In short: Chapter 2 of the Dhammapada, Diligence (Appamādavagga), verses 21 to 32. Heedfulness, care and wakefulness as the path to the deathless; carelessness as the way of death.
Heedfulness is the state free of death; heedlessness is the state of death. The heedful do not die, while the heedless are like the dead.
Dhammapada 21, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Appamādo amatapadaṁ, | Heedfulness is the state free of death; |
| pamādo maccuno padaṁ; | heedlessness is the state of death. | |
| Appamattā na mīyanti, | The heedful do not die, | |
| ye pamattā yathā matā. | while the heedless are like the dead. | |
| 22 | Evaṁ visesato ñatvā, | Understanding this distinction |
| appamādamhi paṇḍitā; | when it comes to heedfulness, | |
| Appamāde pamodanti, | the astute rejoice in heedfulness, | |
| ariyānaṁ gocare ratā. | happy in the noble ones’ domain. | |
| 23 | Te jhāyino sātatikā, | They who regularly meditate, |
| niccaṁ daḷhaparakkamā; | always staunchly vigorous; | |
| Phusanti dhīrā nibbānaṁ, | the attentive realize extinguishment, | |
| yogakkhemaṁ anuttaraṁ. | the supreme sanctuary from the yoke. | |
| 24 | Uṭṭhānavato satīmato, | For the hard-working and mindful, |
| Sucikammassa nisammakārino; | pure of deed and attentive, | |
| Saññatassa dhammajīvino, | restrained, living righteously, and diligent, | |
| Appamattassa yasobhivaḍḍhati. | their reputation only grows. | |
| 25 | Uṭṭhānenappamādena, | By hard work and diligence, |
| saṁyamena damena ca; | by restraint and by self-control, | |
| Dīpaṁ kayirātha medhāvī, | a smart person would build an island | |
| yaṁ ogho nābhikīrati. | that the floods cannot overflow. | |
| 26 | Pamādamanuyuñjanti, | Fools and simpletons |
| bālā dummedhino janā; | devote themselves to negligence. | |
| Appamādañca medhāvī, | But the wise protect diligence | |
| dhanaṁ seṭṭhaṁva rakkhati. | as their best treasure. | |
| 27 | Mā pamādamanuyuñjetha, | Don’t devote yourself to negligence, |
| mā kāmaratisanthavaṁ; | or delight in erotic intimacy. | |
| Appamatto hi jhāyanto, | For if you’re diligent and meditate, | |
| pappoti vipulaṁ sukhaṁ. | you’ll attain abundant happiness. | |
| 28 | Pamādaṁ appamādena, | When the astute dispel negligence |
| yadā nudati paṇḍito; | by means of diligence, | |
| Paññāpāsādamāruyha, | ascending the palace of wisdom, | |
| asoko sokiniṁ pajaṁ; | sorrowless, they behold this generation of sorrow, | |
| Pabbataṭṭhova bhūmaṭṭhe, | as an attentive one on a mountain top | |
| dhīro bāle avekkhati. | beholds the fools below. | |
| 29 | Appamatto pamattesu, | Heedful among the heedless, |
| suttesu bahujāgaro; | wide awake while others sleep— | |
| Abalassaṁva sīghasso, | a true sage leaves them behind, | |
| hitvā yāti sumedhaso. | like a swift horse passing a feeble. | |
| 30 | Appamādena maghavā, | Maghavā became chief of the gods |
| devānaṁ seṭṭhataṁ gato; | by means of diligence. | |
| Appamādaṁ pasaṁsanti, | People praise diligence, | |
| pamādo garahito sadā. | while negligence is always deplored. | |
| 31 | Appamādarato bhikkhu, | A mendicant who loves diligence, |
| pamāde bhayadassi vā; | seeing fear in negligence— | |
| Saṁyojanaṁ aṇuṁ thūlaṁ, | advances like fire, | |
| ḍahaṁ aggīva gacchati. | burning up fetters big and small. | |
| 32 | Appamādarato bhikkhu, | A mendicant who loves diligence, |
| pamāde bhayadassi vā; | seeing fear in negligence— | |
| Abhabbo parihānāya, | such a one can’t decline, | |
| nibbānasseva santike. | and has drawn near to extinguishment. |
← Chapter 1: Pairs · Chapter 3: The Mind →
Try it
Choose one verse from this chapter and carry it through today, or make your own teaching card with a verse for how you feel. Or read 10 real Buddha quotes, verified.
Questions people ask
What is chapter 2 of the Dhammapada about?
Heedfulness, care and wakefulness as the path to the deathless; carelessness as the way of death.
Which verses are in Dhammapada chapter 2?
Chapter 2, Diligence (Appamādavagga), contains verses 21 to 32.