In short: Chapter 15 of the Dhammapada, Happiness (Sukhavagga), verses 197 to 208. Living happily without hate among the hateful, and the greatest gain, wealth and happiness.
Let us live so very happily, loving among the hostile. Among hostile humans, let us live with love.
Dhammapada 197, the chapter's first verse.
Pāli and English translation by Bhikkhu Sujato, from SuttaCentral. The introduction is ANEW's.
The verses in Pāli and English
| Verse | Pāli | English |
|---|---|---|
| 197 | Susukhaṁ vata jīvāma, | Let us live so very happily, |
| verinesu averino; | loving among the hostile. | |
| Verinesu manussesu, | Among hostile humans, | |
| viharāma averino. | let us live with love. | |
| 198 | Susukhaṁ vata jīvāma, | Let us live so very happily, |
| āturesu anāturā; | healthy among the ailing. | |
| Āturesu manussesu, | Among ailing humans | |
| viharāma anāturā. | let us live healthily. | |
| 199 | Susukhaṁ vata jīvāma, | Let us live so very happily, |
| ussukesu anussukā; | content among the greedy. | |
| Ussukesu manussesu, | Among greedy humans, | |
| viharāma anussukā. | let us live content. | |
| 200 | Susukhaṁ vata jīvāma, | Let us live so very happily, |
| yesaṁ no natthi kiñcanaṁ; | we who have nothing. | |
| Pītibhakkhā bhavissāma, | We shall feed on rapture, | |
| devā ābhassarā yathā. | like the gods of sublime luminosity. | |
| 201 | Jayaṁ veraṁ pasavati, | Victory breeds enmity; |
| dukkhaṁ seti parājito; | the defeated sleep badly. | |
| Upasanto sukhaṁ seti, | The peaceful sleep at ease, | |
| hitvā jayaparājayaṁ. | having left victory and defeat behind. | |
| 202 | Natthi rāgasamo aggi, | There is no fire like greed, |
| Natthi dosasamo kali; | no crime like hate, | |
| Natthi khandhasamā dukkhā, | no suffering like the aggregates, | |
| Natthi santiparaṁ sukhaṁ. | no bliss beyond peace. | |
| 203 | Jighacchāparamā rogā, | Hunger is the worst illness, |
| saṅkhāraparamā dukhā; | conditions are the worst suffering. | |
| Etaṁ ñatvā yathābhūtaṁ, | When one has known this as it is, | |
| nibbānaṁ paramaṁ sukhaṁ. | extinguishment is the ultimate happiness. | |
| 204 | Ārogyaparamā lābhā, | Health is the ultimate blessing; |
| Santuṭṭhiparamaṁ dhanaṁ; | contentment, the ultimate wealth; | |
| Vissāsaparamā ñāti, | trust is the ultimate family; | |
| Nibbānaṁ paramaṁ sukhaṁ. | extinguishment, the ultimate happiness. | |
| 205 | Pavivekarasaṁ pitvā, | Having drunk the nectar of seclusion |
| rasaṁ upasamassa ca; | and the nectar of peace— | |
| Niddaro hoti nippāpo, | free of stress, free of evil, | |
| dhammapītirasaṁ pivaṁ. | drink the joyous nectar of truth. | |
| 206 | Sāhu dassanamariyānaṁ, | It’s good to see the noble ones, |
| sannivāso sadā sukho; | staying with them is always good. | |
| Adassanena bālānaṁ, | Were you not to see fools, | |
| niccameva sukhī siyā. | you’d always be happy. | |
| 207 | Bālasaṅgatacārī hi, | For one who consorts with fools |
| dīghamaddhāna socati; | grieves long. | |
| Dukkho bālehi saṁvāso, | Painful is living with fools, | |
| amitteneva sabbadā; | like being stuck with your enemy. | |
| Dhīro ca sukhasaṁvāso, | Happy is living with an attentive one, | |
| ñātīnaṁva samāgamo. | like meeting with your kin. | |
| 208 | Tasmā hi— | Therefore: |
| Dhīrañca paññañca bahussutañca, | An attentive one, wise and learned, | |
| Dhorayhasīlaṁ vatavantamariyaṁ; | a behemoth of virtue, true to their vows, noble: | |
| Taṁ tādisaṁ sappurisaṁ sumedhaṁ, | follow a true and intelligent person such as this, | |
| Bhajetha nakkhattapathaṁva candimā. | as the moon tracks the path of the stars. |
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Questions people ask
What is chapter 15 of the Dhammapada about?
Living happily without hate among the hateful, and the greatest gain, wealth and happiness.
Which verses are in Dhammapada chapter 15?
Chapter 15, Happiness (Sukhavagga), contains verses 197 to 208.