N°23: The Elephant
२३. नागवर्गः त्रयोविंशः
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I will patiently endure harsh words as the elephant endures arrows on the battlefield. People are often careless.
अहं नाग इव संग्रामे चापतः पतितं शरम् ।
अतिवाक्यं तितिक्षिष्ये दुःह्शीला हि बहुजनाः ॥ १॥
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Only a trained elephant enters the battlefield;
only a trained elephant may carry the king.
The best among the people are those who have trained their minds to endure harsh words with patience.
दान्तं नयन्ति समितिं दान्तं राजाऽभिरोहति ।
दान्तः श्रेष्ठा मनुष्येषु योतिवाक्यं तितिक्षसे ॥ २॥
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Donkeys are good animals when they are well trained;
even better are trained horses and elephants.
Among humankind, they with a trained mind are best.
वरमश्वतरा दान्ता आजानीयाश्च सिन्धवः ।
कुञ्जराश्च महानागा आत्मदान्तस्ततो वरम् ॥ ३॥
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No animal can carry you into Nirvana;
only the trained mind can take you to this untrodden area.
न हि एतैर्यानैः गच्छेदगतां दिशम् ।
यथाऽऽत्मना सुदान्तेन दान्तो दान्तेन गच्छति ॥ ४॥
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An elephant in heat doesn't want to eat anything when it's bound;
it yearns for their partner in the wild.
धनपालको नाम कुञ्जरः कटकप्रभेदनो दुर्निवार्यः ।
बद्धः कवलं न भुंक्ते स्मरति नागवनस्य कुञ्जरः ॥ ५॥
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Overeating, sleeping too much: like an overfed boar,
those who are too lazy to make an effort will be born again and again.
मृद्धो यदा भवति महाघसश्च निद्रायितः सपरिवर्त्तशायी ।
महावराह इव निवापपुष्टः पुनः पुनः गर्भमुपैति मन्दः ॥ ६॥
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A long time ago, my thoughts went wherever they wanted and my mind did whatever it wanted to do. Now I rule my thoughts and my mind just as an elephant is controlled with a staff.
इदं पुरा चित्तमचरत् चारिकां यथेच्छं यथाकामं यथासुखम् ।तदद्याऽहं निग्रहिष्यामि योनिशो हस्तिनं प्रभिन्नमिवाङ्कुशग्राहः ॥ ७॥
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Be vigilant; guard your thoughts from negative thoughts. Pull yourself out of bad habits just like an elephant pulls itself out of the mud.
अप्रमादरता भवत स्वचित्तमनुरक्षत ।
दुर्गादुद्धरताऽऽत्मानं पङ्के सक्त इव कुञ्जरः ॥ ८॥
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If you find a friend who is good, wise, and freely distributes love, go with him to the end and overcome all dangers.
स चेत् लभेत निपक्वं सहायं सार्द्धं चरन्तं साधुविहारिणं धीरम् ।अभिभूय सर्वान् परिश्रयान् चरेत् तेनाऽऽत्तमनाः स्मृतिमान् ॥ ९॥
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If you can't find a friend who is good, wise and freely hands out love, walk on alone like a king who has renounced his kingdom or an elephant wandering through the forest.
न चेत् लभेत निपक्वं सहायं सार्द्धं चरन्तं साधुविहारिणं धीरम् ।
राजेव राष्ट्रं विजितं प्रहाय एकश्चरेत् मातङ्गोऽरण्य इव नागः ॥ १०॥
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It is better to be alone than to live with immatures. Be satisfied and walk alone like an elephant wandering in the forest. Turn your back to evil.
एकस्य चरितं श्रेयो नाऽस्ति बाले सहायता ।
एकश्चरेन्न च पापानि कुर्याद् अल्पोत्सुको मातंगोऽरण्य इव नागः ॥ ११॥
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It's good to have friends when the friendship is mutual. All your good deeds await you as friends when death comes. But best of all, it is to rise above sadness.
अर्थे जाते सुखाः सहायाः तुष्टिः सुखा या येतरेतरेण ।
पुण्यं सुखं जीवितसंक्षये सर्वस्य दुःखस्य सुखं प्रहाणम् ॥ १२॥
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It is good to be a mother, good to be a father, good to be the one who follows the Dhamma. But best of all is to be an enlightened sage.
सुखा मात्रीयता लोकेऽथ पित्रीयता सुखा
सुखा श्रमणता लोकेऽथ ब्राह्मणता सुखा ॥ १३॥
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It is good to live in virtue, it is good to have faith and believe, it is good to attain the highest wisdom, it is good to be pure in heart and in mind. Joy will always be yours.
सुखं यावद् जरां शीलं सुखा श्रद्धा प्रतिष्ठिता ।
सुखः प्रज्ञायाः प्रतिलाभः पापानां अकरणं सुखम् ॥ १४॥
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