223. Wrath with kindliness allay, To the stingy freely give; Conquer lying words with truth; Evil deeds with good repay. 224. Speak the truth nor vexed be; Give, however scantily. Following these maxims three, Thou the blessed gods shalt see. 225. Sages harm no living thing; Self-restraint accomplishing Such men reach the Deathless Lot,[3] Where all sorrow is forgot. 226. Ever watchful, night and day Learning wisdom never cease; In the one who strives for Peace[4] All the cravings die away.[5] 227. There is a saying, Atula, Of old, not of to-day: "They blame the man who silent sits, Or whose tongue wags alway; And blame the man who keeps the mean; None in the world is blameless seen." 228. There never was, nor will be, sure, Nor lives now among men, A being blamed exclusively, Nor one entirely praised. 229-30. But one whom men of wisdom praise, Watching him day by day, Of faultless life, of holy ways, Thoughtful and wise, like Jambu gold,[6] Who to blame such a saint is bold? Neither the gods, nor e'en Brahmā, From him their praise withhold. 231. 'Gainst angry deeds be on thy guard; In body be composed; All bodily misdeeds discard; With body tread the Way. 232. 'Gainst angry words be on thy guard; In speech be thou composed; All wrongful ways of speech discard; In speech follow the Way. 233. 'Gainst angry thoughts be on thy guard; In thought be thou composed; All wrongful ways of thought discard; In thoughts follow the Way. 234. In body sages are controlled; In thoughts as well as speech; And they are Sages truly called Who are controlled in each. [1] The Fetters, _saññojanāni_, are ten. These are cast off at different stages of the Path, until perfection is reached. [2] _Nāma-rūpa_, "abstract and concrete," the five constituents of personality, _viz._, mind and its factors with the four, body, feeling, perception, and mental functions. [3] _Nibbāna_, 'the changeless, _accutaṁ_'. [4] idem. [5] idem. [6] A precious gold from the Jambu river; others say, like rose apple in colour. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. IMPURITY. 235. Lo! Thou art now a pale and withered leaf; Death's messengers are close at hand; Thou in the very gate of Death dost stand, And yet hast no provision for the way. 236. Then make thyself an island of defence; Strive quick; be wise; when all the taints Of dirt and dust are blown away, the saints Shall greet thee entering the Happy Land. 237. Thy life has run its course; thou art come nigh The King of Death;[1] for thine abode Thou hast no resting-place upon the road, And yet hast no provision for the way. 238. Then make thyself an island of defence; Strive quick; be wise; blow off the dust And stains of travel; wipe away the rust; So shalt thou see no more birth and decay.