The Astute
The astute person in this chapter is one who welcomes correction, treating someone who points out their faults as a guide to hidden treasure. The verses advise keeping good friends rather than bad ones, say the wise tame themselves as irrigators guide water and carpenters straighten timber, and picture them unmoved by praise or blame like a rock in the wind, clear like a deep lake. They tell the reader never to seek success by unjust means, even for family or country. The last verses describe those who leave home for the homeless life and let go of attachments.
A note on these verses. Verses 85–86 speak of crossing to “the far shore” beyond death; verse 89 says such people are “quenched”, meaning their suffering has ended.
Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · public domain (CC0) · about 2 min · on SuttaCentral
76Regard one who sees your faultsas a guide to a hidden treasure.Stay close to one so intelligent and astutewho curbs you when you need it.Sticking close to such an impartial person,things get better, not worse.
77Advise and instruct;curb wickedness:for you shall be loved by the good,and disliked by the bad.
78Don’t mix with bad friends,nor with the worst of men.Mix with spiritual friends,and with the best of men.
79Through joy in the teaching you sleep at ease,with clear and confident heart.An astute person always delights in the teachingproclaimed by the Noble One.
80While irrigators guide water,fletchers bend arrows straight,and carpenters bend timber straight,the astute tame themselves.
81As the wind cannot stira solid mass of rock,so too blame and praisedo not affect the wise.
82Like a deep lake,clear and unclouded,so clear are the astutewhen they hear the teachings.
83True persons give up everything,they don’t cajole for the things they desire.Though touched by sadness or happiness,the astute appear neither depressed nor elated.
84Never wish for success by unjust means,for your own sake or that of another,desiring children, wealth, or nation;rather, be virtuous, wise, and just.
85Few are those among humanswho cross to the far shore.The rest just run aroundon the near shore.
86When the teaching is well explained,the people who practice accordinglywill cross overDeath’s dominion so hard to pass.
87Rid of dark qualities,an astute person would develop the bright.Having left home for homelessnessin seclusion, where joy is hard,
88they’d long for satisfaction there.Forsaking sensual pleasures, owning nothing,an astute person would cleanse themselvesof mental corruptions.
89And those whose minds are rightly developedin the awakening factors;who, letting go of attachments,delight in not grasping:with defilements ended, brilliant,they are quenched in this world.