Verses 331, 332 and 333

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.

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.

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.

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.

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1. Samana: Recluses.
2. Brahmanas: here means Buddhas, paccekabuddhas or arahats. (The Commentary)