(21.1–16)
290. If, by giving up happiness from material things,
He might see a great happiness,
A wise man, looking to the great happiness,
Would give up happiness from material things.
291. If you seek your own happiness
By causing pain to others,
Then, caught up in attachment to hatred,
You won’t be freed from hatred.
292. For what should be done is cast aside,
But what should not be done is done.
In those who are arrogant and unaware
The defilements increase.
293. But for those in whom mindfulness of body
Is ever rightly undertaken,
Who do not practise what should not be done,
Who persevere in what should be done,
Who are mindful and wise,
The defilements go to rest.
294. After killing mother and father
And two royal kings
And destroying a kingdom with its tax-gatherers,
The Brahmin walks unharmed.
295. After killing mother and father
And two Brahmin kings
And destroying a tiger-man as fifth,
The Brahmin walks unharmed.
296. Gotama’s disciples
Are always wide awake:
Both day and night they are ever
Mindful of the Buddha.
297. Gotama’s disciples
Are always wide awake:
Both day and night they are ever
Mindful of the Dhamma.
298. Gotama’s disciples
Are always wide awake:
Both day and night they are ever
Mindful of the Saṅgha.
299. Gotama’s disciples
Are always wide awake:
Both day and night they are ever
Mindful of the body.
300. Gotama’s disciples
Are always wide awake:
Both day and night their minds
Delight in non-violence.
301. Gotama’s disciples
Are always wide awake:
Both day and night their minds
Delight in meditation.
302. It’s hard to go forth, hard to find pleasure;
Houses are hard to live in and painful;
It’s painful to live with people who are different;
The wayfarer is beset with suffering.
So you shouldn’t be a wayfarer,
And you won’t be beset with suffering.
303. One who is faithful, endowed with good conduct,
Who has attained fame and wealth,
Whatever country he goes to
He is honoured there.
304. Though far away, the good shine out
Like Mount Himavat.
The bad are not seen even here,
Like arrows shot by night.
305. One who sits alone, sleeps alone,
Walks alone unwearying,
Alone controls himself,
Will find pleasure in the forest.