XII.ATTAVAGGA. THE SELF

157. If one hold one's self dear, one should protect oneself well; during any of the three watches the wise man should keep vigil.

158. Let one first establish one's self in what is proper, and then instruct others. Such a wise man will not get defiled.

159. As he instructs others so should he himself act; himself fully controlled, he should control (others); for the self indeed is difficult to control.

160. The self is lord of the self: for what other lord would there be? For with self well controlled one obtains a lord difficult to gain.

161. By one's self alone is evil done; it is self-born, it is self-caused; evil grinds the unwise as a diamond a hard gem.

162. He who is exceedingly corrupt, like a mãluvã creeper strangling a sal tree, does to himself what even an enemy would wish for him.

163. Easy to do are things that are bad and not beneficial to oneself, but very, very difficult indeed to do is that which is beneficial and good.

164. The stupid man, who on account of false views scorns the teaching of the arahats, the noble ones, and the Righteous, ripens like the fruits of the kashta reed, only for his own destruction.

165. By oneself, indeed, is evil done; by oneself is one defiled ; by oneself is evil left undone; by oneself, indeed, is one purified. Purity and impurity depend on oneself. No one purifies another.

166. Because of others' well-being, howsoever great, let not one neglect his own welfare ; clearly perceiving his own welfare, let him be intent on his own goal.