Verses declaring the eightfold path the best of paths, and telling the hearer that the walking of it is theirs to do.
- When chanted
- Chanted among the discourses in the collection, following the analysis of the path.
A note on this chant. The book prints this chant in Pali only, with no Thai translation. The English here is a working translation prepared for this edition — it is not the book's own, and has not yet been checked by a teacher.
Historical background
The book prints its own reference. These verses come after the discourse that defines the eight factors, and they do the opposite job — where that analysed, these urge.
They are among the most quoted verses in the tradition, and the last line of the first pair is the reason.
Meaning and purpose
The opening is a set of superlatives, each in the same form: of paths the eightfold is best; of truths, the four sayings; of states, dispassion; of two-footed beings, the One with Vision. Four claims in two lines.
Then the exclusive claim, which the tradition has never softened: this is the only path, there is no other for the purifying of vision. Follow this path, then, which bewilders Māra's army.
And then the line that qualifies everything before it — ตุมเหหิ กิจจมาตัปปัง, the work of striving is yours; the Tathāgatas only make it known. Having declared one path and no other, the verses immediately say that nobody will be carried along it. It is the clearest statement in the book of what the tradition thinks a teacher can and cannot do.
The chant
As the book prints it: page 110 →
page 110มัคคานัฏฐังคิโก เสฏโฐ สัจจานัง จะตุโร ปะทา
Maggānaṭṭhaṅgiko seṭṭho saccānaṃ caturo padā
Of paths the eightfold is best; of truths, the four sayings;
วิราโค เสฏโฐ ธัมมานัง ทิปะทานัญจะ จักขุมา.
Virāgo seṭṭho dhammānaṃ dipadānañca cakkhumā.
of states, dispassion is best; and of two-footed beings, the One with Vision.
เอเสวะ มัคโค นัตถัญโญ ทัสสะนัสสะ วิสุทธิยา
Eseva maggo natthañño dassanassa visuddhiyā
This is the only path; there is no other for the purifying of vision.
เอตัญหิ ตุมเห ปะฏิปัชชะถะ มาระเสนัปปะโมหะนัง.
Etañhi tumhe paṭipajjatha mārasenappamohanaṃ.
Follow this path, then, which bewilders Māra's army.
เอตัญหิ ตุมเห ปะฏิปันนา ทุกขัสสันตัง กะริสสะถะ
Etañhi tumhe paṭipannā dukkhassantaṃ karissatha
Following this path you will make an end of suffering.
อักขาโต โว มะยา มัคโค อัญญายะ สัลละสัตถะนัง.
Akkhāto vo mayā maggo aññāya sallasatthanaṃ.
The path was made known by me once I had understood the drawing out of the dart.
ตุมเหหิ กิจจัง อาตัปปัง อักขาตาโร ตะถาคะตา
Tumhehi kiccaṃ ātappaṃ akkhātāro tathāgatā
The work of striving is yours; the Tathāgatas only make it known.
ปะฏิปันนา ปะโมกขันติ ฌายิโน มาระพันธะนาติ.
Paṭipannā pamokkhanti jhāyino mārabandhanāti.
Those who follow it, meditating, are freed from Māra's bondage.
อัฏฐังคิกะมัคคะคาถา นิฏฐิตา
Here end the Verses on the Eightfold Path.