2. Diligence - appamādavagga 21-32

Question 1

21
Heedfulness is the state free of death; heedlessness is the state of death.
The heedful do not die,
while the heedless are like the dead.

Answer 1

21
Appamādo amatapadaṁ,
pamādo maccuno padaṁ;
Appamattā na mīyanti,
ye pamattā yathā matā.

Question 2

22
Understanding this distinction
when it comes to heedfulness,
the astute rejoice in heedfulness,
happy in the noble ones’ domain.

Answer 2

22
Evaṁ visesato ñatvā,
appamādamhi paṇḍitā;
Appamāde pamodanti,
ariyānaṁ gocare ratā.

Question 3

23
They who regularly meditate,
always staunchly vigorous;
those wise ones realize quenching,
the supreme sanctuary from the yoke.

Answer 3

23
Te jhāyino sātatikā,
niccaṁ daḷhaparakkamā;
Phusanti dhīrā nibbānaṁ,
yogakkhemaṁ anuttaraṁ.

Question 4

24
For the hard-working and mindful,
pure of deed and attentive,
restrained, living righteously, and diligent,
their reputation only grows.

Answer 4

24
Uṭṭhānavato satīmato,
Sucikammassa nisammakārino;
Saññatassa dhammajīvino,
Appamattassa yasobhivaḍḍhati.

Question 5

25
By hard work and diligence,
by restraint and by self-control,
a smart person would build an island
that the floods cannot overflow.

Answer 5

25
Uṭṭhānenappamādena,
saṁyamena damena ca;
Dīpaṁ kayirātha medhāvī,
yaṁ ogho nābhikīrati.

Question 6

26
Fools and half-wits
devote themselves to negligence.
But the wise protect diligence
as their best treasure.

Answer 6

26
Pamādamanuyuñjanti,
bālā dummedhino janā;
Appamādañca medhāvī,
dhanaṁ seṭṭhaṁva rakkhati.

Question 7

27
Don’t devote yourself to negligence,
or delight in sexual intimacy.
For if you’re diligent and meditate,
you’ll attain abundant happiness.

Answer 7

27
Mā pamādamanuyuñjetha,
mā kāmaratisanthavaṁ;
Appamatto hi jhāyanto,
pappoti vipulaṁ sukhaṁ.

Question 8

28
When the astute dispel negligence
by means of diligence,
ascending the palace of wisdom, sorrowless, they behold this generation of sorrow,
as a wise man on a mountain-top
beholds the fools below.

Answer 8

28
Pamādaṁ appamādena,
yadā nudati paṇḍito;
Paññāpāsādamāruyha,
asoko sokiniṁ pajaṁ;
Pabbataṭṭhova bhūmaṭṭhe,
dhīro bāle avekkhati.

Question 9

29
Heedful among the heedless,
wide awake while others sleep—
a true sage leaves them behind,
like a swift horse passing a feeble.

Answer 9

29
Appamatto pamattesu,
suttesu bahujāgaro;
Abalassaṁva sīghasso,
hitvā yāti sumedhaso.

Question 10

30
Maghavā became chief of the gods
by means of diligence.
People praise diligence,
while negligence is always deplored.

Answer 10

30
Appamādena maghavā,
devānaṁ seṭṭhataṁ gato;
Appamādaṁ pasaṁsanti,
pamādo garahito sadā.

Question 11

31
A mendicant who loves to be diligent,
seeing fear in negligence—
advances like fire,
burning up fetters big and small.

Answer 11

31
Appamādarato bhikkhu,
pamāde bhayadassi vā;
Saṁyojanaṁ aṇuṁ thūlaṁ,
ḍahaṁ aggīva gacchati.

Question 12

32
A mendicant who loves to be diligent,
seeing fear in negligence—
such a one can’t decline,
and has drawn near to extinguishment.

Answer 12

32
Appamādarato bhikkhu,
pamāde bhayadassi vā;
Abhabbo parihānāya,
nibbānasseva santike.