102
Better than a thousand useless words is one
useful word, hearing which one attains peace.
103
Better than a thousand useless verses is one
useful verse, hearing which one attains peace.
104
Better than reciting a hundred meaningless
verses is the reciting of one verse of Dhamma,
hearing which one attains peace.
105
Though one may conquer a thousand times
a thousand people in battle, yet one indeed is
the noblest victor who conquers oneself.
106
Self-conquest is far better than the
conquest of others. Not even a god, an angel,
Mara or Brahma can turn into defeat the victory
of such a person who is self-subdued and ever
restrained in conduct.
107
Though month after month for a hundred
years one should offer sacrifices by the thousands,
yet if only for a moment one should worship those
of developed mind, that honour is indeed better
than a century of sacrifice.
108
Though for a hundred years one should
tend the sacrificial fire in the forest, yet if only
for a moment one should worship those of
developed mind, that worship is indeed better
than a century of sacrifice.
109
Whatever gifts and oblations one seeking
merit might offer in this world for a whole year,
all that is not worth one fourth of the merit gained
by revering the Upright Ones, which is truly excellent.
110
To one ever eager to revere and serve
the elders, these four blessings accrue: long life
and beauty, happiness and power.
111
Better it is to live one day virtuous and
meditative than to live a hundred years immoral
and uncontrolled.
112
Better it is to live one day wise and meditative
than to live a hundred years foolish and uncontrolled.
113
Better it is to live one day strenuous and
resolute than to live a hundred years sluggish
and dissipated.
114
Better it is to live one day seeing the rise
and fall of things than to live a hundred years
without ever seeing the rise and fall of things.
115
Better it is to live one day seeing the
Deathless than to live a hundred years without
ever seeing the Deathless.
116
Better it is to live one day seeing the
Supreme Truth than to live a hundred years without
ever seeing the Supreme Truth.