273Of all the paths the Eightfold Path is the best; of all the truths the Four Noble Truths are the best; of all things passionlessness is the best: of men the Seeing One (the Buddha) is the best.

273Maggānaṭṭhaṅgiko seṭṭho,
saccānaṁ caturo padā;
Virāgo seṭṭho dhammānaṁ,
dvipadānañca cakkhumā.

274This is the only path; there is none other for the purification of insight. Tread this path, and you will bewilder Māra.

274Eseva maggo natthañño,
Dassanassa visuddhiyā;
Etañhi tumhe paṭipajjatha,
Mārassetaṁ pamohanaṁ.

275Walking upon this path you will make an end of suffering. Having discovered how to pull out the thorn of lust, I make known the path.

275Etañhi tumhe paṭipannā,
dukkhassantaṁ karissatha;
Akkhāto vo mayā maggo,
aññāya sallakantanaṁ.

276You yourselves must strive; the Buddhas only point the way. Those meditative ones who tread the path are released from the bonds of Māra.

276Tumhehi kiccamātappaṁ,
akkhātāro tathāgatā;
Paṭipannā pamokkhanti,
jhāyino mārabandhanā.

277"All conditioned things are impermanent"—when one sees this with wisdom, one turns away from suffering. This is the path to purification.

277"Sabbe saṅkhārā aniccā"ti,
yadā paññāya passati;
Atha nibbindati dukkhe,
esa maggo visuddhiyā.

278"All conditioned things are unsatisfactory"—when one sees this with wisdom, one turns away from suffering. This is the path to purification.

278"Sabbe saṅkhārā dukkhā"ti,
yadā paññāya passati;
Atha nibbindati dukkhe,
esa maggo visuddhiyā.

279"All things are not-self"—when one sees this with wisdom, one turns away from suffering. This is the path to purification.

279"Sabbe dhammā anattā"ti,
yadā paññāya passati;
Atha nibbindati dukkhe,
esa maggo visuddhiyā.

280The idler who does not exert himself when he should, who though young and strong is full of sloth, with a mind full of vain thoughts—such an indolent man does not find the path to wisdom.

280Uṭṭhānakālamhi anuṭṭhahāno,
Yuvā balī ālasiyaṁ upeto;
Saṁsannasaṅkappamano kusīto,
Paññāya maggaṁ alaso na vindati.

281Let a man be watchful of speech, well controlled in mind, and not commit evil in bodily action. Let him purify these three courses of action, and win the path made known by the Great Sage.

281Vācānurakkhī manasā susaṁvuto,
Kāyena ca nākusalaṁ kayirā;
Ete tayo kammapathe visodhaye,
Ārādhaye maggamisippaveditaṁ.

282Wisdom springs from meditation; without meditation wisdom wanes. Having known these two paths of progress and decline, let a man so conduct himself that his wisdom may increase.

282Yogā ve jāyatī bhūri,
ayogā bhūrisaṅkhayo;
Etaṁ dvedhāpathaṁ ñatvā,
bhavāya vibhavāya ca;
Tathāttānaṁ niveseyya,
yathā bhūri pavaḍḍhati.

283Cut down the forest (lust), but not the tree; from the forest springs fear. Having cut down the forest and the underbrush (desire), be passionless, O monks!

283Vanaṁ chindatha mā rukkhaṁ,
vanato jāyate bhayaṁ;
Chetvā vanañca vanathañca,
nibbanā hotha bhikkhavo.

284For so long as the underbrush of desire, even the most subtle, of a man towards a woman is not cut down, his mind is in bondage, like the sucking calf to its mother.

284Yāva hi vanatho na chijjati,
Aṇumattopi narassa nārisu;
Paṭibaddhamanova tāva so,
Vaccho khīrapakova mātari.

285Cut off your affection in the manner of a man who plucks with his hand an autumn lotus. Cultivate only the path to peace, Nibbāna, as made known by the Exalted One.

285Ucchinda sinehamattano,
Kumudaṁ sāradikaṁva pāṇinā;
Santimaggameva brūhaya,
Nibbānaṁ sugatena desitaṁ.

286"Here shall I live during the rains, here in winter and summer"—thus thinks the fool. He does not realize the danger (that death might intervene).

286Idha vassaṁ vasissāmi,
idha hemantagimhisu;
Iti bālo vicinteti,
antarāyaṁ na bujjhati.

287As a great flood carries away a sleeping village, so death seizes and carries away the man with a clinging mind, doting on his children and cattle.

287Taṁ puttapasusammattaṁ,
byāsattamanasaṁ naraṁ;
Suttaṁ gāmaṁ mahoghova,
maccu ādāya gacchati.

288For him who is assailed by death there is no protection by kinsmen. None there are to save him—no sons, nor father, nor relatives.

288Na santi puttā tāṇāya,
na pitā nāpi bandhavā;
Antakenādhipannassa,
natthi ñātīsu tāṇatā.

289Realizing this fact, let the wise man, restrained by morality, hasten to clear the path leading to Nibbāna.

289Etamatthavasaṁ ñatvā,
paṇḍito sīlasaṁvuto;
Nibbānagamanaṁ maggaṁ,
khippameva visodhaye.

Maggavaggo vīsatimo.