(8.1–16)
100. Better than a thousand sayings
Made up of useless words
Is one word of meaning
Which calms you to hear it.
101. Better than a thousand verses
Made up of useless words
Is one word of verse
Which calms you to hear it.
102. Better than speaking a hundred verses
Made up of useless words
Is one word of Dhamma
Which calms you to hear it.
103. Though you might conquer in battle
A thousand times a thousand men,
You’re the greatest battle-winner
If you conquer just one – yourself.
104. Better to conquer yourself
Than these other creatures.
If a person is self-controlled,
Behaving always with restraint,
105. Neither god nor spirit,
Not Māra and Brahmā together,
Can turn to defeat
The victory of such a one.
106. You could sacrifice with a thousand offerings
Month by month for a hundred years;
But if you were to pay homage to a developed person
Once, just for a moment,
That homage would be better
Than that hundred-year sacrifice would be.
107. A person could tend the fire in the forest
For a hundred years;
But if he were to pay homage to a developed person
Once, just for a moment,
That homage would be better
Than that hundred-year sacrifice would be.
108. Whatever sacrifice or offering in the world
One might offer for a year, seeking merit,
All that is not worth a quarter as much
As reverence to those who are upright.
109. For one whose behaviour is respectful,
Who constantly honours his elders,
Four things increase:
Life-span, beauty, happiness and strength.
110. Better than living a hundred years
Ill behaved, unconcentrated,
Is living for one day
Well behaved, a meditator.
111. Better than living a hundred years
Unwise, unconcentrated,
Is living for one day
Wise, a meditator.
112. Better than living a hundred years
Lazy, without effort,
Is living for one day
Steadfastly making effort.
113. Better than living a hundred years
Not seeing arising and passing away
Is living for one day
Seeing arising and passing away.
114. Better than living a hundred years
Not seeing the deathless state
Is living for one day
Seeing the deathless state.
115. Better than living a hundred years
Not seeing the supreme Dhamma
Is living for one day
Seeing the supreme Dhamma.