Dhammapada 25
Through effort and heedfulness, through restraint and taming, let the wise make an island that no…
Through effort and heedfulness, through restraint and taming, let the wise make an island that no flood can overwhelm.
Translated from the Pāli by Banya
Pāli
Uṭṭhānenappamādena,
saṁyamena damena ca;
Dīpaṁ kayirātha medhāvī,
yaṁ ogho nābhikīrati.
In plain words
Effort, careful attention, and restraint are like building an island above floodwater. The verse urges you to develop a firm place to stand through your own practice.
Key words
- dīpa
- island — The surrounding flood image supports this sense rather than lamp.
The story behind the verse
The story of the elder Cūḷapanthaka (Cūḷapanthakattheravatthu)
Cūḷapanthaka has difficulty memorizing a verse, and his brother tells him to leave the monastic life. The Buddha meets him and gives him a clean cloth to rub while attending to the removal of impurity. As the cloth becomes dirty, Cūḷapanthaka sees change and turns his attention to the mind's impurities. The commentary says he reaches liberation.
Retold by Banya from the traditional commentary, after E. W. Burlingame, Buddhist Legends (1921).
To reflect on
What practice gives you a steadier place to stand?
Try it today
Set aside one minute today for a practice you have chosen.
Explanation by Banya. Traditional readings vary.