Dhammapada: Heedfulness

1Heedfulness is the state free of death;

2heedlessness is the state of death.

3The heedful do not die,

4while the heedless are like the dead.

1Understanding this distinction

2when it comes to heedfulness,

3the astute rejoice in heedfulness,

4happy in the noble ones’ domain.

1They who regularly meditate,

2always staunchly vigorous;

3the attentive realize extinguishment,

4the supreme sanctuary from the yoke.

1For the hard-working and mindful,

2pure of deed and attentive,

3restrained, living righteously, and diligent,

4their reputation only grows.

1By hard work and diligence,

2by restraint and by self-control,

3a smart person would build an island

4that the floods cannot overflow.

1Fools and simpletons

2devote themselves to negligence.

3But the wise protect diligence

4as their best treasure.

1Don’t devote yourself to negligence,

2or delight in erotic intimacy.

3For if you’re diligent and meditate,

4you’ll attain abundant happiness.

1When the astute dispel negligence

2by means of diligence,

3ascending the palace of wisdom,

4sorrowless, they behold this generation of sorrow,

5as an attentive one on a mountain top

6beholds the fools below.

1Heedful among the heedless,

2wide awake while others sleep—

3a true sage leaves them behind,

4like a swift horse passing a feeble.

1Maghavā became chief of the gods

2by means of diligence.

3People praise diligence,

4while negligence is always deplored.

1A mendicant who loves diligence,

2seeing fear in negligence—

3advances like fire,

4burning up fetters big and small.

1A mendicant who loves diligence,

2seeing fear in negligence—

3such a one can’t decline,

4and has drawn near to extinguishment.