2:8 The Boat

316A person should venerate the one
from whom he would learn the Dhamma,
just as the deities venerate Indra.
Being venerated, the learned one,
pleased with him, reveals the Dhamma. (1)

317Having attended and listened to it,
practicing in accordance with the Dhamma,
a wise [pupil] who heedfully follows such [a teacher]
becomes intelligent, incisive, and astute. (2)

318But if one resorts to a petty fool
who has not reached the goal and is full of envy,
not having discerned the Dhamma right here,
one meets death still immersed in doubt. (3)

319It is like a man who might enter a river,
a torrent roiling with a swift current:
being swept away, flowing with the stream,
how could he help others to cross? (4)

320Just so, without having discerned the Dhamma,
without attending to the meaning under the learned ones,
not understanding it oneself, immersed in doubt,
how can one get others to perceive it? (5) [56]

321But as one who has embarked on a strong boat,
equipped with an oar and a rudder,
skillful, thoughtful, knowing the method there,
might thereby convey many others across, (6)

322just so, a knowledge-master, self-developed,
learned and of unwavering character,
understanding it himself, might get others to perceive it —
those equipped with attentive ears as a supporting condition. (7)

323Therefore one should follow the good person,
one who is intelligent and learned.
Having known the meaning, practicing along,
one who has understood the Dhamma can obtain bliss. (8)

Dhamma (nāvā) sutta

316Yasmā hi dhammaṁ puriso vijaññā,
Indaṁva naṁ devatā pūjayeyya;
So pūjito tasmi pasannacitto,
Bahussuto pātukaroti dhammaṁ.

317 Tadaṭṭhikatvāna nisamma dhīro,
Dhammānudhammaṁ paṭipajjamāno;
Viññū vibhāvī nipuṇo ca hoti,
Yo tādisaṁ bhajati appamatto.

318 Khuddañca bālaṁ upasevamāno,
Anāgatatthañca usūyakañca;
Idheva dhammaṁ avibhāvayitvā,
Avitiṇṇakaṅkho maraṇaṁ upeti.

319 Yathā naro āpagamotaritvā,
Mahodakaṁ salilaṁ sīghasotaṁ;
So vuyhamāno anusotagāmī,
Kiṁ so pare sakkhati tārayetuṁ.

320 Tatheva dhammaṁ avibhāvayitvā,
Bahussutānaṁ anisāmayatthaṁ;
Sayaṁ ajānaṁ avitiṇṇakaṅkho,
Kiṁ so pare sakkhati nijjhapetuṁ.

321 Yathāpi nāvaṁ daḷhamāruhitvā,
Phiyena rittena samaṅgibhūto;
So tāraye tattha bahūpi aññe,
Tatrūpayaññū kusalo mutīmā.

322 Evampi yo vedagu bhāvitatto,
Bahussuto hoti avedhadhammo;
So kho pare nijjhapaye pajānaṁ,
Sotāvadhānūpanisūpapanne.

323 Tasmā have sappurisaṁ bhajetha,
Medhāvinañceva bahussutañca;
Aññāya atthaṁ paṭipajjamāno,
Viññātadhammo sa sukhaṁ labhethāti.

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Nāvāsuttaṁ aṭṭhamaṁ.