1:3 The Rhinoceros Horn

35Having put down the rod toward all beings,
not harming a single one among them,
one should not desire a son, how then a companion?
One should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (1)

36For one who has formed bonds, there is affection;Be and Ce have the plural here, bhavanti snehā, while Ee has the singular bhavati sneho. Pj II has the singular in the lemma: Be bhavati sneho, Ce and Ee bhavati sineho
following on affection, this suffering arises.
Discerning the danger born of affection,
one should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (2)

37Sympathizing with friends dear to one’s heart,
with mind attached, one forsakes the good.
Seeing this peril in intimacy,
one should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (3)

38As widespread bamboo becomes entwined,
just so is concern for wives and sons. [7]
But like a bamboo shoot, not getting stuck,Be sajjamāno must be a typographical error. Nidd II 219 (Be) and Pj II (Be) both read asajjamāno.
one should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (4)

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39As a deer unbound in the forest
goes off to graze wherever it wants,
so a wise person, looking out for freedom,
should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (5)

40One is addressed in the midst of companions,
whether resting, standing, going, or traveling.
Looking out for the freedom that is not coveted,
one should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (6)

41There is play and delight in the midst of companions,
and affection for one’s sons is vast.
Averse to separation from those who are dear,
one should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (7)

42At home in the four directions, unrepelled,
contented with anything whatsoever,
enduring obstacles, fearless,
one should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (8)

43Even some monastics are hard to please;
so, too, householders living at home.
Being unconcerned about others’ sons,
one should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (9)

44Having discarded the marks of a layman
like a koviḷāra tree whose leaves are shed,Reading saṃsīnapatto with Ce and Ee in both text and Pj II, as against Be sañchinnapatto. [8]
having cut off a layman’s bonds, the hero
should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (10)

45If one should find a judicious companion,
a fellow wanderer, of good behavior, resolute,
having overcome all obstacles, one should
live with him, satisfied and mindful.The verse is identical with Dhp 328 (11)

46But if one does not find a judicious companion,
a fellow wanderer, of good behavior, resolute,
like a king who has abandoned a conquered realm,Or, on the alternative interpretation suggested by Pj II, “the country he has ruled.” On King Sutasoma, see Ja no. 537 (V 455 foll.); on King Mahājanaka, Ja no. 539 (VI 30 foll.). It seems that Pj II is offering two interpretations of raṭṭhaṃ vijitaṃ. On the first, beginning with yathā paṭirājā, vijitaṃ is taken as the past participle meaning “conquered.” On the second, illustrated by the examples of King Sutasoma and King Mahājanaka, who both renounced their own kingdoms — not realms they had conquered — vijitaṃ is taken simply as a synonym of raṭṭhaṃ. In support of the second alternative, Norman writes (GD 159): “We may assume then that vijitaṃ and raṭṭhaṃ are in apposition, with vijitaṃ simply meaning ‘kingdom,’ with no idea of conquest.” An alternative interpretation, not in the commentary but better suited to the context, is that the king abandons his own country when it has been conquered by others.
one should live alone like a rhinoceros horn.The first three lines are identical with Dhp329a-c. (12)

47Surely, we praise the excellence of companionship:
one should resort to companions one’s equal or better.
Not obtaining these, as one who eats blamelessly
one should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (13)

48Having seen radiant [bracelets] of gold,
skillfully fashioned by a goldsmith,
clashing together in pairs on the arm,
one should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (14)

49Thus if I had a partner, I would incur
[fond] words of address or verbal friction.
Looking out for this peril in the future,
one should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (15)

50Sensual pleasures are colorful, sweet, delightful,
but in their diversity they agitate the mind.
Having seen danger in the strands of sensual pleasure,
one should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (16)

51“This is adversity, a boil, disaster,
an illness, a dart, and peril for me”:
having seen this peril in the strands of sensual pleasure,
one should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (17) [9]

52Cold and heat, hunger, thirst,
wind, the hot sun, gadflies, and serpents:
having patiently endured all these,
one should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (18)

53As an elephant that has abandoned the herd —
with massive back, lotus-like, eminent —
may live in the forest as he pleases,
one should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (19)

54It is impossible that one who delights in company
might attain even temporary liberation.
Having attended to the word of the Kinsman of the Sun,
one should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (20)

55“I have transcended the contortions of views,
reached the fixed course, obtained the path.
I have aroused knowledge, I’m not to be led by others”:
one should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (21)

56Without greed, without scheming,
without thirst, not denigrating,
with stains and delusion blown away,
without wishes for anything in all the world,
one should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (22)

57One should avoid an evil companion,
who shows what is harmful, one settled in unrighteousness.
One should not freely associate
with one who is intent and heedless;
one should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (23) [10]

58One should resort to the learned, a bearer of Dhamma,
an eminent friend gifted with ingenuity.
Having known the benefits and removed doubt,
one should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (24)

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59Having found no satisfaction in the world
with play, delight, and sensual pleasures,
not taking any interest in them,
refraining from ornaments, a speaker of truth,
one should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (25)

60Having abandoned children and wife,
father and mother, wealth, grain, and relatives,
sensual pleasures according to the limit,
one should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (26)

