Dhammapada Verses 7 & 8: A Weak Tree and a Mountain of Solid Rock

Dhammapada verse(s) in Pali:

Verse 7
subhānupassiṃ viharantaṃ, indriyesu asaṃvutaṃ.
bhojanamhi cāmattaññuṃ, kusītaṃ hīnavīriyaṃ.
taṃ ve pasahati māro, vāto rukkhaṃva dubbalaṃ.

Verse 8
asubhānupassiṃ viharantaṃ, indriyesu susaṃvutaṃ.
bhojanamhi ca mattaññuṃ, saddhaṃ āraddhavīriyaṃ.
taṃ ve nappasahati māro, vāto selaṃva pabbataṃ.

English translation of verse(s):

Verse 7
Just as a storm throws down a weak tree, so does Mara overpower the man who lives for the pursuit of pleasures, who is uncontrolled in his senses, immoderate in eating, indolent, and dissipated.

Verse 8
Just as a storm cannot prevail against a rocky mountain, so Mara can never overpower the man who lives meditating on the impurities, who is controlled in his senses, moderate in eating, and filled with faith and earnest effort.

(Translated by Acharya Buddharakkhita)

A series on the Dhammapada, a set of 423 verse teachings given by the Buddha, including explanation of the Pali verse, a synopsis of the background story and application of the teaching to our practice by Yuttadhammo Bhikkhu.

This Dhammapada Part I podcast includes Chapters 1-17 (Verses 1-234). Please subscribe to Dhammapada Part II for the verses in the rest of the chapters. New episodes are published in the Dhammapada Part II podcast.

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Original Pali Text: https://www.digitalpalireader.online/_dprhtml/index.html?loc=k.1.x.x.x.x.x.m

Translations from: https://suttacentral.net/dhp1-20/en/buddharakkhita#7

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Keywords: Buddhism, Dhamma, Buddha, Monk, Bhikkhu, Sirimangalo, Yuttadhammo, Tipitaka, Pali, The Pairs