1. WHO is there that can overcome the world of the gods, of the lord of death (Yama) and of men, who knows how to expose the most delightful law, as one would flowers? l
śaikṣaḥ pṛthivīṃ vijeṣyate yamalokaṃ ca tathā sadevakam | sa hi dharmapadaṃ sudeśitaṃ kuśalaḥ puṣpam iva praceṣyate |18,2|
2. It is the disciple (sekhas) who can overcome the world of the gods, of the lord of death and of men, who knows how to expose the most delightful law, as one would flowers.
vanaṃ chindata mā vṛkṣaṃ vanād vai jāyate bhayam | chittvā vanaṃ samūlaṃ tu nirvaṇā bhavata bhikṣavaḥ |18,3|
3. Fear is born of the forest (of ignorance); so cut down not (only) the trees of the forest, but all that appertains to the forest (i.e., the roots), and then the Çramana will find nirvâṇa.
na chidyate yāvatā vanaṃ hy anumātram api narasya bandhuṣu | pratibaddhamanāḥ sa tatra vai vatsaḥ kṣīrapaka iva mātaram |18,4|
4. If man destroys not everything that appertains to the forest down to the smallest part, his mind will be held in bondage, as the calf that wants milk is to its mother’s side.
ucchinddhi hi snehaṃ ātmanaḥ padmaṃ śāradakaṃ yathodakāt | śānti mārgam eva bṛṃhayen nirvāṇaṃ sugatena deśitam |18,5|
5 (285). Cut out the love of self as you would an autumn lotus; cherish the road of peace on account of the nirvâṇa which the Victorious One has explained.
6 (51). Like a pretty flower, of pleasing colour but without scent, are the agreeably spoken but fruitless words of one who does not act (accordingly).
7 (49). As the bee, which harms neither the colour nor the scent of the flower, but having sucked it flies away, so let the Muni walk through a village.