61“This is a tie, the happiness here is slight,
giving little gratification; the suffering here is more,
this is a hook”: having known thus, a thoughtful person
should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (27)

62Having sundered the fetters,
like a fish in the water that has broken a net,
like a fire not returning to what has been burnt,
one should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (28)

63With downcast gaze, not footloose,
with guarded faculties, with protected mind,
unpolluted, not feverish with passion,
one should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (29)

64Having cast off the marks of a layman
like a pāricchattaka tree that has shed its leaves,In pāda b of the verse, Be and Ce have sañchannapatto, as against Ee saṃchinnapatto, “whose leaves have fallen.” Norman, at GD 164–65, accepts sañchannapatto but suggests channa may be from Skt śanna (root śad), “fallen, decayed, withered” (SED). Jayawickrama accepts the Ee reading and renders the phrase “with its leaves destroyed.” Nidd II 261 has sañchannapatto, explained as “covered with foliage, with thick shade” (bahalapattapalāso sandacchāyo). Regardless of the reading and the commentarial attempts to construe the sense, the simile, it seems, must convey the idea of shedding leaves to match the way a renouncer sheds his layman’s garb in taking on the ochre robes. [11]
clothed in ochre robes, having renounced,
one should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (30)

65Not arousing greed for tastes, not hankering for them;
not nourishing others, walking for alms without skipping houses;
with a mind unbound to this or that family,
one should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (31)

66Having abandoned the five obstructions of mind,
having dispelled all mental defilements,
independent, having cut off affection and hatred,
one should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (32)

67Having left behind pleasure and pain
and previously [discarded] joy and dejection,
having gained purified equanimity and serenity,
one should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (33)

68With energy aroused to attain the supreme goal,
with unsluggish mind and robust practice,
firmly persistent, equipped with strength and power,
one should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (34)

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69Not neglecting seclusion and jhāna,
always acting in accordance with the teachings,
having explored the danger in states of existence,
one should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (35)

70Yearning for craving’s destruction, heedful,
intelligent, learned, mindful,
having comprehended the Dhamma,
fixed in destiny, vigorous in striving,
one should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (36) [12]

71Like a lion unalarmed among sounds,
like the wind not caught in a net,
untainted like a lotus by water,
one should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (37)

72Like the lion, king of beasts,
who has fangs as its strength,
who lives by attacking and overpowering,
one should resort to remote lodgings;
one should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (38)

73At the right time pursuing liberation by loving-kindness,
equanimity, compassion, and altruistic joy,Pj II explains that the four brahmavihāras are stated out of sequence for metrical reasons.
not antagonized by the whole world,
one should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (39)

74Having abandoned lust, hatred, and delusion,
having sundered the fetters [that keep one bound],
not terrified at the extinction of life,
one should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (40)

75They resort to you and serve you for a motive;
friends without motive are today very rare.
Impure people are wise about their own good:
one should live alone like a rhinoceros horn. (41)

Khaggavisāṇasutta

35"Sabbesu bhūtesu nidhāya daṇḍaṁ,
Aviheṭhayaṁ aññatarampi tesaṁ;
Na puttamiccheyya kuto sahāyaṁ,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

36 "Saṁsaggajātassa bhavanti snehā,
Snehanvayaṁ dukkhamidaṁ pahoti;
Ādīnavaṁ snehajaṁ pekkhamāno,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

37 "Mitte suhajje anukampamāno,
Hāpeti atthaṁ paṭibaddhacitto;
Etaṁ bhayaṁ santhave pekkhamāno,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

38 "Vaṁso visālova yathā visatto,
Puttesu dāresu ca yā apekkhā;
Vaṁsakkaḷīrova asajjamāno,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

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39 "Migo araññamhi yathā abaddho,
Yenicchakaṁ gacchati gocarāya;
Viññū naro seritaṁ pekkhamāno,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

40 "Āmantanā hoti sahāyamajjhe,
Vāse ṭhāne gamane cārikāya;
Anabhijjhitaṁ seritaṁ pekkhamāno,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

41 "Khiḍḍā ratī hoti sahāyamajjhe,
Puttesu ca vipulaṁ hoti pemaṁ;
Piyavippayogaṁ vijigucchamāno,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

42 "Cātuddiso appaṭigho ca hoti,
Santussamāno itarītarena;
Parissayānaṁ sahitā achambhī,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

43 "Dussaṅgahā pabbajitāpi eke,
Atho gahaṭṭhā gharamāvasantā;
Appossukko paraputtesu hutvā,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

44 "Oropayitvā gihibyañjanāni,
Sañchinnapatto yathā koviḷāro;
Chetvāna vīro gihibandhanāni,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

45 "Sace labhetha nipakaṁ sahāyaṁ,
Saddhiṁ caraṁ sādhuvihāridhīraṁ;
Abhibhuyya sabbāni parissayāni,
Careyya tenattamano satīmā".

46 "No ce labhetha nipakaṁ sahāyaṁ,
Saddhiṁ caraṁ sādhuvihāridhīraṁ;
Rājāva raṭṭhaṁ vijitaṁ pahāya,
Eko care mātaṅgaraññeva nāgo".

