26. Heedlessness the foolish follow, men of small intelligence; As the best of treasures wise men guard the prize of Heedfulness. 27. Cleave not thou to Heedlessness, cleave not thou to Passion's snares; Strenuous and meditative, wisdom winneth widespread bliss. 28. Lo! the sage that drives away the cloud of sloth by Heedfulness, Climbing up the heights of wisdom, sorrowless looks down upon All the miserable beings, as a hillman on the plains.[4] 29. Strenuous amid the heedless, 'mid the sleepers wide awake, As a racer beats the weak jade, so the wise outstrips the fools. 30. Maghavā by Heedfulness attained the kingship of the gods;[5] Heedfulness is praised for ever; Heedlessness is ever blamed. 31. Monks[6] whom Heedfulness delighteth, seeing fear in Heedlessness, As the fire blazeth onwards, burn their fetters great and small. 32. Monks whom Heedfulness delighteth, seeing fear in Heedlessness, Cannot fall into destruction; they are near Nibbāna's shore. [1] '_amata-padaṁ_, 'the immortal lot', or simply 'the Ambrosial (nibbaṇa): the word 'immortality' in Buddhism does not imply 'a deathless Ego'. [2] 'the sphere or range, _gocara_'. [3] _Nibbāna_. [4] 'literally,' as one standing on a mountain looks down on those standing on the level'. [5] _Maghavā_, a name of Indra, the "sky-god," Jupiter. Human beings by great _tapas_, will power exercised, can attain this office. [6] _"Monks"_ does not convey the real meaning of _bhikkhu_, a mendicant ascetic wearer of the yellow robe. CHAPTER THREE. THE MIND. 33. The fugitive, flickering mind, Hard to guard and hard to bind, The wise men train as they choose, As a fletcher fashions a shaft to his use. 34. Like a fish flung out on the bank; Drawn from its watery home in a tank,[1] Flutters this fugitive mind To leave the realm of Māra behind.[2] 35. Impalpable, hard to seize, Eagerly rushing wherever it please, Good is the taming of mind; A mind well-tamed is a treasure to find. 36. Invisible, subtle indeed, Eagerly rushing its passions to feed, Let the wise man guard this mind; A guarded mind is a treasure to find. 37. Wandering, dwelling apart, Bodiless there in the cave of the heart,[3] They who subdue this mind Leave all the fetters of Māra behind. 38. If he know not the Doctrine Pure, If he waver in faith and be not sure, If his mind be not strong-willed, The cup of his wisdom is never fulfilled. 39. If his mind be free from desire, If his thought be free from anger's fire, If evil and good he forsake, There is no fear in the man that's awake. 40. "Body's a vessel of clay; Mind must be made like a fort," if he say, Let him give battle to Mara, arrayed In the weapons of wisdom, unafraid Let him conquer and guard him and passionless stay.