Verses and Stories of Dhammapada:Sanjaya Vatthu

Asare saramatino

Sare casaradassino

Te saram nadhigacchanti

Micchasankappagocara.

Saranca sarato natva

Asaranca asarato

Te saram adhigacchanti

Samma sankappagocara.

Those who mistake the false for the true, and the true for the false,--they who abide in the pasture-ground of wrong thoughts, - never arrive at the real.

Those who know the true as the true, and the false as the false, who abide in right-mindedness, they arrive at the real.

Story

Venerable Sariputta and Venerable Moggallana told the Buddha that they could not persuade Sanjaya, their former teacher, to see the Buddha and listen to his teachings as he did not want to be the follower of the Buddha. The Buddha then explained the difference between those who thought rightly and those who thought wrongly and the result of such thinking.

Verses and Stories of Dhammapada:Devadatta Vatthu

Anikkasavo kasavam

Yo vattham paridahessati

Apeto damasaccena

Na so kasavam arahati.

Yo ca vantakasavassa

Silensu susamahito

Upeto damasaccena

Sa ve kasavam arahati.

Whosoever, not freed from blemish, lacking in self-restraint and truth, should don the yellow robe he is not worthy of it.

He who has thrown away all impurities, firm-fixed in morals, possessed of self-control and truth, is indeed worthy of the yellow robe.

Story

Once the people on a majority vote gave a high price robe to Venerable Devadatta, in preference to Venerable Sariputta, the chief disciple of the Buddha. Some monks, seeing him wearing it, commended that he was not worthy of it. Buddha then pointed out that in his previous life he had done likewise and explained who was worthy of wearing the yellow robe of the holy disciples.

Verses and Stories of Dhammapada:Chulakalamahakala Vatthu

Subhanupassim viharantam

Indriyesu asamvutam

Bhojanamhi amattannum

Kusitam hinaviriyam

Tam ve pasahati maro

Vato rukkhamva dubbalam.

Asubhanupassim viharantam

Indriyesu susamvutam

Bhojanamhi ca mattannum

Saddham araddhaviriyam

Tam ve nappahahati maro

Vato selamva pabbatam.

Whosoever lives delighting in visual forms, with senses un-subdued, immoderate in food, sluggish and inert, -- him verily does Mara overthrow as the wind a weak tree.

Whosoever lives taking no delight in one's own body or outer things, with senses restrained, moderate in food, full of confidence and strenuous, --him verily Mara does overthrow any more than the wind a mountain rock.

Story

It was  a story of two brothers who both became monks, the elder by conviction and the younger without any faith. The younger monk constantly thought of material pleasures and succumbed to the temptations of his former wives and finally disrobed. The elder monk tried hard and finally attained Arahantship. His former wives tried in vain to force him to disrobe.

Verses and Stories of Dhammapada:Kosambika Vatthu

Pare ca na vijananti

Mayamettha yamamase

Ye ca tattha vijananti

Tato sammanti medhaga.

Many never realized that all of us here shall one day die.

But those who realize that have their quarrels calmed thereby.

Story

Some trivial incident led to a serious dispute among the monks in the city of Kosambi. The disputed monks did not obey the Buddha’s suggestion. Finally the Buddha went to a forest and spent the rainy retreat there. Being forced by the laity, the monks went to the Buddha and invited him to the city. The Buddha then taught them this verse of Dhammapada.

Verses and Stories of Dhammapada: Kaliyakkhiniya Uppatti Vatthu

Na hi verena verani

Sammantidha kudacanam

Averena ca sammanti

Esa dhammo sanantano.

Hatred never ceased by hatred in this world.

Through loving-kindness it comes to an end

This is an ancient Law.

Story

It was told about a husband having two wives. One was barren while the other was fruitful. The former mixed a drug in  the latter's food and caused two abortions. In the third time, it led to the death of the mother and of the child. The dying woman willed vengeance on her rival and her offsprings and she carried out her resolve. Other woman did likewise too. So both women avenged in the course of two successive births. In the third birth, the situation forced both to see the Buddha, who advise them not to retaliate.

Verses and Stories of Dhammapada: Tissathera Vatthu

Akkocchi mam avadhi mam

Ajini mam ahasi me

Ye tam upanayhanti

Veram tesam na sammanti.

Akkocchi mam avadhi mam

Ajini mam ahasi me

Ye tam na upanayhanti

Veram tesupasammati.

In those who habor such thoughts :

He reviled me., beat me, overpower me, robbed me.

Anger never is stilled”

Of those who do not hve such thoughts:

He reviled me, maltreated me, defeated me, and robbed me.

Hatred is appeased.

Story

A monk called Tissa Thera was proud of being a cousin of the Buddha. He did not pay due respect to the senior monks. When they did not satisfy with his improper conduct, he took offence and went up to see the Buddha and made a complaint. The Buddha advised him to apologize, but Tissa Thera did not want to do so. The Buddha  then told a story to show that Tissa Thera dad done likewise in his past life. Later, Tissa Thera was forced to seek pardon from the senior monks.

Verses and Stories of Dhammapada: Matthakundhali Vatthu

Manopubbangama dhamma

Manosettha manomaya

Manasa ce pasannena

Bhasati va karoti va

Tato nam sukhamanveti

Chaya va anupayini.

All mental states have mind as their forerunner,

mind is their chief, and they are minded-made.

If, with a pure mind, one speaks or acts,

then happiness follows him closely,

like his never-departing shadow.

Story

A young boy called Matthakundhali, a son of a millionaire, was gravely sick and was on the verge of death. His father was a sticky man and would not want to consult a physician for fear that his money should be spent. The Buddha, through His Divine Eye, saw the dying young man and appeared before him. He, seeing the Buddha, was very pleased and had a full faith in the Buddha. When he was dead he was born in a heaven.