ANEW

The Dhammapada in Pāli and English: All 26 Chapters

The Dhammapada, "the path of the teaching", gathers 423 short verses of the Buddha in 26 chapters. It is one of the most loved Buddhist texts in the world: practical, memorable, and easy to carry into a day.

Every chapter below has the full Pāli with Bhikkhu Sujato's English translation, from SuttaCentral. Introductions are ANEW's. For a short selection, see 10 real Buddha quotes, verified.

The 26 chapters

  1. Chapter 1: Pairs (Yamakavagga, verses 1 to 20)
  2. Chapter 2: Diligence (Appamādavagga, verses 21 to 32)
  3. Chapter 3: The Mind (Cittavagga, verses 33 to 43)
  4. Chapter 4: Flowers (Pupphavagga, verses 44 to 59)
  5. Chapter 5: The Fool (Bālavagga, verses 60 to 75)
  6. Chapter 6: The Astute (Paṇḍitavagga, verses 76 to 89)
  7. Chapter 7: The Perfected Ones (Arahantavagga, verses 90 to 99)
  8. Chapter 8: The Thousands (Sahassavagga, verses 100 to 115)
  9. Chapter 9: Wickedness (Pāpavagga, verses 116 to 128)
  10. Chapter 10: The Rod (Daṇḍavagga, verses 129 to 145)
  11. Chapter 11: Old Age (Jarāvagga, verses 146 to 156)
  12. Chapter 12: The Self (Attavagga, verses 157 to 166)
  13. Chapter 13: The World (Lokavagga, verses 167 to 178)
  14. Chapter 14: The Buddhas (Buddhavagga, verses 179 to 196)
  15. Chapter 15: Happiness (Sukhavagga, verses 197 to 208)
  16. Chapter 16: The Beloved (Piyavagga, verses 209 to 220)
  17. Chapter 17: Anger (Kodhavagga, verses 221 to 234)
  18. Chapter 18: Stains (Malavagga, verses 235 to 255)
  19. Chapter 19: The Just (Dhammaṭṭhavagga, verses 256 to 272)
  20. Chapter 20: The Path (Maggavagga, verses 273 to 289)
  21. Chapter 21: Miscellaneous (Pakiṇṇakavagga, verses 290 to 305)
  22. Chapter 22: Hell (Nirayavagga, verses 306 to 319)
  23. Chapter 23: Elephants (Nāgavagga, verses 320 to 333)
  24. Chapter 24: Craving (Taṇhāvagga, verses 334 to 359)
  25. Chapter 25: Mendicants (Bhikkhuvagga, verses 360 to 382)
  26. Chapter 26: Brahmins (Brāhmaṇavagga, verses 383 to 423)

How to read it

Read one chapter a week, or one verse a day. Say the verse aloud in the morning, notice it during the day, and ask in the evening where it showed up. That is how the Dhammapada was meant to be used: not studied once, but carried.

More of the Buddha's words in full: the Sutta Library.

Questions people ask

What is the Dhammapada?

A collection of 423 short verses of the Buddha's teaching in 26 chapters, part of the Minor Collection (Khuddaka Nikāya) of the Pāli canon. It is one of the most widely read Buddhist texts in the world.

Where should I start reading the Dhammapada?

Chapter 1, Pairs, opens with the famous verses on the mind and on hatred and love. Chapters 15 (Happiness) and 17 (Anger) are also good places to begin.