apramādo amatapadaṁ pramādo maccuno padaṁ । apramattā na mrīyanti ye pramattā yathā matā ।।Heedfulness is the deathless state, heedlessness the state of the dead, the heedful do not die, but those who are heedless are as if dead.

etaṁ viśeṣataṁ nyāttā apramādamhi paṇḍitā । apramāde pramodanti ayirāṇāṁ gocare ratā ।।The wise, understanding this difference in regard to heedfulness, rejoice in heedfulness, delight in the domain of the Noble Ones.

te jhāyino sātatikā niccaṁ dṛḍhaparākramā । phusanti dhīrā nibbāṇaṁ yogacchemaṁ anuttaraṁ ।।Those who meditate all the time, constant and firm in their effort, those wise ones reach Nibbāna, the unsurpassed release from all bonds.

pramādam anuyuñjanti bālā dummedhino janā । apramādan tu medhāvī dhanaṁ śreṣṭhaṁ va rakkhati ।।The foolish and stupid people cultivate heedlessness, but the sagacious one guards heedfulness just as his greatest wealth.

apramatto pramattesu suttesu bahujāgaro । abalāśśam va śīghrāśśo hettā yāti sumedhaso ।।Heedful amongst the heedless ones, wakeful amongst the ones who sleep, like a swift horse who abandons a weak horse, the true sage moves on.

pramādam apramādena yadā nudati paṇḍito । praṁñāprāsādam āruyha aśoko śokiniṁ prajāṁ ।When the wise one eliminates heedlessness with his heedfulness, and mounts the palace of wisdom, griefless, he looks on grieving people; parvvataṭṭho va bhoma ’ṭṭhe dhīro bāle avecchati ।।the wise one, like one standing on a mountain, looks down on the fools who are standing on the plains.

pūrvve cāpi pramajjittā yo pacchā na pramajjati । so imaṁ lokaṁ prabhāseti abhramutto va candramā ।।Whoever before was heedless, but later is not heedless, that one shines brightly in this world like the moon released from a cloud.

pūrvve cāpi pramajjittā yo pacchā na pramajjati । so imāṁ visattikāṁ loke sato samativattati ।।Whoever before was heedless, but later is not heedless, he, being mindful, can overcome clinging to the world.

apramādagaru bhikkhū pramāde bhayadaṁśino । abhavvo parihāṇāya nibbāṇasseva santike ।।A monastic who values heedfulness, seeing danger in heedlessness, is unable to fall away: he is well-nigh to Nibbāna.

apramādagaru bhikkhū pramāde bhayadaṁśino saṁyojanam aṇutthūlaṁ dahaṁ aggīva gacchati ।A monastic who values heedfulness, seeing danger in heedlessness, advances like burning fire against the fetter, small or large.

apramādaratā hotha saṁ cittam anurakkhatha ।। duggā uddharathāttānaṁ pake sanno va kuñjaro ।You should delight in heedfulness, you should always protect your mind, you should raise yourself from this pit like the tusker sunk in the mud.

apramāde pramudino nipakā śīlasaṁvṛtā ।। te ve kālena prācchanti yattha prātto na śocati ।Rejoicing in heedfulness, prudent, restrained in virtue, in good time they attain that where, once attained, there is no grieving.

mā pramāde pramodetha na kāmaratisandhave ।। evaṁ viharan ātāpī śāntacitto ’nuddhato ।Do not rejoice in heedlessness, unacquainted with delight in sensual pleasure, living in this way, ardent, with mind at peace, not proud, cetośamatham anuyutto dukkhassantakaro siyā ।।devoted to mental calm, he will make an end to suffering.

uṭṭheyā na pramajjeyā dhammaṁ sucaritaṁ care । dhammacārī sukhaṁ śeti aśśiṁ loke paramhi ca ।।One should strive, not be heedless, one should live by Dhamma, with good conduct, living by Dhamma one lives at ease in this world and the next.

uṭṭhāṇavato satīmato śucikammassa niśāmmakāriṇo । saṁyyatassa ca dhammajīvino apramattassa yaśo ’ssa vaddhati ।।For he who is active, mindful, pure in deeds, considerate, self-controlled, living by Dhamma, heedful, his fame increases.

uṭṭhāṇenā ’pramādena saṁyyamena damena ca । dīpaṁ kayirātha medhāvī yam ogho nādhipūrati ।।Through activity, heedfulness, through self-control and through restraint, the sage should make an island that no flood waters can overwhelm.

uṭṭhāṇakālamhi anuṭṭhihāno yuvā balī ālasiko upoko । saṁsannasaṁkappamano kusīdo praṁñāya māggaṁ alaso na yeti ।।The one who has not energy at a time for energy, youthful, strong, lazy in his home, whose mind lacks right intention and is indolent—the lazy one does not go along wisdom’s path.

hīnaṁ dhammaṁ na seveyā pramādena na samvase । micchadṛṣṭiṁ na seveyā na siyā lokavaddhano ।।One should not follow lowly things, one should not abide heedlessly, one should not follow a wrong view, one should not foster worldliness.

na tāvatā dhammadharo yāvatā bahu bhāṣati । yo tu appam pi sottāna dhammaṁ kāyena phassaye ।One is not a Dhamma-bearer merely through speaking much, but the one who, having heard a little, would see Dhamma for himself, sa ve dhammadharo hoti yo dhamme na pramajjati ।।is one who bears Dhamma, the one who is not heedless regarding Dhamma.

dhammaṁ vicinātha apramattā mā vo kāmaguṇā bhrameṁsu cittaṁ । mā lohaguḍe gilaṁ pramatto kraṇḍe dukkham idan ti dayhamāno ।।Consider the Dhamma heedfully, do not let your mind swirl around in strands of desire, do not, heedless, swallow a hot iron ball, and, while burning, cry: ‘This is suffering.’

ApramādavarggaḥThe Chapter about Heedfulness