Chapter
8, The Thousands
100.
Better than a thousand useless words is one useful word, hearing
which one attains peace.
101.
Better than a thousand useless verses is one useful verse,
hearing which one attains peace.
102.
Better than reciting a hundred meaningless verses is the reciting
of one verse of Dhamma, hearing which one attains peace.
103.
Though one may conquer a thousand times a thousand men in
battle, yet he indeed is the noblest victor who conquers himself.
104-105.
Self-conquest is far better then the conquest of others. Not
even a god, an angel, Mara or Brahma can turn into defeat
the victory of a person who is self-subdued and ever restrained
in conduct. [12]
106.
Though month after month for a hundred years one should offer
sacrifices by the thousands, yet if only for a moment one
should worship those of perfected minds that honor is indeed
better than a century of sacrifice.
107.
Though for a hundred years one should tend the sacrificial
fire in the forest, yet if only for a moment one should worship
those of perfected minds, that worship is indeed better than
a century of sacrifice.
108.
Whatever gifts and oblations one seeking merit might offer
in this world for a whole year, all that is not worth one
fourth of the merit gained by revering the Upright Ones, which
is truly excellent.
109.
To one ever eager to revere and serve the elders, these
four blessing accrue: long life and beauty, happiness and
power.
110.
Better it is to live one day virtuous and meditative than
to live a hundred years immoral and uncontrolled.
111.
Better it is to live one day wise and meditative than
to live a hundred years foolish and uncontrolled.
112.
Better it is to live one day strenuous and resolute than to
live a hundred years sluggish and dissipated.
113.
Better it is to live one day seeing the rise and fall of things
than to live as hundred years without ever seeing the rise
and fall of things.
114.
Better it is to live one day seeing the Deathless than to
live a hundred years without ever seeing the Deathless.
115.
Better it is to live one day seeing the Supreme Truth than
to live a hundred years without ever seeing the Supreme Truth.
