Dhammapada Verses 331, 332 and 333
Mara Vatthu
Atthamhi jatamhi sukha sahaya
tutthi sukha ya itaritarena
punnam sukham jivitasankhayamhi
sabbassa dukkhassa sukham pahanam.
Sukha matteyya loke
atho petteyyata sukha
sukha samannata loke
atho brahmannata sukha.
Sukham yava jara silam
sukha saddha patitthita
sukho pannaya patilabho
papanam akaranam sukham.
Verse 331: It is good to have friends when the need arises; it is good to be
content with anything that is available; it is good to have merit when life is
about to end; it is good to be rid of all dukkha.
Verse 332: In this world it is good to be dutiful to one's mother; also it is
good to be dutiful to one's father. In this world it is good to minister unto
samanas1; also it is good to minister unto brahmanas2.
Verse 333: It is good to have virtue till old age, it is good to have
unshakable faith, it is good to gain wisdom, it is good to do no evil.
1. Samana: Recluses.
2. Brahmanas: here means Buddhas, paccekabuddhas or arahats. (The Commentary)
The Story of Mara
While residing in a monastery near the Himalayas. the Buddha uttered Verses
(331), (332) and (333) of this book, with reference to Mara, who tried to entice
him to rule as a king.
Once, while the Buddha was residing near the Himalayas, he found that many
people were being ill-treated by some wicked kings. It then occurred to him
whether it would be possible to prevent them from ill-treating those who should
not be ill-treated and make the kings rule justly and wisely. Mara knew what the
Buddha was thinking and planned to entice the Buddha to rule as a king. To him
the Buddha replied, "O wicked Mara! Your teaching and my teaching are
quite different. You and I cannot have any discussion. This is my
teaching".
Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:
Verse 331: It is good to have friends when the
need arises; it is good to be content with anything that is available;
it is good to have merit when life is about to end; it is good to be
rid of all dukkha.
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Verse 332: In this world it is good to be dutiful
to one's mother; also it is good to be dutiful to one's father. In
this world it is good to minister unto samanas; also it is good to
minister unto brahmanas.
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Verse 333: It is good to have virtue till old age,
it is good to have unshakable faith, it is good to gain wisdom, it is
good to do no evil.
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End of Chapter Twenty-Three: The Elephant