Attadantavatthu

Like an elephant struck Ahaṁ nāgova saṅgāme, with arrows in battle, cāpato patitaṁ saraṁ; I shall withstand abuse, Ativākyaṁ titikkhissaṁ, for so many folk are badly behaved. dussīlo hi bahujjano.

The well-tamed beast is the one led to the crowd; Dantaṁ nayanti samitiṁ, the tamed elephant’s the one the king mounts; dantaṁ rājābhirūhati; the tamed person who withstands abuse Danto seṭṭho manussesu, is the best of human beings. yotivākyaṁ titikkhati.

Those who have tamed themselves are better Varamassatarā dantā, than fine tamed mules, ājānīyā ca sindhavā; thoroughbreds from Sindh, Kuñjarā ca mahānāgā, or giant tuskers. attadanto tato varaṁ.

Hatthācariyapubbakabhikkhuvatthu

For not on those mounts Na hi etehi yānehi, would you go to the untrodden place, gaccheyya agataṁ disaṁ; whereas, with the help of one
whose self is well tamed, Yathāttanā sudantena, you go there, tamed by the tamed. danto dantena gacchati.

Parijiṇṇabrāhmaṇaputtavatthu

The tusker named Dhanapāla Dhanapālo nāma kuñjaro, is musky in rut, hard to control. Kaṭukabhedano dunnivārayo; Bound, he eats not a morsel, Baddho kabaḷaṁ na bhuñjati, for he misses the elephant forest. Sumarati nāgavanassa kuñjaro.

Pasenadikosalavatthu

One who gets drowsy from overeating, Middhī yadā hoti mahagghaso ca, fond of sleep, rolling round the bed Niddāyitā samparivattasāyī; like a great hog stuffed with grain: Mahāvarāhova nivāpapuṭṭho, that dullard returns to the womb again and again. Punappunaṁ gabbhamupeti mando.

Sānusāmaṇeravatthu

In the past my mind wandered Idaṁ pure cittamacāri cārikaṁ, how it wished, where it liked, as it pleased. Yenicchakaṁ yatthakāmaṁ yathāsukhaṁ; Now I’ll carefully guide it, Tadajjahaṁ niggahessāmi yoniso, as a trainer with a hook guides a rutting elephant. Hatthippabhinnaṁ viya aṅkusaggaho.

Pāveyyakahatthivatthu

Delight in diligence! Appamādaratā hotha, Take good care of your mind! sacittamanurakkhatha; Pull yourself out of this pit, Duggā uddharathattānaṁ, like an elephant sunk in a bog. paṅke sannova kuñjaro.

Sambahulabhikkhuvatthu

If you find an alert companion, Sace labhetha nipakaṁ sahāyaṁ, an attentive friend to live happily together, Saddhiṁ caraṁ sādhuvihāridhīraṁ; then, overcoming all adversities, Abhibhuyya sabbāni parissayāni, wander with them, joyful and mindful. Careyya tenattamano satīmā.

If you find no alert companion, No ce labhetha nipakaṁ sahāyaṁ, no attentive friend to live happily together, Saddhiṁ caraṁ sādhuvihāridhīraṁ; then, like a king who flees his conquered realm, Rājāva raṭṭhaṁ vijitaṁ pahāya, wander alone like a tusker in the wilds. Eko care mātaṅgaraññeva nāgo.

It’s better to wander alone, Ekassa caritaṁ seyyo, there’s no fellowship with fools. Natthi bāle sahāyatā; Wander alone and do no wrong, Eko care na ca pāpāni kayirā, at ease like a tusker in the wilds. Appossukko mātaṅgaraññeva nāgo.

Māravatthu

A friend in need is a blessing; Atthamhi jātamhi sukhā sahāyā, it’s a blessing to be content with whatever; Tuṭṭhī sukhā yā itarītarena; good deeds are a blessing at the end of life, Puññaṁ sukhaṁ jīvitasaṅkhayamhi, and giving up all suffering is a blessing. Sabbassa dukkhassa sukhaṁ pahānaṁ.

In this world it’s a blessing to serve Sukhā matteyyatā loke, one’s mother and one’s father. atho petteyyatā sukhā; And it’s a blessing also to serve Sukhā sāmaññatā loke, ascetics and brahmins. atho brahmaññatā sukhā.

It’s a blessing to keep precepts until you grow old; Sukhaṁ yāva jarā sīlaṁ, a blessing to be grounded in faith; sukhā saddhā patiṭṭhitā; the getting of wisdom’s a blessing; Sukho paññāya paṭilābho, and it’s a blessing to avoid doing wrong. pāpānaṁ akaraṇaṁ sukhaṁ.

Nāgavaggo tevīsatimo.