Tipitaka » Sutta Pitaka » Khuddaka Nikaya
Introduction[]
The Dhammapada (Pali, translates as Path of the Dharma. Also Prakrit Dhamapada, Sanskrit Dharmapada) is a Buddhist religious scripture, containing 423 verses in 26 categories. According to tradition, these are answers to questions put to the Buddha on various occasions, most of which deal with ethics. A fifth century commentary by Buddhaghosa includes 305 stories which give context to the verses.
The Dhammapada is a popular section of the Pali Tipitaka and is considered one of the most important pieces of Theravada literature.
Although the Pali edition is the most well known, a Gandhari edition written in Kharosthi and a seemingly related text in Sanskrit known as the Udanavarga have also been discovered.
The Categories[]
- Yamakavagga: The Pairs (verses 1-20)
- Appamadavagga: Heedfulness (21-32)
- Cittavagga: The Mind (33-43)
- Pupphavagga: Flowers (44-59)
- Balavagga: The Fool (60-75)
- Panditavagga: The Wise (76-89)
- Arahantavagga: The Arahant (90-99)
- Sahassavagga: Thousands (100-115)
- Papavagga: Evil (116-128)
- Dandavagga: Violence (129-145)
- Jaravagga: Old Age (146-156)
- Attavagga: The Self (157-166)
- Lokavagga: The World (167-178)
- Buddhavagga: The Buddha (179-196)
- Sukhavagga: Happiness (197-208)
- Piyavagga: Affection (209-220)
- Kodhavagga: Anger (221-234)
- Malavagga: Impurity (235-255)
- Dhammatthavagga: The Just (256-272)
- Maggavagga: The Path (273-289)
- Pakinnakavagga: Miscellany (290-305)
- Nirayavagga: Hell (306-319)
- Nagavagga: Elephants (320-333)
- Tanhavagga: Craving (334-359)
- Bhikkhuvagga: Monks (360-382)
- Brahmanavagga: Brahmans (383-423)
Reference[]
Dhammapada: Significance