Consisting of 423 versus that fall into 26 different categories the Dhammapada is one of the most well-known collections. The Dhammapada is found in the Khuddaka Nikaya. Even after over two thousand years the advice found in the Dhammapada still rings true.

A quick note on the differences of translations.

As you can see translations differ slightly, this is actually a good thing. For the many people who do not wish to or have the time to translate the Dhammapada from the original Pali, reading several different translations and the notes that accompany the translations can help the reader understand the meaning or the text better. To illustrate this point, I have taken the 26 chapters from four of my favorite translations and put them side by side for easy comparison. I have included links so that you may read the full translation, if you so choose.

Very little translates into English flawlessly and more often then not translations lose something in the process.


I highly recommend going to Buddhanet because they have two versions of the Dhammapada
The first is a beautifully illustrated version that I highly recommend checking out.

The second is a PDF that is ready to print.

Very little translates into English flawlessly and more often then not translations lose something in the process.

Buddharakkhita & Thanissaro 1. The Pairs 2. Heedfulness 3. The Mind 4. Flowers 5. The Fool 6. The Wise 7. The Arahant 8. Thousands 9. Evil 10. Violence 11. Old Age 12. The Self 13. The World 14. The Buddha 15. Happiness 16. Affection 17. Anger 18. Impurity 19. The Just 20. The Path 21. Miscellany 22. Hell 23. Elephants 24. Craving 25. Monks 26. Brahmans

F. Max Muller 1. The Twins 2. Earnestness 3. Thoughts 4. Flowers 5. The Fool 6. The Wise Man 7. The Venerable 8. The Thousands 9. Evil 10. Punishment 11. Old Age 12. Self 13. The World 14. The Buddha 15. Happiness 16. Pleasure 17. Anger 18. Impurity 19. The Just 20. The Way 21. Miscellaneous 22. The Downward Course 23. The Elephant 24. Thirst 25. The Bhikshu 26. The Brahmana

What do you think, my friend? 1. The Pairs 2. Heedfulness 3. The Mind 4. Flowers 5. The Fool 6. The Wise Man 7. The Perfected One 8. The Thousands 9. Evil 10. Violence 11. Old Age 12. The Self 13. The World 14. The Buddha 15. Happiness 16. Affection 17. Anger 18. Impurity 19. The Just 20. The Path 21. Miscellaneous 22. The State of Woe 23. The Elephant 24. Craving 25. The Monk 26. The Holy Man

John Richards 1. The Twin Verses 2. Attention 3. Thoughts 4. Flowers 5. Fools 6. The Wise Man 7. The Enlightened 8. Thousands 9. Evil 10. Violence 11. Old Age 12. Self 13. World 14. The Buddhas 15. Happiness 16. Preference 17. Anger 18. Faults 19. The Righteous 20. The Way 21. Miscellaneous 22. Hell 23. The Elephant 24. Craving 25. The Bhikku 26. The Brahmin