I.YAMAKAVAGGA: THE TWIN VERSES

1. Mind foreruns (all evil) conditions, mind is chief, mind-made are they; if one speaks or acts with wicked mind, because of that, pain pursues him, even as the wheel follows the hoof of the draught-ox.

2. Mind foreruns (all good) conditions, mind is chief, mind-made are they; if one speaks or acts with pure mind, because of that, happiness follows him, even as the shadow that never leaves.

3. "He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me", the hatred of those who harbour such thoughts is not appeased.

4. "He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me", the hatred of those who do not harbour such thoughts is appeased.

5. Hatreds never cease by hatred in this world; by love alone they cease. This is an ancient law.

6. The others know not that in this quarrel we perish ; those of them who realize it have their quarrels calmed thereby.

7. Whoever lives contemplating pleasant things with senses unrestrained, in food immoderate, indolent, inactive, him verily Mara overthrows, as wind a weak tree.

8. Whoever lives contemplating unpleasant things with senses well-restrained, in food moderate, replete with confidence and sustained effort, him Mara overthrows not, as wind a rocky mountain.

9. Whoever, unstainless, without self-control and truthfulness, should don the yellow robe, is not worthy of it.

10. He who has vomited all impurities, in morals is well-established and endowed with self-control and truthfulness, is indeed worthy of the yellow robe.

11. In the unreal they imagine the real, in the real they see the unreal; they who feed on wrong thoughts never achieve the real.

12. Seeing the real as real, the unreal as unreal, they who feed on right thoughts achieve the real.

13. Even as rain penetrates an ill-thatched house, so does lust penetrate an undeveloped mind.

14. Even as rain does not penetrate a well-thatched house, so does lust not penetrate a well-developed mind.

15. Here he grieves, hereafter he grieves ; in both states the evil-doer grieves; he grieves, he perishes, seeing his own impure deeds.

16. Here he rejoices, hereafter he rejoices; in both states the well-doer rejoices; exceedingly rejoices, seeing the purity of his own deeds.

17. Here he laments, hereafter he laments; in both states the evil-doer laments; thinking, "evil have I done", thus he laments. Furthermore he laments, having gone to a state of woe.

18. Here he is happy, hereafter he is happy; in both states the well-doer is happy. Thinking, "good have I done", thus he is happy. Furthermore is he happy, having gone to a state of bliss.

19. Though much he recites the Sacred texts, but acts not accordingly, that heedless man is like a cow-herd who counts others' kine; he has no share in the blessings of a recluse.

20. Though little he recites the Sacred texts, but acts in accordance with the teaching, forsaking lust, hatred, and ignorance, truly knowing, with mind well freed, clinging for naught here and hereafter, he shares in the blessings of a recluse.