Greater in battle
than the man who would conquer
a thousand-thousand men,
is he who would conquer
just one–
himself.
You could, month by month,
at a cost of thousands,
conduct sacrifices
a hundred times,
or
pay a single moment’s homage
to one person,
self-cultivated.
Better than a hundred years of sacrifices
would that act of homage be.
If you’re respectful by habit,
constantly honoring the worthy,
four things increase:
long life, beauty,
happiness, strength.
Better than a hundred years
lived without virtue, uncentered, is
one day
lived by a virtuous person
absorbed in jhana.
Origin URL: https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/KN/Dhp/Ch08.html