In short: Chapter 24 of the Dhammapada, Craving (Taṇhāvagga), verses 334 to 359. Craving that spreads like a creeper, and the gift of the teaching that surpasses all gifts.
When a man lives heedlessly, craving grows in them like a camel’s foot creeper. They jump from one thing to the next, like a langur greedy for fruit in a forest grove.
Dhammapada 334, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 334 | Manujassa pamattacārino, | When a man lives heedlessly, |
| Taṇhā vaḍḍhati māluvā viya; | craving grows in them like a camel’s foot creeper. | |
| So plavatī hurā huraṁ, | They jump from one thing to the next, like a langur | |
| Phalamicchaṁva vanasmi vānaro. | greedy for fruit in a forest grove. | |
| 335 | Yaṁ esā sahate jammī, | Whoever is beaten by this wretched craving, |
| taṇhā loke visattikā; | this attachment to the world, | |
| Sokā tassa pavaḍḍhanti, | their sorrow grows, | |
| abhivaṭṭhaṁva bīraṇaṁ. | like grass in the rain. | |
| 336 | Yo cetaṁ sahate jammiṁ, | But whoever prevails over this wretched craving, |
| taṇhaṁ loke duraccayaṁ; | so hard to get over in the world, | |
| Sokā tamhā papatanti, | their sorrows fall from them, | |
| udabinduva pokkharā. | like a drop from a lotus-leaf. | |
| 337 | Taṁ vo vadāmi bhaddaṁ vo, | I say this to you, good people, |
| yāvantettha samāgatā; | all those who have gathered here: | |
| Taṇhāya mūlaṁ khaṇatha, | dig up the root of craving, | |
| usīratthova bīraṇaṁ; | as you’d dig up grass in search of roots. | |
| Mā vo naḷaṁva sotova, | Don’t let Māra break you again and again, | |
| māro bhañji punappunaṁ. | like a stream breaking a reed. | |
| 338 | Yathāpi mūle anupaddave daḷhe, | A tree grows back even when cut down, |
| Chinnopi rukkho punareva rūhati; | so long as its roots are strong and undamaged; | |
| Evampi taṇhānusaye anūhate, | suffering springs up again and again, | |
| Nibbattatī dukkhamidaṁ punappunaṁ. | so long as the tendency to craving is not pulled out. | |
| 339 | Yassa chattiṁsati sotā, | A person of low views |
| manāpasavanā bhusā; | in whom the thirty-six streams | |
| Mahāvahanti duddiṭṭhiṁ, | that flow to pleasure are mighty, | |
| saṅkappā rāganissitā. | is swept away by lustful thoughts. | |
| 340 | Savanti sabbadhi sotā, | The streams flow everywhere; |
| latā uppajja tiṭṭhati; | a weed springs up and remains. | |
| Tañca disvā lataṁ jātaṁ, | Seeing this weed that has been born, | |
| mūlaṁ paññāya chindatha. | cut the root with wisdom. | |
| 341 | Saritāni sinehitāni ca, | A personage’s joys |
| Somanassāni bhavanti jantuno; | flow from senses and cravings. | |
| Te sātasitā sukhesino, | Seekers of happiness, bent on pleasure, | |
| Te ve jātijarūpagā narā. | continue to be reborn and grow old. | |
| 342 | Tasiṇāya purakkhatā pajā, | People governed by thirst, |
| Parisappanti sasova bandhito; | crawl about like a trapped rabbit. | |
| Saṁyojanasaṅgasattakā, | Bound and fettered, for a long time | |
| Dukkhamupenti punappunaṁ cirāya. | they return to pain time and again. | |
| 343 | Tasiṇāya purakkhatā pajā, | People governed by thirst, |
| Parisappanti sasova bandhito; | crawl about like a trapped rabbit. | |
| Tasmā tasiṇaṁ vinodaye, | That’s why one who longs for dispassion | |
| Ākaṅkhanta virāgamattano. | should dispel thirst. | |
| 344 | Yo nibbanatho vanādhimutto, | Unsnarled, they set out for the jungle, |
| Vanamutto vanameva dhāvati; | then they run right back to the jungle they left behind. | |
| Taṁ puggalametha passatha, | Just look at this individual! | |
| Mutto bandhanameva dhāvati. | Freed, they run to bondage. | |
| 345 | Na taṁ daḷhaṁ bandhanamāhu dhīrā, | The attentive say that shackle is not strong |
| Yadāyasaṁ dārujapabbajañca; | that’s made of iron, wood, or knots. | |
| Sārattarattā maṇikuṇḍalesu, | But obsession with jeweled earrings, | |
| Puttesu dāresu ca yā apekkhā. | concern for your partners and children: | |
| 346 | Etaṁ daḷhaṁ bandhanamāhu dhīrā, | this, say the attentive, is a strong shackle |
| Ohārinaṁ sithilaṁ duppamuñcaṁ; | dragging the indulgent down, hard to escape. | |
| Etampi chetvāna paribbajanti, | Having cut this one too they go forth, | |
| Anapekkhino kāmasukhaṁ pahāya. | unconcerned, having given up sensual pleasures. | |
