In short: Chapter 8 of the Dhammapada, The Thousands (Sahassavagga), verses 100 to 115. One meaningful word is better than a thousand empty ones, and conquering oneself is the greatest victory.
Better than a thousand meaningless sayings is a single meaningful saying, hearing which brings you peace.
Dhammapada 100, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | Sahassamapi ce vācā, | Better than a thousand |
| anatthapadasaṁhitā; | meaningless sayings | |
| Ekaṁ atthapadaṁ seyyo, | is a single meaningful saying, | |
| yaṁ sutvā upasammati. | hearing which brings you peace. | |
| 101 | Sahassamapi ce gāthā, | Better than a thousand |
| anatthapadasaṁhitā; | meaningless verses | |
| Ekaṁ gāthāpadaṁ seyyo, | is a single meaningful verse, | |
| yaṁ sutvā upasammati. | hearing which brings you peace. | |
| 102 | Yo ca gāthā sataṁ bhāse, | Better than reciting |
| anatthapadasaṁhitā; | a hundred meaningless verses | |
| Ekaṁ dhammapadaṁ seyyo, | is a single saying of Dhamma, | |
| yaṁ sutvā upasammati. | hearing which brings you peace. | |
| 103 | Yo sahassaṁ sahassena, | The supreme conqueror is |
| saṅgāme mānuse jine; | not he who conquers a million men in battle, | |
| Ekañca jeyyamattānaṁ, | but he who conquers a single man: | |
| sa ve saṅgāmajuttamo. | himself. | |
| 104 | Attā have jitaṁ seyyo, | It is surely better to conquer oneself |
| yā cāyaṁ itarā pajā; | than all those other folk. | |
| Attadantassa posassa, | When a person has tamed themselves, | |
| niccaṁ saññatacārino. | always living restrained, | |
| 105 | Neva devo na gandhabbo, | no god nor centaur, |
| na māro saha brahmunā; | nor Māra nor divinity, | |
| Jitaṁ apajitaṁ kayirā, | can undo the victory | |
| tathārūpassa jantuno. | of such a personage. | |
| 106 | Māse māse sahassena, | Rather than a thousandfold sacrifice, |
| yo yajetha sataṁ samaṁ; | every month for a full century, | |
| Ekañca bhāvitattānaṁ, | it’s better to honor for a single hour | |
| muhuttamapi pūjaye; | one who has developed themselves. | |
| Sāyeva pūjanā seyyo, | That offering is better | |
| yañce vassasataṁ hutaṁ. | than the hundred year sacrifice. | |
| 107 | Yo ca vassasataṁ jantu, | Rather than serve the sacred flame |
| aggiṁ paricare vane; | in the forest for a hundred years, | |
| Ekañca bhāvitattānaṁ, | it’s better to honor for a single hour | |
| muhuttamapi pūjaye; | a personage who has developed themselves. | |
| Sāyeva pūjanā seyyo, | That offering is better | |
| yañce vassasataṁ hutaṁ. | than the hundred year sacrifice. | |
| 108 | Yaṁ kiñci yiṭṭhaṁ va hutaṁ va loke, | Whatever sacrifice or offering in the world |
| Saṁvaccharaṁ yajetha puññapekkho; | a seeker of merit may make for a year, | |
| Sabbampi taṁ na catubhāgameti, | none of it is worth a quarter | |
| Abhivādanā ujjugatesu seyyo. | of bowing to the sincere. | |
| 109 | Abhivādanasīlissa, | For one in the habit of bowing, |
| niccaṁ vuḍḍhāpacāyino; | always honoring the elders, | |
| Cattāro dhammā vaḍḍhanti, | four blessings grow: | |
| āyu vaṇṇo sukhaṁ balaṁ. | lifespan, beauty, happiness, and strength. | |
| 110 | Yo ca vassasataṁ jīve, | Better to live a single day |
| dussīlo asamāhito; | ethical and absorbed in meditation | |
| Ekāhaṁ jīvitaṁ seyyo, | than to live a hundred years | |
| sīlavantassa jhāyino. | unethical and lacking immersion. | |
| 111 | Yo ca vassasataṁ jīve, | Better to live a single day |
| duppañño asamāhito; | wise and absorbed in meditation | |
| Ekāhaṁ jīvitaṁ seyyo, | than to live a hundred years | |
| paññavantassa jhāyino. | witless and lacking immersion. | |
| 112 | Yo ca vassasataṁ jīve, | Better to live a single day |
| kusīto hīnavīriyo; | energetic and strong, | |
| Ekāhaṁ jīvitaṁ seyyo, | than to live a hundred years | |
| vīriyamārabhato daḷhaṁ. | lazy and lacking energy. | |
| 113 | Yo ca vassasataṁ jīve, | Better to live a single day |
| apassaṁ udayabbayaṁ; | seeing rise and fall | |
| Ekāhaṁ jīvitaṁ seyyo, | than to live a hundred years | |
| passato udayabbayaṁ. | blind to rise and fall. | |
| 114 | Yo ca vassasataṁ jīve, | Better to live a single day |
| apassaṁ amataṁ padaṁ; | seeing the state free of death | |
| Ekāhaṁ jīvitaṁ seyyo, | than to live a hundred years | |
| passato amataṁ padaṁ. | blind to the state free of death. | |
| 115 | Yo ca vassasataṁ jīve, | Better to live a single day |
| apassaṁ dhammamuttamaṁ; | seeing the supreme teaching | |
| Ekāhaṁ jīvitaṁ seyyo, | than to live a hundred years | |
| passato dhammamuttamaṁ. | blind to the supreme teaching. |
← Chapter 7: The Perfected Ones · Chapter 9: Wickedness →
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 8 of the Dhammapada about?
One meaningful word is better than a thousand empty ones, and conquering oneself is the greatest victory.
Which verses are in Dhammapada chapter 8?
Chapter 8, The Thousands (Sahassavagga), contains verses 100 to 115.