Thought

33. As a fletcher makes straight his arrow, a wise man makes straight his trembling and unsteady thought, which is difficult to guard, difficult to hold back.

33. Just as an arrow maker straightens his arrow, a wise man straightens his trembling, unsteady thoughts. These thoughts are difficult to guard and difficult to hold back.

34. As a fish taken from his watery home and thrown on dry ground, our thought trembles all over in order to escape the dominion of Mara (the tempter).

34. Like a fish taken from its watery home and thrown onto dry ground, our mind trembles all over. It struggles to escape the rule of Mara (the tempter).

35. It is good to tame the mind, which is difficult to hold in and flighty, rushing wherever it listeth; a tamed mind brings happiness.

35. It is good to tame the mind, so restless and hard to control, rushing wherever it pleases. A tamed mind brings happiness.

36. Let the wise man guard his thoughts, for they are difficult to perceive, very artful, and they rush wherever they list: thoughts well guarded bring happiness.

36. A wise man should guard his thoughts because they are hard to detect, very cunning, and rush wherever they please. Well-guarded thoughts bring happiness.

37. Those who bridle their mind which travels far, moves about alone, is without a body, and hides in the chamber (of the heart), will be free from the bonds of Mara (the tempter).

37. Those who control their minds, which travel far, move alone, have no body, and hide in the chamber (of the heart), will be free from the bonds of Mara (the tempter).

38. If a man's thoughts are unsteady, if he does not know the true law, if his peace of mind is troubled, his knowledge will never be perfect.

38. If a man's thoughts are unsettled, if he does not know the true law, if his peace of mind is disturbed, his knowledge will never be complete.

39. If a man's thoughts are not dissipated, if his mind is not perplexed, if he has ceased to think of good or evil, then there is no fear for him while he is watchful.

39. If a man's thoughts are not scattered, his mind is not confused, and he has stopped thinking of good or evil, he has nothing to fear as long as he stays watchful.

40. Knowing that this body is (fragile) like a jar, and making this thought firm like a fortress, one should attack Mara (the tempter) with the weapon of knowledge, one should watch him when conquered, and should never rest.

40. Know that this body is fragile like a jar, and make this thought as firm as a fortress. With this understanding, you should attack Mara (the tempter) with the weapon of knowledge. You should keep watch over Mara once you have defeated him, and you should never rest.

41. Before long, alas! this body will lie on the earth, despised, without understanding, like a useless log.

41. Sadly, before long this body will lie on the ground, despised and unconscious, like a useless log.

42. Whatever a hater may do to a hater, or an enemy to an enemy, a wrongly-directed mind will do us greater mischief.

42. Whatever harm one hater may do to another, or one enemy to another, a misguided mind will harm us more.

43. Not a mother, not a father will do so much, nor any other relative; a well-directed mind will do us greater service.

43. No mother, father, or other relative will help us as much as a well-directed mind will.