Dhammapada 327

Delight in heedfulness

Delight in heedfulness; guard your own mind. Lift yourself out of difficulty like an elephant sunk in mud.

Translated from the Pāli by Banya

In plain words

The verse calls for delight in careful living and protection of your own mind. Getting yourself out of difficulty is pictured as an elephant struggling out of mud, so effort is part of the image.

Key words

appamādarata

delighting in heedfulness — Careful living is something to value, not merely endure.

The story behind the verse

An elephant sticks fast in the mud

In the commentary, an elephant belonging to the king of Kosala had grown old, and he entered a pool and became stuck in the mud. People could not easily free him, and the king asked the keeper for help. The keeper appeared dressed for battle and had a battle drum sounded, and the elephant responded with renewed effort and pulled himself free. Monks told the Buddha what had happened, and the Buddha taught them to lift themselves from difficulty through heedfulness and guarding the mind.

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

Explanation by Banya. Traditional readings vary.