| 347 | Ye rāgarattānupatanti sotaṁ, | Besotted by lust they fall into the stream, |
| Sayaṅkataṁ makkaṭakova jālaṁ; | like a spider caught in the web she wove. | |
| Etampi chetvāna vajanti dhīrā, | The attentive proceed, having cut this one too, | |
| Anapekkhino sabbadukkhaṁ pahāya. | unconcerned, having given up all suffering. | |
| 348 | Muñca pure muñca pacchato, | Let go of the past, let go of the future, |
| Majjhe muñca bhavassa pāragū; | let go of the present, having gone beyond rebirth. | |
| Sabbattha vimuttamānaso, | With your heart freed in every respect, | |
| Na punaṁ jātijaraṁ upehisi. | you’ll not come again to rebirth and old age. | |
| 349 | Vitakkamathitassa jantuno, | For a personage churned by thoughts, |
| Tibbarāgassa subhānupassino; | very lustful, focusing on beauty, | |
| Bhiyyo taṇhā pavaḍḍhati, | their craving grows and grows, | |
| Esa kho daḷhaṁ karoti bandhanaṁ. | tying them with a stout bond. | |
| 350 | Vitakkūpasame ca yo rato, | But one who loves to calm their thoughts, |
| Asubhaṁ bhāvayate sadā sato; | developing perception of ugliness, ever mindful, | |
| Esa kho byanti kāhiti, | will surely eliminate that craving, | |
| Esa checchati mārabandhanaṁ. | cutting off the bonds of Māra. | |
| 351 | Niṭṭhaṅgato asantāsī, | One who is confident, unafraid, |
| vītataṇho anaṅgaṇo; | rid of craving, free of blemish, | |
| Acchindi bhavasallāni, | having struck down the arrows flying to future lives, | |
| antimoyaṁ samussayo. | this bag of bones is their last. | |
| 352 | Vītataṇho anādāno, | Rid of craving, free of grasping, |
| Niruttipadakovido; | expert in the definition of terms, | |
| Akkharānaṁ sannipātaṁ, | knowing the correct | |
| Jaññā pubbāparāni ca; | structure and sequence of syllables, | |
| Sa ve “antimasārīro, | they are said to be one who bears their final body, | |
| Mahāpañño mahāpuriso”ti vuccati. | one of great wisdom, a great person. | |
| 353 | Sabbābhibhū sabbavidūhamasmi, | I am the vanquisher of all, the knower of all, |
| Sabbesu dhammesu anūpalitto; | unsullied in the midst of all things. | |
| Sabbañjaho taṇhakkhaye vimutto, | I’ve given up all, freed in the ending of craving. | |
| Sayaṁ abhiññāya kamuddiseyyaṁ. | Since I know for myself, whose follower should I be? | |
| 354 | Sabbadānaṁ dhammadānaṁ jināti, | The gift of the teaching surmounts all other gifts; |
| Sabbarasaṁ dhammaraso jināti; | the taste of the teaching surmounts all other tastes; | |
| Sabbaratiṁ dhammarati jināti, | the joy of the teaching surmounts all other joys; | |
| Taṇhakkhayo sabbadukkhaṁ jināti. | the ending of craving surmounts all suffering. | |
| 355 | Hananti bhogā dummedhaṁ, | Riches ruin a simpleton, |
| no ca pāragavesino; | but not a seeker of the far shore. | |
| Bhogataṇhāya dummedho, | From craving for wealth, a simpleton | |
| hanti aññeva attanaṁ. | ruins themselves and others. | |
| 356 | Tiṇadosāni khettāni, | Weeds are the bane of crops, |
| rāgadosā ayaṁ pajā; | but greed is these folk’s bane. | |
| Tasmā hi vītarāgesu, | That’s why a gift to one rid of greed | |
| dinnaṁ hoti mahapphalaṁ. | is so very fruitful. | |
| 357 | Tiṇadosāni khettāni, | Weeds are the bane of crops, |
| dosadosā ayaṁ pajā; | but hate is these folk’s bane. | |
| Tasmā hi vītadosesu, | That’s why a gift to one rid of hate | |
| dinnaṁ hoti mahapphalaṁ. | is so very fruitful. | |
| 358 | Tiṇadosāni khettāni, | Weeds are the bane of crops, |
| mohadosā ayaṁ pajā; | but delusion is these folk’s bane. | |
| Tasmā hi vītamohesu, | That’s why a gift to one rid of delusion | |
| dinnaṁ hoti mahapphalaṁ. | is so very fruitful. | |
| 359 | Tiṇadosāni khettāni, | Weeds are the bane of crops, |
| icchādosā ayaṁ pajā; | but desire is these folk’s bane. | |
| Tasmā hi vigaticchesu, | That’s why a gift to one rid of desire | |
| dinnaṁ hoti mahapphalaṁ. | is so very fruitful. |
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Questions people ask
What is chapter 24 of the Dhammapada about?
Craving that spreads like a creeper, and the gift of the teaching that surpasses all gifts.
Which verses are in Dhammapada chapter 24?
Chapter 24, Craving (Taṇhāvagga), contains verses 334 to 359.