
he will be praised for both
his virtue and his learning.

82. Bahussuto appasutam
yo sutenatimaññati
andho padipadharo’va
tath’eva patibhati mam.

A learned man who, because of his learning,
despises one with little learning,
seems to me like a stone-blind man
walking around with a lamp in hand.

83. Tasma hi attahamena
mahantam abhikankhata
saddhammo garukatabbo
saram buddhana sasanam.

One who loves his own true welfare,
who is concerned with his own good,
should pay homage to the Dhamma
and always remember the Buddha’s words.

84. Samma manam panidhaya
samma vacam abhasiya
samma kammani katvana
kayena idha puggalo.

Having a rightly directed mind,
speaking rightly spoken speech,
doing here with the body
only deeds that are right and good.

85. Bahussuto puññakaro
apasmim idha jivite
kayassa bheda sappañño
saggam so upapajjati.

Learned, doing much that is worthy
even in a life that is short —
a wise person such as this
will be reborn in a happy place.

FOOTNOTES AND REFERENCES:

[1]:

Brahma: A high divinity in the ancient Indian pantheon.