In short: Chapter 23 of the Dhammapada, Elephants (Nāgavagga), verses 320 to 333. Patience under insult like an elephant in battle, and the joy of good companions.
Like an elephant struck with arrows in battle, I shall endure abuse, for so many folk are badly behaved.
Dhammapada 320, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 320 | Ahaṁ nāgova saṅgāme, | Like an elephant struck |
| cāpato patitaṁ saraṁ; | with arrows in battle, | |
| Ativākyaṁ titikkhissaṁ, | I shall endure abuse, | |
| dussīlo hi bahujjano. | for so many folk are badly behaved. | |
| 321 | Dantaṁ nayanti samitiṁ, | The well-tamed beast is the one led to the crowd; |
| dantaṁ rājābhirūhati; | the tamed elephant’s the one the king mounts; | |
| Danto seṭṭho manussesu, | the tamed person who endures abuse | |
| yotivākyaṁ titikkhati. | is the best of human beings. | |
| 322 | Varamassatarā dantā, | Those who have tamed themselves are better |
| ājānīyā ca sindhavā; | than fine tamed mules, | |
| Kuñjarā ca mahānāgā, | thoroughbreds from Sindh, | |
| attadanto tato varaṁ. | or giant tuskers. | |
| 323 | Na hi etehi yānehi, | For not on those mounts |
| gaccheyya agataṁ disaṁ; | would you go to the untrodden place, | |
| Yathāttanā sudantena, | whereas, with the help of one whose self is well tamed, | |
| danto dantena gacchati. | you go there, tamed by the tamed. | |
| 324 | Dhanapālo nāma kuñjaro, | The tusker named Dhanapāla |
| Kaṭukabhedano dunnivārayo; | is musky in rut, hard to control. | |
| Baddho kabaḷaṁ na bhuñjati, | Bound, he eats not a morsel, | |
| Sumarati nāgavanassa kuñjaro. | for he misses the elephant forest. | |
| 325 | Middhī yadā hoti mahagghaso ca, | One who gets drowsy from overeating, |
| Niddāyitā samparivattasāyī; | fond of sleep, rolling round the bed | |
| Mahāvarāhova nivāpapuṭṭho, | like a great hog stuffed with grain: | |
| Punappunaṁ gabbhamupeti mando. | that dullard returns to the womb again and again. | |
| 326 | Idaṁ pure cittamacāri cārikaṁ, | In the past my mind wandered |
| Yenicchakaṁ yatthakāmaṁ yathāsukhaṁ; | how it wished, where it liked, as it pleased. | |
| Tadajjahaṁ niggahessāmi yoniso, | Now I’ll carefully guide it, | |
| Hatthippabhinnaṁ viya aṅkusaggaho. | as a trainer with a hook guides a rutting elephant. | |
| 327 | Appamādaratā hotha, | Delight in diligence! |
| sacittamanurakkhatha; | Take good care of your mind! | |
| Duggā uddharathattānaṁ, | Pull yourself out of this pit, | |
| paṅke sannova kuñjaro. | like an elephant sunk in a bog. | |
| 328 | Sace labhetha nipakaṁ sahāyaṁ, | If you find an alert companion, |
| Saddhiṁ caraṁ sādhuvihāridhīraṁ; | an attentive friend to live happily together, | |
| Abhibhuyya sabbāni parissayāni, | then, overcoming all adversities, | |
| Careyya tenattamano satīmā. | wander with them, joyful and mindful. | |
| 329 | No ce labhetha nipakaṁ sahāyaṁ, | If you find no alert companion, |
| Saddhiṁ caraṁ sādhuvihāridhīraṁ; | no attentive friend to live happily together, | |
| Rājāva raṭṭhaṁ vijitaṁ pahāya, | then, like a king who flees his conquered realm, | |
| Eko care mātaṅgaraññeva nāgo. | wander alone like a tusker in the wilds. | |
| 330 | Ekassa caritaṁ seyyo, | It’s better to wander alone, |
| Natthi bāle sahāyatā; | there’s no fellowship with fools. | |
| Eko care na ca pāpāni kayirā, | Wander alone and do no wrong, | |
| Appossukko mātaṅgaraññeva nāgo. | at ease like a tusker in the wilds. | |
| 331 | Atthamhi jātamhi sukhā sahāyā, | A friend in need is a blessing; |
| Tuṭṭhī sukhā yā itarītarena; | it’s a blessing to be content with whatever; | |
| Puññaṁ sukhaṁ jīvitasaṅkhayamhi, | good deeds are a blessing at the end of life, | |
| Sabbassa dukkhassa sukhaṁ pahānaṁ. | and giving up all suffering is a blessing. | |
| 332 | Sukhā matteyyatā loke, | In this world it’s a blessing to serve |
| atho petteyyatā sukhā; | one’s mother and one’s father. | |
| Sukhā sāmaññatā loke, | And it’s a blessing also to serve | |
| atho brahmaññatā sukhā. | ascetics and brahmins. | |
| 333 | Sukhaṁ yāva jarā sīlaṁ, | It’s a blessing to keep precepts until you grow old; |
| sukhā saddhā patiṭṭhitā; | a blessing to be grounded in faith; | |
| Sukho paññāya paṭilābho, | the getting of wisdom’s a blessing; | |
| pāpānaṁ akaraṇaṁ sukhaṁ. | and it’s a blessing to avoid doing wrong. |
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Questions people ask
What is chapter 23 of the Dhammapada about?
Patience under insult like an elephant in battle, and the joy of good companions.
Which verses are in Dhammapada chapter 23?
Chapter 23, Elephants (Nāgavagga), contains verses 320 to 333.