The Thousands

Better than a thousand meaningless words collected together (in the Vedic oral tradition) is a single meaningful word on hearing which one becomes tranquil.

Better than a thousand meaningless verses collected together (in the Vedic oral tradition) is one (meaningful) line of verse on hearing which one becomes tranquil.

Though one should recite a hundred (Vedic) verses, (verses) without meaning, better is one line (or: a single word) of Dhamma on hearing which one becomes tranquil.

Though one should conquer in battle thousands upon thousands of men, yet he who conquers himself is (truly) the greatest in battle.

It is indeed better to conquer oneself than to conquer other people. Of a man who has subdued himself, (and) who lives (self-)controlled,

neither a god nor a celestial musician (gandhabba), nor Māra together with Brahmā, can undo the victory – the victory of a person who is (subdued and controlled) like that.

If month after month for a hundred years one should offer sacrifices by the thousand, and if for a single moment one should venerate a (spiritually) developed person, better is that (act of) veneration than the hundred years (of sacrifices).

Though one should tend the sacred fire in the forest for a hundred years, yet if he venerates a (spiritually) developed person even for a moment, better is that (act of) veneration than the hundred years (spent tending the sacred fire).

Whatever oblations and sacrifices one might offer here on earth in the course of the whole (Vedic) religious year, seeking to gain merit thereby, all that is not a quarter (as meritorious) as paying respect to those who live uprightly, which is (indeed) excellent.

For him who is of a reverential disposition, constantly respecting his elders, four things constantly increase: life, beauty, happiness and strength.

Though one should live a hundred years unethical and unintegrated (asamāhita), better is one single day lived ethically and absorbed (in higher meditative states).

Though one should live a hundred years of evil understanding and unintegrated, better is one single day lived possessed of wisdom and absorbed (in higher meditative states).

Better than a hundred years lived lazily and with inferior energy is one single day lived with energy aroused and fortified.

Better than a hundred years lived unaware of the rise and fall (of conditioned things) is one single day lived aware of the rise and fall (of conditioned things).

Better than a hundred years lived unaware of the Deathless State is one single day lived aware of the Deathless State.

Better than a hundred years lived unaware of the Supreme Truth (dhammam uttamaṃ) is one single day lived aware of the Supreme Truth.