Dhp 100-115 - Chapter of Thousands
Translated by Bhante Suddhāso
Source: https://suttacentral.net/dhp100-115/en/suddhaso
License: CC0-1.0
Source note: 15 Pali headings, colophons, or recitation-summary segments have no English translation in the source. All English source segments are retained; no body passages are omitted.

Collection of Minor Texts
Verses of Dhamma
Chapter of Thousands
Rather than a thousand sayings
not connected to the goal,
it is better to have just one sentence about the goal
if one reaches peace after hearing it.
Rather than a thousand poems
not connected to the goal,
it is better to have just one line of a poem
if one reaches peace after hearing it.
One might utter a hundred poems
not connected to the goal;
it is better to have just one line of Dhamma
if one reaches peace after hearing it.
One might subjugate a million people
in battle,
but one who subjugates oneself
has won the ultimate victory.
It is better to subjugate yourself
than other people,
for one who is self-trained
always acts with restraint.
No angel or fairy,
demon or god,
can turn such a person’s
victory into defeat.
Every month one might conduct
a hundred sacrifices worth thousands;
Or for a single moment
one could pay homage to a self-developed person.
That homage is better
than a hundred years of sacrifices.
One might spend a hundred years
tending to a fire in a forest;
or for a single moment
one could pay homage to a self-developed person.
That homage is better
than a hundred years of sacrifices.
One could make any kind of offering or sacrifice in the world
for a year, pursuing merit;
but all of that is not even a quarter as good
as honoring those who are upright.
For one who is virtuous, respectful,
and always reverential towards the elderly,
four things increase:
vitality, beauty, pleasure, and strength.
Better than living for a hundred years
without virtue and concentration,
is living for one day
as a virtuous meditator.
Better than living for a hundred years
without wisdom and concentration,
is living for one day
as a wise meditator.
Better than living for a hundred years
with laziness and indolence,
is living for one day
with determination and resolve.
Better than living for a hundred years
without seeing arising and vanishing,
is living for one day
while seeing arising and vanishing.
Better than living for a hundred years
without seeing the path to the deathless,
is living for one day
while seeing the path to the deathless.
Better than living for a hundred years
without seeing the ultimate truth,
is living for one day
while seeing the ultimate truth.