(4.1–16)
44. Who will conquer this earth,
And this world of Yama with its gods?
Who will pluck the well-taught word of Dhamma
As a skilled one plucks a flower?
45. The Learner will conquer this earth,
And this world of Yama with its gods.
The Learner will pluck the well-taught word of Dhamma
As a skilled one plucks a flower.
46. Knowing that this body is like foam,
Understanding it has the nature of a mirage,
You should cut off the flower-spikes of Māra,
And go where the King of Death can’t see you.
47. While a man gathers flowers,
His mind attached to this and that,
Death carries him away
As a great flood takes a sleeping village.
48. While a man gathers flowers,
His mind attached to this and that,
Unsatisfied in his desires,
The Ender overpowers him.
49. In the village, a sage should go about
Like a bee, which, not harming
Flower, colour or scent,
Flies off with the nectar.
50. You should not look at
Others’ faults,
Things done or not done by others,
But at things done or not done by yourself.
51. Like a beautiful flower,
Colourful but scentless,
The well-taught word is fruitless
For one who does not practise.
52. Like a beautiful flower,
Colourful and fragrant,
The well-taught word is fruitful
For one who practises.
53. Just as you can make
Many kinds of garlands from a heap of flowers,
There is much good that can be done
By one born mortal.
54. The scent of flowers is not blown against the wind –
Not sandalwood or tagara or jasmine.
But the scent of the good is blown against the wind:
A good man perfumes all directions.
55. Sandalwood, tagara,
Lotus and jasmine:
Among all kinds of scents,
The scent of virtue is unsurpassed.
56. Of little range is the scent
That is tagara or sandalwood.
But the scent of the virtuous
Is wafted among the gods, supreme.
57. Māra doesn’t find the path
Of those who practise virtue,
Living in awareness,
Freed by right understanding.
59. A disciple of the Fully Awakened
Shines out through wisdom
Among the blind multitude,
The refuse of beings.