Verse 157. Safeguard Your Own Self
If one holds oneself as dear,
protected, one protects oneself.
One whoโs wise should be aware
through all the watches three.
Explanation:
If you are aware that you are fond of your own self then protecting it
is the best safeguard. You must take measures to protect your self in
one of the three stages of life - namely childhood, youth and old age.
The best safeguard is the acquisition of virtue.
Verse 158. Giver Advice While Being Virtuous Yourself
One should first establish
oneself in what is proper.
One may then teach others,
and wise, one is not blamed.
Explanation:
If you are keen to advise others, in the first instance establish
yourself in the proper virtues. It is only then that you become fit to
instruct others.
Verse 159. Discipline Yourself Before You Do Others
As one teaches others
so should one do oneself.
Well-tamed, on may tame others,
oneself to tame is hard.
Explanation:
If you are keen to discipline others in the same way, you must yourself
behave in that manner. It is the best disciplined person, who will
disciplined others best. The most difficult to be disciplined is oneโs
own self
Verse 160. One Is Oneโs Best Saviour
Oneself is refuge of oneself,
who else indeed could refuge be?
By good training of oneself
one gains a refuge hard to gain.
Explanation:
The saviour of oneself is oneโs own self. What other person could be
your saviour? This is a difficult kind of help - being your own saviour.
It can be achieved only through self discipline.
Verse 161. The Unwise Person Comes To Grief On His Own
By oneself is evil done,
itโs born of self and self-produced.
Evil grinds the unwise one
as diamond does the hardest gem.
Explanation:
The diamond is born of, produced and is sprung from stone. But it cut
the precious stone. The evil action is born of, produced by, and sprung
from the evil doer.
Verse 162. Evil Action Crushes The Doer
He whose conductโs very bad
like oak-tree choked with ivy,
so he does towards himself
what enemies would wish.
Explanation:
The extremely evil action of the person lacking in virtue is similar to
that of the parasitic maluva creeper. The creeper grows on the tree and
crushes in into destruction. The evil doerโs action too crushes himself
in that way.
Verse 163. Doing Good Unto Oneโs Own Self Is Difficult
Easy is whatโs bad to do,
whatโs harmful to oneself.
But what is good, of benefit,
is very hard to do.
Explanation:
Those actions which are very bad and harmful to oneโs own self can be
very easily done. But if some action is good for oneโs own self; that
kind of right action will be found to be difficult to do.
Verse 164. The Wicked Are Self-Destructive
Whatever man unwise relies
on evil views and so condemns
the Teaching of the Arahats,
or Noble Ones who Dhamma live,
he, as a bamboo fruiting,
fruits to self-destruction.
Explanation:
There are some ignorant ones who, due to some harmful views, obstruct
the teachings of noble saints, who conduct their lives righteously.
They, like the bamboo plant that are destroyed when they bear fruit, are
self-destructing.
Verse 165. Purity, Impurity Self-Created
By oneself is evil done,
by oneself defiled,
by oneself itโs left undone,
by self alone one purified.
Purity, impurity on oneself depend,
no one can purify another.
Explanation:
It is by oneโs own self that evil is done. It is oneโs own actions that
defiles a person. If a person does not commit evil action, one is
purified. A person is cleansed entirely by oneโs own self. One cannot
purify another. Purity and impurity both depend on oneโs own self.
Verse 166. Help Others - But Promote Oneโs Own Good
Let none neglect their good
for othersโ good however great.
Know well oneselfโs own good
and to that good attend.
Explanation:
One should not neglect oneโs own spiritual progress in the course of
many acts of service to others. Be fully aware of oneโs own spiritual
interest, and promote oneโs own higher goals