Anil Yadavrao Gaikwad
We have read about the Yamaka Vagga, third and forth verse in September 2013 issues of Buddhist Voice where the Lord Buddha’s main message was “Retaliation does not lead to peace in life”. Living in human society, people often fight with each other. When such conflicts occur, people often keep thinking about the wrongs done to them by others. When that happens, their anger tends to grow. But those who forgive and forget the wrongs done to them, anger quickly vanishes. They are then at peace.
We will now study the firth verse. It talks about retaliation and anger. The message is retaliation does not lead to peace in life.
Yamaka Vagga (Verse Five)
Main Message from the verse is “Retaliation does not lead to peace in life” and “Anger is conquered by Love”
Pali Version
Na hi verena verani sammantidha kudacanam
Averena ca sammanti – esa dhammo sanantano||5||
न हि वेरेन वेरानी सम्मन्तीध कुदाचनं !
अवेरेन च सम्मन्ति एस धम्मो सनन्तनो !!५!!
Meaning
Those who attempt to conquer hatred by hatred are like warriors who take weapons to overcome others who bear arms. This does not end hatred, but gives it room to grow. But, ancient wisdom has advocated a different timeless strategy to overcome hatred. This eternal wisdom is to meet hatred with non-hatred. The method of trying to conquer hatred through hatred never succeeds in overcoming hatred. But, the method of overcoming hatred through non-hatred is eternally effective. That is why that method is described as eternal wisdom.
Verse 5: Hatred is, indeed, never appeased by hatred in this world. It is appeased only by loving-kindness. This is an ancient law.
Commentary
The principle revealed in this verse is clear. Quarrels can never come to an end by quarrelling. War can never end through further wars. Enmity never ends by returning enmity for enmity. Only by giving up anger, enmity, quarrelling and wars can these evils be stopped. It is through friendliness, forgiving and forgetting that enmity ceases.
Story of Kaliyakkhina Associated with Verse 5
While residing at the Jetavana Monastery in Saravasthi, the Buddha spoke this verse, with reference to a certain woman who was barren and another capable of bearing a child. Once there lived a householder, whose wife was unable to bear a child and afraid that she would be mistreated by her husband and her mother-in-law, she arranged for her husband to marry another woman. But on two occasions, as soon as she knew the second wife was pregnant, the barren wife poisoned to have a miscarriage. On her third pregnancy, the pregnant wife kept it to herself without informing the barren wife. But when the latter came to know about it, she again caused an abortion. Eventually the second wife died during childbirth. Before her death, the unfortunate woman was filled with hatred and vowed vengeance on the barren wife and her future offspring. Thus a feud started.
Among their later existences the two were reborn as a hen and a female cat; a doe and a leopard; and finally as the daughter of a nobleman in Saravasti and a female evil spirit. One day Kali Yakkhina was in pursuit of the nobleman’s daughter and her baby. When this lady heard that the Buddha was giving a religious discourse at the Jetavana Monastery, she fled to him and placed her son at his feet for protection. The evil spirit was prevented from entering the Monastery. She was later called in and both the lady and the evil spirit were admonished by the Buddha. The Buddha told them about their past trouble as rival wives and how they had been harboring hatred towards each other. They were made to see that hatred could only cause more hatred, and that it could only cease through friendship, understanding, and goodwill. Both realised their mistake, and on the admonition of the Buddha, made their peace with each other.
The Buddha then requested the woman to hand over her son to the evil spirit. Fearing for the safety of her son, she hesitated, but because of her devotion and confidence in the Buddha she did hand over her son. The child was warmly received by the evil spirit. After kissing and caressing the child tenderly like her own son, she handed back the child to his mother. As a result, there was no more hatred.
References
- Dhammapada by Bhadant Khema Dhammo,
Publisher: Trisharan Prakashan, Aurangabad, Year of Publication: 1983
- The Dhammapada by Narada Thera
Publisher: The Corporate Body of the Buddha Educational Foundation, Taiwan, Year of Publication: 1993 4th Edition.
- The Treasury of Truth: Illustrated Dhammapada by Ven. Weragoda Sarada Thero Publisher: Buddha Dhamma Education Association Inc. www.Buddhanet.net
- The Dhammapada and Commentary Edited by Bhikkhu Pesala
(http://thelemistas.org/PDF/Dhammapada.pdf)
- The Dhammapada Stories by Khuddaka Nikaya, Translated by Daw Mya Tin, M.A., Burma Pitaka Association (1986), Source: http://www.nibbana.com
- Dhammapada ( Nav Sahita) By Vinoba, 1999, Paramdham Prakashan, Pavanar, Wardha District, Maharashtra State Pin -442111
- Dhammapada Verse www.tipitaka.net /tpitaka /dhp /verseload.php?verse=002