法句经（Sujato 英译）第 8 品 · 8. The Thousands · DHP 100–115

Minor CollectionMinor CollectionSayings of the Dhamma 100–115Sayings of the Dhamma 100–1158. The Thousands8. The Thousands

Better than a thousandBetter than a thousandmeaningless sayingsmeaningless sayingsis a single meaningful saying,is a single meaningful saying,

hearing which brings you peace.hearing which brings you peace.Better than a thousandBetter than a thousandmeaningless versesmeaningless verses

is a single meaningful verse,is a single meaningful verse,hearing which brings you peace.hearing which brings you peace.Better than recitingBetter than reciting

a hundred meaningless versesa hundred meaningless versesis a single saying of Dhamma,is a single saying of Dhamma,hearing which brings you peace.hearing which brings you peace.

The supreme conqueror isThe supreme conqueror isnot he who conquers a million men in battle,not he who conquers a million men in battle,but he who conquers a single man:but he who conquers a single man:

himself.himself.It is surely better to conquer oneselfIt is surely better to conquer oneselfthan all those other folk.than all those other folk.

When a person has tamed themselves,When a person has tamed themselves,always living restrained,always living restrained,no god nor centaur,no god nor centaur,

nor Māra nor divinity,nor Māra nor divinity,can undo the victorycan undo the victoryof such a personage.of such a personage.

Rather than a thousandfold sacrifice,Rather than a thousandfold sacrifice,every month for a full century,every month for a full century,it’s better to honor for a single hourit’s better to honor for a single hour

one who has developed themselves.one who has developed themselves.That offering is betterThat offering is betterthan the hundred year sacrifice.than the hundred year sacrifice.

Rather than serve the sacred flameRather than serve the sacred flamein the forest for a hundred years,in the forest for a hundred years,it’s better to honor for a single hourit’s better to honor for a single hour

a personage who has developed themselves.a personage who has developed themselves.That offering is betterThat offering is betterthan the hundred year sacrifice.than the hundred year sacrifice.

Whatever sacrifice or offering in the worldWhatever sacrifice or offering in the worlda seeker of merit may make for a year,a seeker of merit may make for a year,none of it is worth a quarternone of it is worth a quarter

of bowing to the sincere.of bowing to the sincere.For one in the habit of bowing,For one in the habit of bowing,always honoring the elders,always honoring the elders,

four blessings grow:four blessings grow:lifespan, beauty, happiness, and strength.lifespan, beauty, happiness, and strength.Better to live a single dayBetter to live a single day

ethical and absorbed in meditationethical and absorbed in meditationthan to live a hundred yearsthan to live a hundred yearsunethical and lacking immersion.unethical and lacking immersion.

Better to live a single dayBetter to live a single daywise and absorbed in meditationwise and absorbed in meditationthan to live a hundred yearsthan to live a hundred years

witless and lacking immersion.witless and lacking immersion.Better to live a single dayBetter to live a single dayenergetic and strong,energetic and strong,

than to live a hundred yearsthan to live a hundred yearslazy and lacking energy.lazy and lacking energy.Better to live a single dayBetter to live a single day

seeing rise and fallseeing rise and fallthan to live a hundred yearsthan to live a hundred yearsblind to rise and fall.blind to rise and fall.

Better to live a single dayBetter to live a single dayseeing the state free of deathseeing the state free of deaththan to live a hundred yearsthan to live a hundred years

blind to the state free of death.blind to the state free of death.Better to live a single dayBetter to live a single dayseeing the supreme teachingseeing the supreme teaching

than to live a hundred yearsthan to live a hundred yearsblind to the supreme teaching.blind to the supreme teaching.