Flowers
Flowers run through this chapter as its main image. Death carries off a person whose mind is caught up in gathering pleasures, the way a flood sweeps away a sleeping village. A sage moves through a village like a bee taking nectar without harming the flower. Fine words without action are like a bright flower with no scent. The verses tell the reader to watch their own deeds rather than find fault with others, and say that the fragrance of good conduct spreads even against the wind. They end with a lotus blooming from a roadside rubbish heap, an image for a wise person among ordinary people.
A note on these verses. Verses 44–45 mention the realm of Yama, the lord of death, and gods; verses 46 and 57 name Māra; verse 56 says virtue’s fragrance reaches the highest gods.
Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · public domain (CC0) · about 2 min · on SuttaCentral
44Who bestirs this earth,and the Yama realm with its gods?Who sets out the well-taught word of truth,as an expert a flower?
45A trainee bestirs this earth,and the Yama realm with its gods.A trainee sets out the well-taught word of truth,as an expert a flower.
46Knowing this body’s like foam,realizing it’s all just a mirage,and cutting off Māra’s blossoming,vanish from the King of Death.
47As a mighty flood sweeps off a sleeping village,death steals away a maneven as he gathers flowers,his mind caught up in them.
48The terminator gains control of the manwho has not had his fill of pleasures,even as he gathers flowers,his mind caught up in them.
49A bee takes the nectarand moves on, doing no damageto the flower’s beauty and fragrance;and that’s how a sage should walk in the village.
50Don’t find fault with others,with what they’ve done or left undone.You should only watch yourself,what you’ve done or left undone.
51Just like a glorious flowerthat’s colorful but lacks fragrance;eloquent speech is fruitlessfor one who does not act on it.
52Just like a glorious flowerthat’s both colorful and fragrant,eloquent speech is fruitfulfor one who acts on it.
53Just as one would create many garlandsfrom a heap of flowers,when a person has come to be born,they should do many skillful things.
54The fragrance of flowers doesn’t spread upwind,nor sandalwood, pinwheel, or jasmine;but the fragrance of the good spreads upwind;a true person’s virtue spreads in every direction.
55Among all the fragrances—sandalwood or pinwheelor lotus or jasmine—the fragrance of virtue is supreme.
56Faint is the fragranceof sandal or pinwheel;but the fragrance of the virtuousfloats to the highest gods.
57For those accomplished in ethics,meditating diligently,freed through the highest knowledge,Māra cannot find their path.
58From a heap of trashdiscarded on the highway,a lotus might blossom,fragrant and delightful.
59So too, among those thought of as trash,a disciple of the perfect Buddhaoutshines with their wisdomthe blind ordinary folk.