101. Better than a thousand
useless verses is one useful verse,
hearing which one attains peace.
102. Better than reciting
a hundred meaningless verses is the reciting
of one verse of Dhamma, hearing which one attains peace.
103. Though one may conquer
a thousand times a thousand men in battle,
yet he indeed is the noblest victor who conquers himself.
104-105. Self-conquest
is far better then the conquest of others.
Not even a god, an angel, Mara or Brahma can turn into defeat the victory
of a person who is self-subdued and ever restrained in conduct. [12]
106. Though month after
month for a hundred years one should offer
sacrifices by the thousands, yet if only for a moment one should worship
those of perfected minds that honor is indeed better than a century of
sacrifice.
107. Though for a hundred
years one should tend the sacrificial fire in
the forest, yet if only for a moment one should worship those
of perfected minds, that worship is indeed better than a century of sacrifice.
108. Whatever gifts and
oblations one seeking merit might offer in this world
for a whole year, all that is not worth one fourth of the merit gained
by revering the Upright Ones, which is truly excellent.
109. To one ever eager
to revere and serve the elders,
these four blessing accrue: long life and beauty, happiness and power.
110. Better it is to
live one day virtuous and meditative than
to live a hundred years immoral and uncontrolled.
111. Better it is to
live one day wise and meditative than
to live a hundred years foolish and uncontrolled.
112. Better it is to
live one day strenuous and resolute than
to live a hundred years sluggish and dissipated.
113. Better it is to
live one day seeing the rise and fall of things than
to live as hundred years without ever seeing the rise and fall of things.
114. Better it is to
live one day seeing the Deathless than
to live a hundred years without ever seeing the Deathless.
115. Better it is to
live one day seeing the Supreme Truth than
to live a hundred years without ever seeing the Supreme Truth.