47 "Addhā pasaṁsāma sahāyasampadaṁ,
Seṭṭhā samā sevitabbā sahāyā;
Ete aladdhā anavajjabhojī,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

48 "Disvā suvaṇṇassa pabhassarāni,
Kammāraputtena suniṭṭhitāni;
Saṅghaṭṭamānāni duve bhujasmiṁ,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

49 "Evaṁ dutīyena sahā mamassa,
Vācābhilāpo abhisajjanā vā;
Etaṁ bhayaṁ āyatiṁ pekkhamāno,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

50 "Kāmā hi citrā madhurā manoramā,
Virūparūpena mathenti cittaṁ;
Ādīnavaṁ kāmaguṇesu disvā,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

51 "Ītī ca gaṇḍo ca upaddavo ca,
Rogo ca sallañca bhayañca metaṁ;
Etaṁ bhayaṁ kāmaguṇesu disvā,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

52 "Sītañca uṇhañca khudaṁ pipāsaṁ,
Vātātape ḍaṁsasarīsape ca;
Sabbānipetāni abhisambhavitvā,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

53 "Nāgova yūthāni vivajjayitvā,
Sañjātakhandho padumī uḷāro;
Yathābhirantaṁ viharaṁ araññe,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

54 "Aṭṭhānataṁ saṅgaṇikāratassa,
Yaṁ phassaye sāmayikaṁ vimuttiṁ;
Ādiccabandhussa vaco nisamma,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

55 "Diṭṭhīvisūkāni upātivatto,
Patto niyāmaṁ paṭiladdhamaggo;
Uppannañāṇomhi anaññaneyyo,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

56 "Nillolupo nikkuho nippipāso,
Nimmakkho niddhantakasāvamoho;
Nirāsayo sabbaloke bhavitvā,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

57 "Pāpaṁ sahāyaṁ parivajjayetha,
Anatthadassiṁ visame niviṭṭhaṁ;
Sayaṁ na seve pasutaṁ pamattaṁ,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

58 "Bahussutaṁ dhammadharaṁ bhajetha,
Mittaṁ uḷāraṁ paṭibhānavantaṁ;
Aññāya atthāni vineyya kaṅkhaṁ,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

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59 "Khiḍḍaṁ ratiṁ kāmasukhañca loke,
Analaṅkaritvā anapekkhamāno;
Vibhūsanaṭṭhānā virato saccavādī,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

60 "Puttañca dāraṁ pitarañca mātaraṁ,
Dhanāni dhaññāni ca bandhavāni;
Hitvāna kāmāni yathodhikāni,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

61 "Saṅgo eso parittamettha sokhyaṁ,
Appassādo dukkhamettha bhiyyo;
Gaḷo eso iti ñatvā matīmā,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

62 "Sandālayitvāna saṁyojanāni,
Jālaṁva bhetvā salilambucārī;
Aggīva daḍḍhaṁ anivattamāno,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

63 "Okkhittacakkhu na ca pādalolo,
Guttindriyo rakkhitamānasāno;
Anavassuto apariḍayhamāno,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

64 "Ohārayitvā gihibyañjanāni,
Sañchannapatto yathā pārichatto;
Kāsāyavattho abhinikkhamitvā,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

65 "Rasesu gedhaṁ akaraṁ alolo,
Anaññaposī sapadānacārī;
Kule kule appaṭibaddhacitto,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

66 "Pahāya pañcāvaraṇāni cetaso,
Upakkilese byapanujja sabbe;
Anissito chetva sinehadosaṁ,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

67 "Vipiṭṭhikatvāna sukhaṁ dukhañca,
Pubbeva ca somanassadomanassaṁ;
Laddhānupekkhaṁ samathaṁ visuddhaṁ,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

68 "Āraddhaviriyo paramatthapattiyā,
Alīnacitto akusītavutti;
Daḷhanikkamo thāmabalūpapanno,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

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69 "Paṭisallānaṁ jhānamariñcamāno,
Dhammesu niccaṁ anudhammacārī;
Ādīnavaṁ sammasitā bhavesu,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

70 "Taṇhakkhayaṁ patthayamappamatto,
Aneḷamūgo sutavā satīmā;
Saṅkhātadhammo niyato padhānavā,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

71 "Sīhova saddesu asantasanto,
Vātova jālamhi asajjamāno;
Padumaṁva toyena alippamāno",
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo.

72 "Sīho yathā dāṭhabalī pasayha,
Rājā migānaṁ abhibhuyya cārī;
Sevetha pantāni senāsanāni,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

73 "Mettaṁ upekkhaṁ karuṇaṁ vimuttiṁ,
Āsevamāno muditañca kāle;
Sabbena lokena avirujjhamāno,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

74 "Rāgañca dosañca pahāya mohaṁ,
Sandālayitvāna saṁyojanāni;
Asantasaṁ jīvitasaṅkhayamhi,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

75 "Bhajanti sevanti ca kāraṇatthā,
Nikkāraṇā dullabhā ajja mittā;
Attaṭṭhapaññā asucī manussā,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

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Khaggavisāṇasuttaṁ tatiyaṁ.