I made this translation of the _Dhammapada_, intending it to be a simple memorial text-book for my pupils, at intervals some seven or eight years ago, when reading the Pāli as a lesson in religion with my senior class in Ceylon. Its publication has been held up for several years owing to various causes, and, having left Ceylon in 1919, I was unable owing to distance to correct the proofs. My thanks are due to Mr. Fritz Kunz, B.A., of Adyar, Madras, for seeing the book through the press. The rather long list of alterations[1] is due to the fact that I saw no proofs till the whole was printed off, and had meanwhile desired to recast certain verses. The use of metre of course often prohibits the exact translation of certain philosophical and technical terms, but I have kept as close to the original as was possible. I have followed the Pāli text of Fausböll (1900), and have been much helped by Dr. Dines Andersen's _Glossary of the Words of the Dhammapada_. The Pāli Text Society's edition of the text (by Sūriyogoḍa Sumaṅgala Thero) appeared just after I had finished, and I have made several alterations in accordance with the readings of that edition. F.L. WOODWARD _Chartley, West Tamar,_ _Tasmania_ 1921. [1] transcribers' note--all alterations of the list mentioned have been duely incorporated in the text following, and the list itself has been omitted in this e-book. Glory to Him, the Blessed Saint, the All-Enlightened one. The Buddha's Path of Virtue. CHAPTER ONE. THE PAIRS. 1. All states arising have mind for their causing, Mind for their master, of mind are the offspring. He who with foul mind speaks or does action-- Him pain pursues as the wheel dogs the ox-hoof. 2. All states arising have mind for their causing, Mind for their master, of mind are the offspring. He who with pure mind speaks or does action-- Him bliss pursues, to him clings like his shadow. 3. "This man abused me: he beat me and conquered, Conquered and plundered." Cherishing in such thoughts, Never appeased is the hatred of such men. 4. "This man abused me, he beat me and conquered, Conquered and plundered." Not having such thoughts, Quickly appeased is the hatred of such men. 5. Never by hatred is hatred appeaséd Nay! but by kindness; that's the old-time Norm.[1] 6. Others don't grasp this--"We men are mortals".[2] Men who can grasp this soon end their quarrels. 7. Looking for fair sights, unchecked in his senses, In food uncontrolled, slack, inert, without vigour, Death overwhelms him, as winds uproot weak trees. 8. He who lives sense-restrained, heedless of fair sights, Who in food keeps the mean, is trusty and sturdy, Death cannot shake him: winds cannot move mountains.