法句经（Sujato 英译）第 4 品 · 4. Flowers · DHP 44–59

Minor CollectionMinor CollectionSayings of the Dhamma 44–59Sayings of the Dhamma 44–594. Flowers4. Flowers

Who bestirs this earth,Who bestirs this earth,and the Yama realm with its gods?and the Yama realm with its gods?Who sets out the well-taught word of truth,Who sets out the well-taught word of truth,

as an expert a flower?as an expert a flower?A trainee bestirs this earth,A trainee bestirs this earth,and the Yama realm with its gods.and the Yama realm with its gods.

A trainee sets out the well-taught word of truth,A trainee sets out the well-taught word of truth,as an expert a flower.as an expert a flower.Knowing this body’s like foam,Knowing this body’s like foam,

realizing it’s all just a mirage,realizing it’s all just a mirage,and cutting off Māra’s blossoming,and cutting off Māra’s blossoming,vanish from the King of Death.vanish from the King of Death.

As a mighty flood sweeps off a sleeping village,As a mighty flood sweeps off a sleeping village,death steals away a mandeath steals away a maneven as he gathers flowers,even as he gathers flowers,

his mind caught up in them.his mind caught up in them.The terminator gains control of the manThe terminator gains control of the manwho has not had his fill of pleasures,who has not had his fill of pleasures,

even as he gathers flowers,even as he gathers flowers,his mind caught up in them.his mind caught up in them.A bee takes the nectarA bee takes the nectar

and moves on, doing no damageand moves on, doing no damageto the flower’s beauty and fragrance;to the flower’s beauty and fragrance;and that’s how a sage should walk in the village.and that’s how a sage should walk in the village.

Don’t find fault with others,Don’t find fault with others,with what they’ve done or left undone.with what they’ve done or left undone.You should only watch yourself,You should only watch yourself,

what you’ve done or left undone.what you’ve done or left undone.Just like a glorious flowerJust like a glorious flowerthat’s colorful but lacks fragrance;that’s colorful but lacks fragrance;

eloquent speech is fruitlesseloquent speech is fruitlessfor one who does not act on it.for one who does not act on it.Just like a glorious flowerJust like a glorious flower

that’s both colorful and fragrant,that’s both colorful and fragrant,eloquent speech is fruitfuleloquent speech is fruitfulfor one who acts on it.for one who acts on it.

Just as one would create many garlandsJust as one would create many garlandsfrom a heap of flowers,from a heap of flowers,when a person has come to be born,when a person has come to be born,

they should do many skillful things.they should do many skillful things.The fragrance of flowers doesn’t spread upwind,The fragrance of flowers doesn’t spread upwind,nor sandalwood, pinwheel, or jasmine;nor sandalwood, pinwheel, or jasmine;

but the fragrance of the good spreads upwind;but the fragrance of the good spreads upwind;a true person’s virtue spreads in every direction.a true person’s virtue spreads in every direction.Among all the fragrances—Among all the fragrances—

sandalwood or pinwheelsandalwood or pinwheelor lotus or jasmine—or lotus or jasmine—the fragrance of virtue is supreme.the fragrance of virtue is supreme.

Faint is the fragranceFaint is the fragranceof sandal or pinwheel;of sandal or pinwheel;but the fragrance of the virtuousbut the fragrance of the virtuous

floats to the highest gods.floats to the highest gods.For those accomplished in ethics,For those accomplished in ethics,meditating diligently,meditating diligently,

freed through the highest knowledge,freed through the highest knowledge,Māra cannot find their path.Māra cannot find their path.From a heap of trashFrom a heap of trash

discarded on the highway,discarded on the highway,a lotus might blossom,a lotus might blossom,fragrant and delightful.fragrant and delightful.

So too, among those thought of as trash,So too, among those thought of as trash,a disciple of the perfect Buddhaa disciple of the perfect Buddhaoutshines with their wisdomoutshines with their wisdom

the blind ordinary folk.the blind ordinary folk.