Dhammapada Verses 283 & 284: Like a Baby Calf

Dhammapada verse(s) in Pali:

Verse 283
vanaṃ chindatha mā rukkhaṃ, vanato jāyate bhayaṃ.
chetvā vanañca vanathañca, nibbanā hotha bhikkhavo.

Verse 284
yāva hi vanatho na chijjati, aṇumattopi narassa nārisu.
paṭibaddhamanova {paṭibandhamanova (ka.)} tāva so, vaccho khīrapakova {khīrapānova (pī.)} mātari.

English translation of verse(s):

Verse 283
Cut down the forest (lust), but not the tree; from the forest springs fear. Having cut down the forest and the underbrush (desire), be passionless, O monks!


Verse 284
For so long as the underbrush of desire, even the most subtle, of a man towards a woman is not cut down, his mind is in bondage, like the sucking calf to its mother.

(Translated by Acharya Buddharakkhita)

A series on the Dhammapada, a set of 423 verse teachings given by the Buddha, including explanation of the Pali verse, a synopsis of the background story and application of the teaching to our practice by Yuttadhammo Bhikkhu.

This Dhammapada Part II podcast includes Chapters 18-26 (Verses 235-423). New episodes are published each week in this podcast. Verses 1-234 from Chapters 1-17 have already been published in Dhammapada Part I podcast. Please subscribe to Dhammapada Part I to listen to the earlier verses.

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Translations from: https://suttacentral.net/dhp273-289/en/buddharakkhita#283

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Keywords: Buddhism, Dhamma, Buddha, Monk, Bhikkhu, Sirimangalo, Yuttadhammo, Tipitaka, Pali, Maggavagga,