Dhammapada 223

Overcome anger with non-anger

Overcome anger with non-anger; overcome a bad person with what is good. Overcome a stingy person with giving, a liar with truth.

Translated from the Pāli by Banya

In plain words

The verse urges overcoming anger with non-anger, a bad person with goodness, a stingy person with giving, and a liar with truth. One way to apply this: use these responses to guide your conduct, without treating them as predictions of how a particular person will respond.

Key words

akkodha

non-anger — The first contrast addresses anger itself, before the personal examples.

The story behind the verse

The poor man and his daughter

In the commentary, Uttarā wanted time to support the monks, so Sirimā stayed as her husband’s companion by arrangement, and Sirimā began imagining that she was the mistress of the household. When she saw the husband smile toward Uttarā, she became jealous, and she threw boiling ghee over Uttarā. The commentary says Uttarā’s goodwill protected her from injury, and Servants struck Sirimā, but Uttarā stopped them and cared for her. Sirimā regretted her action and sought forgiveness, and the Buddha taught her about overcoming anger with non-anger, and the commentary says she reached the first stage of awakening.

Retold by Banya from the traditional commentary, after E. W. Burlingame, Buddhist Legends (1921).

Explanation by Banya. Traditional readings vary.