> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://wiki.dewaka.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://wiki.dewaka.com/buddhism/theravada/dhammapada.md). # Dhammapada ## Books * [The Dhammapada](http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/scrndhamma.pdf) - Buddhanet version is freely available online. * [Essence of the Dhammapada](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17318701-essence-of-the-dhammapada) - Translation by Ekanath Easwaran ## Selected verses ### [Yamaka vagga - Pairs](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/dhp/dhp.01.budd.html) * Verse 1 - Suffering is Mind-made > Mind is the forerunner of (all evil) states. Mind is chief; and they are mind-made. If one speaks or acts with a corrupt mind, suffering follows as the wheel follows the hoof of the ox. * Verse 2 - Happiness is Mind-made > Mind is the forerunner of (all good) states. Mind is chief, and they are mind-made. If one speaks or acts with pure mind, happienss follows as one's own shadow that never leaves. ### [Citta vagga - The Mind](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/dhp/dhp.03.budd.html) * Verse 33 - Straighten the Fickle Mind > The flickering, fickle mind, difficult to guard, difficult to control - the wise person straightens it as a fletcher straightens an arrow. * Verse 36 - Guard the Mind well > The mind is very hard to perceive, extrmely subtle, flits wheverer it lists. Let the wise person guard it; a guarded mind is conducive to happiness. ### [Puppha vagga - Flowers](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/dhp/dhp.04.budd.html) * Verse 47 - Sensualities are swept away by death > The man who gathers flowers (of sensual pleasure), whose mind is distracted, death carries off as a great flood sweeps away a sleeping village. --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://wiki.dewaka.com/buddhism/theravada/dhammapada.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.