Dhammapada 290

If, by giving up a little happiness, you could see abundant happiness, let the wise give up the…

If, by giving up a little happiness, you could see abundant happiness, let the wise give up the little happiness, seeing the abundant happiness.

Translated from the Pāli by Banya

In plain words

Giving up a smaller pleasure is worthwhile if you can see that it opens toward a greater happiness. The verse makes that judgment conditional, rather than saying every pleasure must be refused.

Key words

mattāsukha

a little happiness or pleasure — The comparison depends on seeing a greater happiness.

The story behind the verse

The Ascent of the Ganges

In the commentary, Vesālī was suffering from famine, sickness, and disturbance attributed to spirits, and Its leaders invited the Buddha to come. King Bimbisāra prepared the journey toward the Ganges and honored him, and the Licchavis received him and escorted him to the city. The commentary describes the arrival of Sakka and the departure of harmful spirits, and Ānanda recited the Jewel Discourse at the Buddha’s direction, and the calamities abated. On the return, the Buddha received further honors, and he explained them through a former life in which he made offerings at the shrine of his son, a solitary Buddha.

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

Explanation by Banya. Traditional readings vary.