Dhammapada Verses 328, 329 and 330
Sambahulabhikkhu Vatthu
Sace labhetha nipakam sahayam
saddhim caram sadhu vihari dhiram
abhibhuyya sabbani parissayani
careyya tena' ttamano satima.
No ce labhetha nipakam sahayam
saddhim caram sadhu vihari dhiram
rajava rattham vijitam pahaya
eko care matanga' ranneva nago.
Ekassa caritam seyyo
natthi bale sahayata
eko care na ca papani kayira
appossukko matanga' ranneva nago.
Verse 328: If one finds a sagacious friend, who is a virtuous and steadfast
companion, one should live with him joyfully and mindfully, overcoming all
dangers.
Verse 329: If one cannot find a sagacious friend, who is a virtuous and
steadfast companion, one should live alone like the king who gave up and left
the country he had won, and like the elephant Matanga roaming alone in the
forest.
Verse 330: It is better to live alone; there is no fellowship with a fool. So
one should live alone, do no evil, and be carefree like the elephant Matanga
roaming alone in the forest.
The Story of a Number of Bhikkhus
While residing in the Palileyya forest where the elephant Palileyyaka waited
on him, the Buddha uttered Verses (328), (329) and (330) of this book, with
reference to the bhikkhus from Kosambi.
Once, the bhikkhus of Kosambi split into two groups; one group followed the
master of Vinaya and the other followed the teacher of the Dhamma. They did not
listen even to the Buddha who exhorted them to make peace. So, the Buddha left
them and spent the vassa all alone in the forest, where the elephant Palileyyaka
waited on him.
At the end of the vassa, the Venerable Ananda went into the forest,
accompanied by five hundred bhikkhus. Leaving the bhikkhus at some distance, the
Venerable Ananda approached the Buddha alone. Then the Buddha told Ananda to
call the other bhikkhus. All of them came, paid obeisance to the Buddha and
said, "Venerable Sir! You must have had a hard time spending the vassa all
alone in this forest."
To this, the Buddha replied,"Bhikkhus, do not say so; the elephant
Palileyyaka had been looking after me all this time. He was, indeed, a very good
friend, a true friend. If one has such a good friend one should stick to him;
but if one cannot find a good friend it is better to stay alone."
Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:
| Verse 328: If one finds a sagacious friend, who is
a virtuous and steadfast companion, one should live with him joyfully
and mindfully, overcoming all dangers. |
| |
| Verse 329: If one cannot find a sagacious friend,
who is a virtuous and steadfast companion, one should live alone like
the king who gave up and left the country he had won, and like the
elephant Matanga roaming alone in the forest. |
| |
| Verse 330: It is better to live alone; there is no
fellowship with a fool. So one should live alone, do no evil, and be
carefree like the elephant Matanga roaming alone in the forest. |