15. Happiness (Sukhavagga)

Susukhaṁ vata jīvāma, verinesu averino; Verinesu manussesu, viharāma averino.

Let us live so very happily, loving among the hostile. Among hostile humans, let us live with love.

Susukhaṁ vata jīvāma, āturesu anāturā; Āturesu manussesu, viharāma anāturā.

Let us live so very happily, healthy among the ailing. Among ailing humans let us live healthily.

Susukhaṁ vata jīvāma, ussukesu anussukā; Ussukesu manussesu, viharāma anussukā.

Let us live so very happily, content among the greedy. Among greedy humans, let us live content.

Susukhaṁ vata jīvāma, yesaṁ no natthi kiñcanaṁ; Pītibhakkhā bhavissāma, devā ābhassarā yathā.

Let us live so very happily, we who have nothing. We shall feed on rapture, like the gods of sublime luminosity.

Jayaṁ veraṁ pasavati, dukkhaṁ seti parājito; Upasanto sukhaṁ seti, hitvā jayaparājayaṁ.

Victory breeds enmity; the defeated sleep badly. The peaceful sleep at ease, having left victory and defeat behind.

Natthi rāgasamo aggi, Natthi dosasamo kali; Natthi khandhasamā dukkhā, Natthi santiparaṁ sukhaṁ.

There is no fire like greed, no crime like hate, no suffering like the aggregates, no bliss beyond peace.

Jighacchāparamā rogā, saṅkhāraparamā dukhā; Etaṁ ñatvā yathābhūtaṁ, nibbānaṁ paramaṁ sukhaṁ.

Hunger is the worst illness, conditions are the worst suffering. When one has known this as it is, extinguishment is the ultimate happiness.

Ārogyaparamā lābhā, Santuṭṭhiparamaṁ dhanaṁ; Vissāsaparamā ñāti, Nibbānaṁ paramaṁ sukhaṁ.

Health is the ultimate blessing; contentment, the ultimate wealth; trust is the ultimate family; extinguishment, the ultimate happiness.

Pavivekarasaṁ pitvā, rasaṁ upasamassa ca; Niddaro hoti nippāpo, dhammapītirasaṁ pivaṁ.

Having drunk the nectar of seclusion and the nectar of peace— free of stress, free of evil, drink the joyous nectar of truth.

Sāhu dassanamariyānaṁ, sannivāso sadā sukho; Adassanena bālānaṁ, niccameva sukhī siyā.

It’s good to see the noble ones, staying with them is always good. Were you not to see fools, you’d always be happy.

Bālasaṅgatacārī hi, dīghamaddhāna socati; Dukkho bālehi saṁvāso, amitteneva sabbadā; Dhīro ca sukhasaṁvāso, ñātīnaṁva samāgamo.

For one who consorts with fools grieves long. Painful is living with fools, like being stuck with your enemy. Happy is living with an attentive one, like meeting with your kin.

Tasmā hi— Dhīrañca paññañca bahussutañca, Dhorayhasīlaṁ vatavantamariyaṁ; Taṁ tādisaṁ sappurisaṁ sumedhaṁ, Bhajetha nakkhattapathaṁva candimā.

Therefore: An attentive one, wise and learned, a behemoth of virtue, true to their vows, noble: follow a true and intelligent person such as this, as the moon tracks the path of the stars.