Thag 12.1 - Thag 12:1 Sīlavat
Translated by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu
Source: https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/KN/Thag/thag12_1.html
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Copyright: Copyright 2014 Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu, Revised edition 2017
License notice: Copyright 2014 Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu, Revised edition 2017 This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 Unported. To see a copy of this license visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/. “Commercial” shall mean any sale, whether for commercial or non-profit purposes or entities. Questions about this book may be addressed to Metta Forest Monastery Valley Center, CA 92082-1409 U.S.A. Additional resources More Dhamma talks, books and translations by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu are available to download in digital audio and various ebook formats at dhammatalks.org. Printed copy A paperback copy of this book is available free of charge. To request one, write to: Book Request, Metta Forest Monastery, PO Box 1409, Valley Center, CA 92082 USA.
Attribution: From Handful of Leaves, Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu; https://www.dhammatalks.org/Archive/Writings/Ebooks/SuttaPitaka_251113.epub. Copyright 2014 Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu, Revised edition 2017 This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 Unported. To see a copy of this license visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/. “Commercial” shall mean any sale, whether for commercial or non-profit purposes or entities. Questions about this book may be addressed to Metta Forest Monastery Valley Center, CA 92082-1409 U.S.A. Additional resources More Dhamma talks, books and translations by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu are available to download in digital audio and various ebook formats at dhammatalks.org. Printed copy A paperback copy of this book is available free of charge. To request one, write to: Book Request, Metta Forest Monastery, PO Box 1409, Valley Center, CA 92082 USA.
Changes: Presentation only: original HTML markup reflowed into plain text; wording, numbering and source repetitions retained. No repetitions expanded.
Completeness: ABBREVIATED. Every source-unit character is preserved, including introductions, notes and verse structure. Thanissaro's collection-level note explicitly states that repetitions were cut: https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/about.html. This is evidence about the translation method, not an assertion that every individual unit contains an omission; no repetitions reconstructed.

Thag 12:1 Sīlavat

Here master the virtue
that in this world is well-mastered,
for virtue, when cultivated,
brings every consummation near.

Wise, one should protect one’s virtue,
aspiring to three pleasures:
praise, the gaining of wealth,
and—after death—rejoicing in heaven.

The virtuous one, through restraint,
acquires many friends,
while the unvirtuous one, practicing evil,
from friends is estranged.

The unvirtuous person gains
disrepute & dishonor;
the virtuous person, always,
repute, honor, & praise.

Virtue is the beginning, the establishing,
the mother of what is fine,
the foremost of all qualities:
    Therefore virtue should be purified.

Virtue is also control, restraint,
the delight of the mind,
the ford of all Buddhas:
    Therefore virtue should be purified.

  Virtue: an incomparable strength.
  Virtue: the ultimate weapon.
  Virtue: the highest adornment.
  Virtue: an astounding coat of mail.
  Virtue: an imposing bridge.
  Virtue: an unexcelled fragrance.
  Virtue: the highest fragrant ointment
by which one wafts
this direction & that.
  Virtue: the supreme provision.
  Virtue: the ultimate food for the journey.
  Virtue: the highest vehicle
by which one goes1
this direction & that.

Right here he gains blame,
and after death, in deprivation,
he’s unhappy at heart:
Everywhere the fool
is unhappy at heart,
not concentrated on virtues.

Right here he gains honor
and after death, in heaven,
is happy at heart:
Everywhere the enlightened one
is happy at heart,
well-concentrated on virtues.

Here virtue is supreme,
but one with discernment is the ultimate.
Among human beings & devas
one conquers
through virtue & discernment.

Note

1. Reading yāti with the PTS and Sinhalese editions. The Thai has vāti—“wafts”—which seems to be a mistake.