44Who shall overcome this earth, this realm of Yama and this sphere of men and gods? Who shall bring to perfection the well-taught path of wisdom as an expert garland-maker would his floral design?

44Ko imaṁ pathaviṁ vicessati,
Yamalokañca imaṁ sadevakaṁ;
Ko dhammapadaṁ sudesitaṁ,
Kusalo pupphamiva pacessati.

45A striver-on-the path shall overcome this earth, this realm of Yama and this sphere of men and gods. The striver-on-the-path shall bring to perfection the well-taught path of wisdom, as an expert garland-maker would his floral design.

45Sekho pathaviṁ vicessati,
Yamalokañca imaṁ sadevakaṁ;
Sekho dhammapadaṁ sudesitaṁ,
Kusalo pupphamiva pacessati.

46Realizing that this body is like froth, penetrating its mirage-like nature, and plucking out Māra's flower-tipped arrows of sensuality, go beyond sight of the King of Death!

46Pheṇūpamaṁ kāyamimaṁ viditvā,
Marīcidhammaṁ abhisambudhāno;
Chetvāna mārassa papupphakāni,
Adassanaṁ maccurājassa gacche.

47As a mighty flood sweeps away the sleeping village, so death carries away the person of distracted mind who only plucks the flowers (of pleasure).

47Pupphāni heva pacinantaṁ,
byāsattamanasaṁ naraṁ;
Suttaṁ gāmaṁ mahoghova,
maccu ādāya gacchati.

48The Destroyer brings under his sway the person of distracted mind who, insatiate in sense desires, only plucks the flowers (of pleasure).

48Pupphāni heva pacinantaṁ,
byāsattamanasaṁ naraṁ;
Atittaññeva kāmesu,
antako kurute vasaṁ.

49As a bee gathers honey from the flower without injuring its color or fragrance, even so the sage goes on his alms-round in the village.

49Yathāpi bhamaro pupphaṁ,
vaṇṇagandhamaheṭhayaṁ;
Paleti rasamādāya,
evaṁ gāme munī care.

50Let none find fault with others; let none see the omissions and commissions of others. But let one see one's own acts, done and undone.

50Na paresaṁ vilomāni,
na paresaṁ katākataṁ;
Attanova avekkheyya,
katāni akatāni ca.

51Like a beautiful flower full of color but without fragrance, even so, fruitless are the fair words of one who does not practice them.

51Yathāpi ruciraṁ pupphaṁ,
vaṇṇavantaṁ agandhakaṁ;
Evaṁ subhāsitā vācā,
aphalā hoti akubbato.

52Like a beautiful flower full of color and also fragrant, even so, fruitful are the fair words of one who practices them.

52Yathāpi ruciraṁ pupphaṁ,
Vaṇṇavantaṁ sagandhakaṁ;
Evaṁ subhāsitā vācā,
Saphalā hoti kubbato.

53As from a great heap of flowers many garlands can be made, even so should many good deeds be done by one born a mortal.

53Yathāpi puppharāsimhā,
kayirā mālāguṇe bahū;
Evaṁ jātena maccena,
kattabbaṁ kusalaṁ bahuṁ.

54Not the sweet smell of flowers, not even the fragrance of sandal, tagara, or jasmine blows against the wind. But the fragrance of the virtuous blows against the wind. Truly the virtuous man pervades all directions with the fragrance of his virtue.

54Na pupphagandho paṭivātameti,
Na candanaṁ tagaramallikā vā;
Satañca gandho paṭivātameti,
Sabbā disā sappuriso pavāyati.

55Of all the fragrances—sandal, tagara, blue lotus and jasmine—the fragrance of virtue is the sweetest.

55Candanaṁ tagaraṁ vāpi,
uppalaṁ atha vassikī;
Etesaṁ gandhajātānaṁ,
sīlagandho anuttaro.

56Faint is the fragrance of tagara and sandal, but excellent is the fragrance of the virtuous, wafting even amongst the gods.

56Appamatto ayaṁ gandho,
yāyaṁ tagaracandanī;
Yo ca sīlavataṁ gandho,
vāti devesu uttamo.

57Māra never finds the path of the truly virtuous, who abide in heedfulness and are freed by perfect knowledge.

57Tesaṁ sampannasīlānaṁ,
appamādavihārinaṁ;
Sammadaññāvimuttānaṁ,
māro maggaṁ na vindati.

58Upon a heap of rubbish in the road-side ditch blooms a lotus, fragrant and pleasing.

58Yathā saṅkāradhānasmiṁ,
ujjhitasmiṁ mahāpathe;
Padumaṁ tattha jāyetha,
sucigandhaṁ manoramaṁ.

59Even so, on the rubbish heap of blinded mortals the disciple of the Supremely Enlightened One shines resplendent in wisdom.

59Evaṁ saṅkārabhūtesu,
andhabhūte puthujjane;
Atirocati paññāya,
sammāsambuddhasāvako.

Pupphavaggo catuttho.