- Minor Collection Khuddakanikāya
- Sayings of the Dhamma 44–59 Dhammapada
4. Flowers Pupphavagga
Pathavikathāpasutapañcasatabhikkhuvatthu
Who bestirs this earth, Ko imaṁ pathaviṁ vicessati, and the Yama realm with its gods? Yamalokañca imaṁ sadevakaṁ; Who sets out the well-taught word of truth, Ko dhammapadaṁ sudesitaṁ, as an expert a flower? Kusalo pupphamiva pacessati.
A trainee bestirs this earth, Sekho pathaviṁ vicessati, and the Yama realm with its gods. Yamalokañca imaṁ sadevakaṁ; A trainee sets out the well-taught word of truth, Sekho dhammapadaṁ sudesitaṁ, as an expert a flower. Kusalo pupphamiva pacessati.
Marīcikammaṭṭhānikabhikkhuvatthu
Knowing this body’s like foam, Pheṇūpamaṁ kāyamimaṁ viditvā, realizing it’s all just a mirage, Marīcidhammaṁ abhisambudhāno; and cutting off Māra’s blossoming, Chetvāna mārassa papupphakāni, vanish from the King of Death. Adassanaṁ maccurājassa gacche.
Viṭaṭūbhavatthu
As a mighty flood sweeps off a sleeping village, Pupphāni heva pacinantaṁ, death steals away a man byāsattamanasaṁ naraṁ; even as he gathers flowers, Suttaṁ gāmaṁ mahoghova, his mind caught up in them. maccu ādāya gacchati.
Patipūjikakumārivatthu
The terminator gains control of the man Pupphāni heva pacinantaṁ, who has not had his fill of pleasures, byāsattamanasaṁ naraṁ; even as he gathers flowers, Atittaññeva kāmesu, his mind caught up in them. antako kurute vasaṁ.
Macchariyakosiyaseṭṭhivatthu
A bee takes the nectar Yathāpi bhamaro pupphaṁ, and moves on, doing no damage vaṇṇagandhamaheṭhayaṁ; to the flower’s beauty and fragrance; Paleti rasamādāya, and that’s how a sage should walk in the village. evaṁ gāme munī care.
Pāveyyaājīvakavatthu
Don’t find fault with others, Na paresaṁ vilomāni, with what they’ve done or left undone. na paresaṁ katākataṁ; You should only watch yourself, Attanova avekkheyya, what you’ve done or left undone. katāni akatāni ca.
Chattapāṇiupāsakavatthu
Just like a glorious flower Yathāpi ruciraṁ pupphaṁ, that’s colorful but lacks fragrance; vaṇṇavantaṁ agandhakaṁ; eloquent speech is fruitless Evaṁ subhāsitā vācā, for one who does not act on it. aphalā hoti akubbato.
Just like a glorious flower Yathāpi ruciraṁ pupphaṁ, that’s both colorful and fragrant, Vaṇṇavantaṁ sagandhakaṁ; eloquent speech is fruitful Evaṁ subhāsitā vācā, for one who acts on it. Saphalā hoti kubbato.
Visākhāvatthu
Just as one would create many garlands Yathāpi puppharāsimhā, from a heap of flowers, kayirā mālāguṇe bahū; when a person has come to be born, Evaṁ jātena maccena, they should do many skillful things. kattabbaṁ kusalaṁ bahuṁ.
Ānandattherapañhavatthu
The fragrance of flowers doesn’t spread upwind, Na pupphagandho paṭivātameti, nor sandalwood, pinwheel, or jasmine; Na candanaṁ tagaramallikā vā; but the fragrance of the good spreads upwind; Satañca gandho paṭivātameti, a true person’s virtue spreads in every direction. Sabbā disā sappuriso pavāyati.
Among all the fragrances—Candanaṁ tagaraṁ vāpi, sandalwood or pinwheel uppalaṁ atha vassikī; or lotus or jasmine—Etesaṁ gandhajātānaṁ, the fragrance of virtue is supreme. sīlagandho anuttaro.
Mahākassapattherapiṇḍapātadinnavatthu
Faint is the fragrance Appamatto ayaṁ gandho, of sandal or pinwheel; yāyaṁ tagaracandanī; but the fragrance of the virtuous Yo ca sīlavataṁ gandho, floats to the highest gods. vāti devesu uttamo.
Godhikattheraparinibbānavatthu
For those accomplished in ethics, Tesaṁ sampannasīlānaṁ, meditating diligently, appamādavihārinaṁ; freed through the highest knowledge, Sammadaññāvimuttānaṁ, Māra cannot find their path. māro maggaṁ na vindati.
Garahadinnavatthu
From a heap of trash Yathā saṅkāradhānasmiṁ, discarded on the highway, ujjhitasmiṁ mahāpathe; a lotus might blossom, Padumaṁ tattha jāyetha, fragrant and delightful. sucigandhaṁ manoramaṁ.
So too, among those thought of as trash, Evaṁ saṅkārabhūtesu, a disciple of the perfect Buddha andhabhūte puthujjane; outshines with their wisdom Atirocati paññāya, the blind ordinary folk. sammāsambuddhasāvako.
Pupphavaggo catuttho.