Dhammapada Verses 331, 332 and 333
The Story of Mara
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Once, while the Buddha was residing near the Himalayas, he found that many people were being ill-treated by some wicked kings. It then occurred to him whether it would be possible to prevent them from ill-treating those who should not be ill-treated and make the kings rule justly and wisely. Mara knew what the Buddha was thinking and planned to entice the Buddha to rule as a king. To him the Buddha replied, "O wicked Mara! Your teaching and my teaching are quite different. You and I cannot have any discussion. This is my teaching".
Then the Buddha spoke in three verses as follows:
Atthamhi jatamhi sukha sahaya
tutthi sukha ya itaritarena
punnam sukham jivitasankhayamhi
sabbassa dukkhassa sukham pahanam.
tutthi sukha ya itaritarena
punnam sukham jivitasankhayamhi
sabbassa dukkhassa sukham pahanam.
Verse 331: It is good to have friends when the need arises; it is good to be content with anything that is available; it is good to have merit when life is about to end; it is good to be rid of all dukkha.
Sukha matteyya loke
atho petteyyata sukha
sukha samannata loke
atho brahmannata sukha.
atho petteyyata sukha
sukha samannata loke
atho brahmannata sukha.
Verse 332: In this world it is good to be dutiful to one's mother; also it is good to be dutiful to one's father. In this world it is good to minister unto samanas1; also it is good to minister unto brahmanas2.
Sukham yava jara silam
sukha saddha patitthita
sukho pannaya patilabho
papanam akaranam sukham.
sukha saddha patitthita
sukho pannaya patilabho
papanam akaranam sukham.
Verse 333: It is good to have virtue till old age, it is good to have unshakable faith, it is good to gain wisdom, it is good to do no evil.
1. Samana: Recluses.
2. Brahmanas: here means Buddhas, paccekabuddhas or arahats. (The Commentary)
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