Exploring the Path - Pāli Course

‘‘ … Gahaṭṭhavattaṃ pana vo vadāmi,
yathākaro sāvako sādhu hoti;

“ … I will declare the conduct for a householder,
By performing it accordingly he will prove to be a perfect disciple;

Na hesa labbhā sapariggahena,
phassetuṃ yo kevalo bhikkhudhammo.

Because those with householder duties cannot
fulfil conduct that applies to Bhikkhus.

Pāṇaṃ na hane na ca ghātayeyya,
na cānujaññā hanataṃ paresaṃ;

He should neither kill any living being nor cause others to kill
Nor approve the killing done by someone else;

Sabbesu bhūtesu nidhāya daṇḍaṃ,
ye thāvarā ye ca tasā santi loke.

He should have laid down his stick towards all
beings in this world, whether strong or small.

Tato adinnaṃ parivajjayeyya,
kiñci kvaci sāvako bujjhamāno;

A disciple should refrain from taking anything
in full knowledge;

Na hāraye harataṃ nānujaññā,
sabbaṃ adinnaṃ parivajjayeyya.

Neither should he cause others to steal nor approve the stealing done by someone else,
He should stay aloof of any theft.

Abrahmacariyaṃ parivajjayeyya,
aṅgārakāsuṃ jalitaṃva viññū;

A wise one should refrain from all sexual misconduct
like he would avoid a burning pit of charcoals;¹

Asambhuṇanto pana brahmacariyaṃ,
parassa dāraṃ na atikkameyya.

If unable to lead the life in celibacy,
he should not transgress with another’s wife.

Sabhaggato vā parisaggato vā,
ekassa veko na musā bhaṇeyya;

Whether in an assembly or any gathering he should not tell any lie to even a single person;

Na bhāṇaye bhaṇataṃ nānujaññā,
sabbaṃ abhūtaṃ parivajjayeyya.

Nor should he cause anyone else telling a lie, neither approves the telling of any untruth by anyone else, he should stay aloof of all untruths.

Majjañca pānaṃ na samācareyya,
dhammaṃ imaṃ rocaye yo gahaṭṭho;

A layman who has decided to apply this Dhamma should not indulge in the drinking of intoxicants;

Na pāyaye pivataṃ nānujaññā,
ummādanantaṃ iti naṃ viditvā.

Neither should he cause others to drink nor approve the drinking done by others,
By having realized its intoxicating effects.

Madā hi pāpāni karonti bālā,
kārenti caññepi jane pamatte;

Through intoxication foolish people perform evil deeds and cause others to heedlessness;

Etaṃ apuññāyatanaṃ vivajjaye,
ummādanaṃ mohanaṃ bālakantaṃ

He should shun intoxication, this source for demerit,
Which bewilders the mind, enchantment for foolish people.

Pāṇaṃ na hane na cādinnamādiye,
musā na bhāse na ca majjapo siyā;

He should not be involved in destroying life, in taking what is not given, nor should he be a drinker;

Abrahmacariyā virameyya methunā,
rattiṃ na bhuñjeyya vikālabhojanaṃ.

He should refrain from all unchastity,
and not eat at inappropriate times during night.

Mālaṃ na dhāre na ca gandhamācare,
 mañce chamāyaṃ va sayetha santhate,

He should not be wearing garlands, nor embellish himself with perfumes,
He should sleep on a mat spread on the ground;

Etañhi aṭṭhaṅgikamāhuposathaṃ,
buddhena dukkhantagunā pakāsitaṃ;

These are the eight great observances,
praised by the Buddha leading to the end of suffering.

Tato ca pakkhassupavassuposathaṃ, cātuddasiṃ pañcadasiñca aṭṭhamiṃ; Pāṭihāriyapakkhañca pasannamānaso, aṭṭhaṅgupetaṃ susamattarūpaṃ.

With happy mind he observes and establishes himself in these eight precepts during the 8th, 14th and 15th day of the lunar circle, or even during the full pāṭihāriyapakkha rainy season.²

Tato ca pāto upavutthuposatho,
annena pānena ca bhikkhusaṅghaṃ;
Pasannacitto anumodamāno,
yathārahaṃ saṃvibhajetha viññū.

Having fulfilled and thus followed the Uposatha,
such wise ones should,
With happy mind and joy in their heart, provide the Order of Bhikkhus with food and drink early in the (next) morning.

Dhammena mātāpitaro bhareyya,
payojaye dhammikaṃ so vaṇijjaṃ;

They should take good care of their parents and
should pursue only righteous livelihood;

Etaṃ gihī vattayamappamatto,
sayampabhe nāma upeti deve’’ti.

A householder following these principles with diligence,
Will be reborn in the sphere of the sayampabhe – the self-illuminant – devas.”