1Appamādo amatapadaṁ,
Heedfulness is the state free of death;
2pamādo maccuno padaṁ;
heedlessness is the state of death.
3Appamattā na mīyanti,
The heedful do not die,
4ye pamattā yathā matā.
while the heedless are like the dead.
5Evaṁ visesato ñatvā,
Understanding this distinction
6appamādamhi paṇḍitā;
when it comes to heedfulness,
7Appamāde pamodanti,
the astute rejoice in heedfulness,
8ariyānaṁ gocare ratā.
happy in the noble ones’ domain.
9Te jhāyino sātatikā,
They who regularly meditate,
10niccaṁ daḷhaparakkamā;
always staunchly vigorous;
11Phusanti dhīrā nibbānaṁ,
the attentive realize extinguishment,
12yogakkhemaṁ anuttaraṁ.
the supreme sanctuary from the yoke.
13Uṭṭhānavato satīmato,
For the hard-working and mindful,
14Sucikammassa nisammakārino;
pure of deed and attentive,
15Saññatassa dhammajīvino,
restrained, living righteously, and diligent,
16Appamattassa yasobhivaḍḍhati.
their reputation only grows.
17Uṭṭhānenappamādena,
By hard work and diligence,
18saṁyamena damena ca;
by restraint and by self-control,
19Dīpaṁ kayirātha medhāvī,
a smart person would build an island
20yaṁ ogho nābhikīrati.
that the floods cannot overflow.
21Pamādamanuyuñjanti,
Fools and simpletons
22bālā dummedhino janā;
devote themselves to negligence.
23Appamādañca medhāvī,
But the wise protect diligence
24dhanaṁ seṭṭhaṁva rakkhati.
as their best treasure.
25Mā pamādamanuyuñjetha,
Don’t devote yourself to negligence,
26mā kāmaratisanthavaṁ;
or delight in erotic intimacy.
27Appamatto hi jhāyanto,
For if you’re diligent and meditate,
28pappoti vipulaṁ sukhaṁ.
you’ll attain abundant happiness.
29Pamādaṁ appamādena,
When the astute dispel negligence
30yadā nudati paṇḍito;
by means of diligence,
31Paññāpāsādamāruyha,
ascending the palace of wisdom,
32asoko sokiniṁ pajaṁ;
sorrowless, they behold this generation of sorrow,
33Pabbataṭṭhova bhūmaṭṭhe,
as an attentive one on a mountain top
34dhīro bāle avekkhati.
beholds the fools below.
35Appamatto pamattesu,
Heedful among the heedless,
36suttesu bahujāgaro;
wide awake while others sleep—
37Abalassaṁva sīghasso,
a true sage leaves them behind,
38hitvā yāti sumedhaso.
like a swift horse passing a feeble.
39Appamādena maghavā,
Maghavā became chief of the gods
40devānaṁ seṭṭhataṁ gato;
by means of diligence.
41Appamādaṁ pasaṁsanti,
People praise diligence,
42pamādo garahito sadā.
while negligence is always deplored.
43Appamādarato bhikkhu,
A mendicant who loves diligence,
44pamāde bhayadassi vā;
seeing fear in negligence—
45Saṁyojanaṁ aṇuṁ thūlaṁ,
advances like fire,
46ḍahaṁ aggīva gacchati.
burning up fetters big and small.
47Appamādarato bhikkhu,
A mendicant who loves diligence,
48pamāde bhayadassi vā;
seeing fear in negligence—
49Abhabbo parihānāya,
such a one can’t decline,
50nibbānasseva santike.
and has drawn near to extinguishment.