In short: Chapter 21 of the Dhammapada, Miscellaneous (Pakiṇṇakavagga), verses 290 to 305. Giving up a small happiness for a greater one, and the disciples who are always awake.
If by giving up material happiness one sees abundant happiness, the attentive would give up material happiness, seeing the abundant happiness.
Dhammapada 290, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 290 | Mattāsukhapariccāgā, | If by giving up material happiness |
| passe ce vipulaṁ sukhaṁ; | one sees abundant happiness, | |
| Caje mattāsukhaṁ dhīro, | the attentive would give up material happiness, | |
| sampassaṁ vipulaṁ sukhaṁ. | seeing the abundant happiness. | |
| 291 | Paradukkhūpadhānena, | Seeking their own happiness |
| attano sukhamicchati; | by imposing suffering on others, | |
| Verasaṁsaggasaṁsaṭṭho, | intimate with enmity, | |
| verā so na parimuccati. | they’re not freed from enmity. | |
| 292 | Yañhi kiccaṁ apaviddhaṁ, | They dump what should be done, |
| akiccaṁ pana karīyati; | and do what should not be done. | |
| Unnaḷānaṁ pamattānaṁ, | For the insolent and the negligent, | |
| tesaṁ vaḍḍhanti āsavā. | their defilements only grow. | |
| 293 | Yesañca susamāraddhā, | Those that have properly undertaken |
| niccaṁ kāyagatā sati; | constant mindfulness of the body, | |
| Akiccaṁ te na sevanti, | don’t cultivate what should not be done, | |
| kicce sātaccakārino; | but always do what should be done. | |
| Satānaṁ sampajānānaṁ, | Mindful and aware, | |
| atthaṁ gacchanti āsavā. | their defilements come to an end. | |
| 294 | Mātaraṁ pitaraṁ hantvā, | Having slain mother and father, |
| rājāno dve ca khattiye; | and two aristocratic kings, | |
| Raṭṭhaṁ sānucaraṁ hantvā, | and having wiped out the kingdom with its tax collector, | |
| anīgho yāti brāhmaṇo. | the brahmin walks on untroubled. | |
| 295 | Mātaraṁ pitaraṁ hantvā, | Having slain mother and father, |
| rājāno dve ca sotthiye; | and two prosperous kings, | |
| Veyagghapañcamaṁ hantvā, | and a tiger as the fifth, | |
| anīgho yāti brāhmaṇo. | the brahmin walks on untroubled. | |
| 296 | Suppabuddhaṁ pabujjhanti, | The disciples of Gotama |
| sadā gotamasāvakā; | always wake up refreshed, | |
| Yesaṁ divā ca ratto ca, | who day and night | |
| niccaṁ buddhagatā sati. | constantly recollect the Buddha. | |
| 297 | Suppabuddhaṁ pabujjhanti, | The disciples of Gotama |
| sadā gotamasāvakā; | always wake up refreshed, | |
| Yesaṁ divā ca ratto ca, | who day and night | |
| niccaṁ dhammagatā sati. | constantly recollect the teaching. | |
| 298 | Suppabuddhaṁ pabujjhanti, | The disciples of Gotama |
| sadā gotamasāvakā; | always wake up refreshed, | |
| Yesaṁ divā ca ratto ca, | who day and night | |
| niccaṁ saṅghagatā sati. | constantly recollect the Saṅgha. | |
| 299 | Suppabuddhaṁ pabujjhanti, | The disciples of Gotama |
| sadā gotamasāvakā; | always wake up refreshed, | |
| Yesaṁ divā ca ratto ca, | who day and night | |
| niccaṁ kāyagatā sati. | are constantly mindful of the body. | |
| 300 | Suppabuddhaṁ pabujjhanti, | The disciples of Gotama |
| sadā gotamasāvakā; | always wake up refreshed, | |
| Yesaṁ divā ca ratto ca, | whose minds day and night | |
| ahiṁsāya rato mano. | delight in harmlessness. | |
| 301 | Suppabuddhaṁ pabujjhanti, | The disciples of Gotama |
| sadā gotamasāvakā; | always wake up refreshed, | |
| Yesaṁ divā ca ratto ca, | whose minds day and night | |
| bhāvanāya rato mano. | delight in meditation. | |
| 302 | Duppabbajjaṁ durabhiramaṁ, | Going forth is hard, it’s hard to be happy; |
| Durāvāsā gharā dukhā; | life at home is hard too, and painful, | |
| Dukkhosamānasaṁvāso, | it’s painful to stay when you’ve nothing in common. | |
| Dukkhānupatitaddhagū; | A traveler is a prey to pain, | |
| Tasmā na caddhagū siyā, | so don’t be a traveler, | |
| Na ca dukkhānupatito siyā. | don’t be prey to pain. | |
| 303 | Saddho sīlena sampanno, | One who is faithful, accomplished in ethics, |
| yasobhogasamappito; | blessed with fame and wealth, | |
| Yaṁ yaṁ padesaṁ bhajati, | is honored in whatever place | |
| tattha tattheva pūjito. | they frequent. | |
| 304 | Dūre santo pakāsenti, | The good shine from afar, |
| himavantova pabbato; | like the Himalayan peaks, | |
| Asantettha na dissanti, | but the wicked are not seen, | |
| rattiṁ khittā yathā sarā. | like arrows scattered in the night. | |
| 305 | Ekāsanaṁ ekaseyyaṁ, | Sitting alone, sleeping alone, |
| eko caramatandito; | tirelessly wandering alone; | |
| Eko damayamattānaṁ, | one who tames themselves alone | |
| vanante ramito siyā. | would delight within a forest. |
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Questions people ask
What is chapter 21 of the Dhammapada about?
Giving up a small happiness for a greater one, and the disciples who are always awake.
Which verses are in Dhammapada chapter 21?
Chapter 21, Miscellaneous (Pakiṇṇakavagga), contains verses 290 to 305.