Flowers

44. Who shall overcome this earth, and the world of Yama (the lord of the departed), and the world of the gods? Who shall find out the plainly shown path of virtue, as a clever man finds out the (right) flower?

44. Who will overcome this earth, the world of Yama (the lord of the dead), and the world of the gods? Who will find the clearly shown path of virtue, as a skilled man finds the right flower?

45. The disciple will overcome the earth, and the world of Yama, and the world of the gods. The disciple will find out the plainly shown path of virtue, as a clever man finds out the (right) flower.

45. The disciple will overcome the earth, the world of Yama, and the world of the gods. The disciple will discover the clearly marked path of virtue, just as a skilled person finds the (right) flower.

46. He who knows that this body is like froth, and has learnt that it is as unsubstantial as a mirage, will break the flower-pointed arrow of Mara, and never see the king of death.

46. Whoever knows this body is like foam and has learned it is as insubstantial as a mirage will break Mara's flower-tipped arrow. He will never see the king of death.

47. Death carries off a man who is gathering flowers and whose mind is distracted, as a flood carries off a sleeping village.

47. Death sweeps away a distracted man gathering flowers, just as a flood sweeps away a sleeping village.

48. Death subdues a man who is gathering flowers, and whose mind is distracted, before he is satiated in his pleasures.

48. Death overcomes a man who is gathering flowers with a distracted mind. Death takes him before he has had his fill of pleasure.

49. As the bee collects nectar and departs without injuring the flower, or its colour or scent, so let a sage dwell in his village.

49. A bee gathers nectar and leaves without harming the flower, its color, or its scent. In the same way, let a sage live in his village.

50. Not the perversities of others, not their sins of commission or omission, but his own misdeeds and negligences should a sage take notice of.

50. A wise person should not focus on others’ faults, the wrongs they do, or the good they leave undone. Instead, he should notice his own wrongdoing and neglect.

51. Like a beautiful flower, full of colour, but without scent, are the fine but fruitless words of him who does not act accordingly.

51. Like a beautiful, colorful flower without scent, fine words are fruitless when the speaker does not act on them.

52. But, like a beautiful flower, full of colour and full of scent, are the fine and fruitful words of him who acts accordingly.

52. But fine words that bear fruit are like a beautiful flower, full of color and fragrance, when the speaker acts accordingly.

53. As many kinds of wreaths can be made from a heap of flowers, so many good things may be achieved by a mortal when once he is born.

53. Just as many kinds of wreaths can be made from a pile of flowers, so a person may achieve many good things after being born.

54. The scent of flowers does not travel against the wind, nor (that of) sandal-wood, or of Tagara and Mallika flowers; but the odour of good people travels even against the wind; a good man pervades every place.

54. The scent of flowers does not travel against the wind, nor does the scent of sandalwood, Tagara, or Mallika flowers. But the scent of good people travels even against the wind. A good man’s presence reaches everywhere.

55. Sandal-wood or Tagara, a lotus-flower, or a Vassiki, among these sorts of perfumes, the perfume of virtue is unsurpassed.

55. Among the fragrances of sandalwood, Tagara, lotus flowers, and Vassiki, the fragrance of virtue is unsurpassed.

56. Mean is the scent that comes from Tagara and sandal-wood;—the perfume of those who possess virtue rises up to the gods as the highest.

56. The scent of Tagara and sandalwood is faint. But the fragrance of virtuous people rises to the gods as the finest of all.

57. Of the people who possess these virtues, who live without thoughtlessness, and who are emancipated through true knowledge, Mara, the tempter, never finds the way.

57. For those who possess these virtues, live mindfully, and are freed through true knowledge, Mara, the tempter, never finds a way to reach them.

58, 59. As on a heap of rubbish cast upon the highway the lily will grow full of sweet perfume and delight, thus the disciple of the truly enlightened Buddha shines forth by his knowledge among those who are like rubbish, among the people that walk in darkness.

58, 59. A lily will grow on a heap of rubbish thrown onto the highway, full of sweet fragrance and beauty. In the same way, the disciple of the truly enlightened Buddha shines through his knowledge among people like rubbish. These are people who walk in darkness.