The World

Don’t follow inferior principles. Don’t live heedlessly. Don’t entertain false views. Don’t be one who (by following inferior principles etc.) keeps the world going.

Get up! Don’t be heedless! Live practising the Dhamma, (the Dhamma) which is good conduct. One who lives practising the Dhamma (dhammacārῑ) dwells happily (both) in this world and the other (world).

Live practising the Dhamma. Do not live behaving badly. One who lives practising the Dhamma (dhammacārῑ) dwells happily (both) in this world and the other (world).

Look upon (the world) as a bubble; look upon (it) as a mirage. The King of Death does not see one who looks upon the world in this way.

Come, (just) look at this world, which is like a decorated royal chariot in which the spiritually immature sink down (or: are dejected), but (with regard to which) there is no attachment on the part of those who really know.

One who having formerly been heedless later is not heedless, lights up the world like the moon (when) freed from clouds.

One who covers over the evil deeds he has done with (ethically) skilful actions, lights up this world like the moon (when) freed from clouds.

This world is (mentally) blinded; few see clearly. Few are those who, like birds freed from the net, go to heaven.

Swans fly on the path of the sun.⁹ Those with supernormal powers travel through the air. The wise, having conquered Mara and his army, are led (away) from the world.

There is no wrong that cannot be committed by a lying person who has transgressed one (good) principle (i.e., that of truthfulness), and who has given up (all thought of) the other world.

Truly, misers do not get to the world of the gods. (Only) the spiritually immature do not praise giving. The wise man rejoices in giving, and therefore is happy in the hereafter.

The Fruit of Stream Entry is better than sole sovereignty over the earth, (better) than going to heaven, (better) than lordship over all the worlds.