Even if one thousand words were spoken in connection to unskilled endeavours.
It would be better to say one word, which having been heard would bring about calm.
101.
Even if one thousand verses were spoken in connection to unskilled endeavours.
It would be better to say one verses, which having been heard would bring about calm.
102.
It is better for those who speak in their own language to say one verse of truth which brings peace upon hearing it, than one hundred useless verses promoting harm.1
103.
Any who conqueror a thousand men one thousand times in battle.
Yet the noblest battle is against conceit which is the one thing that should be conquered.
104.
It is better to conquer one-self than others.
They who are self-restrained, always live seeing perception as the enemy
105.
Not a deity, angel, Māra, nor Brahma.
Can turn the victory of such a person into defeat.
106.
If month upon month for a hundred years making thousands of sacrifices.
Yet even only for a moment one was to honour a single well-trained person.
This single act of reverence is better than a hundred years of sacrifice.
107.
Whoever spends a hundred years in the forest tending the sacred fire
Yet even only for a moment one was to honour a single well-trained person.
This single act of reverence is better than a hundred years of sacrifice.
108.
Whatever worldly sacrifice or reverence done over time for conquest or merit.
It is better to show reverence to one who is upright, as all these other things are not worth one fourth.
109.
For those of respectful nature who constantly honours the worthy.
Four qualities increase, long life, beauty, happiness, strength.
110.
It is better to live one day being virtuous, renouncing things & in meditation.
Than those who live one hundred years, devoid of moral character & disturbed.2
111.
It is better to live one day being discerning, renouncing things, & in meditation.
Than those who live one hundred years, foolish & disturbed.
112.
It is better to live one day engaged in proper effort.
Than those who live one hundred years, lazy and of inferior effort.
113.
It is better to live one day being seeing the arising and passing away of things.
Than those who live one hundred years, not searching for the arising and passing away of things.
114.
It is better to live one day seeing the path to the deathless.
Than those who live one hundred years, not searching for the path to the deathless.
115.
It is better to live one day finding release in accord with the truth
Than those who live one hundred years, not searching for release in accord with the truth.
1These lines have been merged a line for line translation would be - “For those who speak in their own language one hundred useless verses promoting harm. It is better to say one verse of truth which brings peace upon hearing it”.
2These lines, and those of the remaining verses of this chapter, have been reversed.