>Dhammapada verses 157-166 emphasize self-discipline, personal responsibility, and inner mastery. A wise person must first establish themselves properly before guiding others, as self-mastery is difficult but essential. Purity and impurity are personal matters, and one should prioritize their own spiritual welfare over external concerns, for no one can purify another.

**157**

If one considers oneself **dear** (beloved \[piya\]),  
one should guard oneself well;  
In **one of the three watches \[of the night\]** \[1\],  
the wise person should **watch over** \[2\].

**158**

One should first **establish** (settle \[nivesayati\]) oneself,  
in what is **proper** (appropriate, fitting \[patirūpa\]);  
Then one may instruct another,  
A wise person should not become **defiled** (stained, afflicted \[kilissati\]).

**159**

One should act towards oneself in the same way,  
as one instructs another;  
One who is **well-tamed** \[3\] can tame others,  
for it is hard to tame oneself.

**160**

Indeed, oneself is one‘s own **refuge** (protector \[nātha\]),  
for who else could be another’s refuge;  
By means of a well-tamed self,  
one obtains a refuge that is hard to find.

**161**

Indeed the **injurious \[actions\]** \[4\] committed by oneself,  
born from oneself, arising from oneself;  
Crush the **undiscerning one** \[5\],  
like a diamond crushes a rock-made jewel.

**162**

For the one whose conduct is extremely **unprincipled** \[6\],  
like a creeping vine that **envelopes** (spreads over, overpowers \[otthata\]) a **sal tree** \[7\];  
He brings himself to such a state,  
as an enemy would wish for him.

**163**

Easy to do are things that are **unwholesome** (bad, evil, harmful \[asādhu\]),  
and **unbeneficial** (harmful, not good \[ahita\]) to oneself;  
But what is **beneficial** (good, advantageous \[hita\]) and auspicious,  
that is indeed hard to do.

**164**

Whoever rejects the teachings upheld by the **Arahants** \[8\],  
of the Noble Ones who live according to the **Dhamma** \[9\];  
The undiscerning person who **refuses to accept** (disdains \[paṭikkosati\]) it,  
leaning on a **harmful** \[10\] view;  
Like the **bamboo when it bears fruit** \[11\],  
brings about his own destruction.

**165**

By oneself is **harm** \[12\] done,  
by oneself one becomes impure;  
By oneself is harm **left undone** (not done, not performed \[akata\]),  
by oneself one becomes purified;  
Purity and impurity are individual matters,  
no one can purify another.

**166**

One‘s own good should not be **neglected** (forgotten, omitted \[hāpayati\]) for the sake of another’s,  
Not even for the good of many;  
Having **directly known** \[13\] one’s own welfare,  
One should remain **interested in** (occupied with, intent on \[pasuta\]) it.

\---

\[1\] one of the three watches \[of the night\] \[ti + aññatara + yāma\] ≈ Traditionally, the night was divided into three parts: first watch starting from sunset \[6 PM to 10 PM\], second watch \[10 PM to 2 AM\], and third watch \[2 AM to 6 AM\] ending at dawn.

\[2\] watch over \[paṭijaggati\] ≈ look after, with mindfulness and full awareness

\[3\] well-tamed \[sudanta\] ≈ well trained, well controlled

\[4\] injurious \[actions\] \[pāpa\] ≈ harmful, bad, potentially evil intentions or actions

\[5\] undiscerning one \[dummedha\] ≈ one lacking discernment, who has not cultivated wisdom, unwise

\[6\] unprincipled \[dussīla\] ≈ without regard for ethical conduct, immoral

\[7\] sal tree \[sāla\] ≈ a tall, majestic hardwood tree known for its strength, durability, and grandeur, Shorea robusta

\[8\] Arahants \[arahant\] ≈ fully awakened ones, free from all mental defilements; worthy of offerings and veneration; also an epithet of the Buddha

\[9\] Dhamma \[dhamma\] ≈ teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth

\[10\] harmful \[pāpaka\] ≈ injurious, destructive, bad, evil

\[11\] bamboo when it bears fruit \[kaṭṭhakasseva + phala\] ≈ Most bamboo species flower and produce fruit only once in their lifetime, often after 30 to 120 years. After fruiting, the entire bamboo plant dies, as it exhausts all its energy in reproduction.

\[12\] harm \[pāpa\] ≈ injury causing actions, either to oneself or to others

\[13\] directly known \[abhiññāya\] ≈ experientially understood

Picture: The Chasseur in the Forest, Caspar David Friedrich, 1813-14

**Related Teachings:**

* [Be an island unto yourself, with no other refuge (SN 47.13)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WordsOfTheBuddha/comments/1dy8i22/be_an_island_unto_yourself_with_no_other_refuge/) \- On the passing away of Sāriputta, the Buddha advises Ānanda to be an island unto himself, with no other refuge, with the Dhamma as his island, with the Dhamma as his refuge, not dependent on another as a refuge.
* [Being dear to oneself (SN 3.4)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WordsOfTheBuddha/comments/1ctcclr/being_dear_to_oneself_sn_34/) \- One who engages in good conduct by body, speech, and mind is dear to themselves.
* [The way to look after yourself and others | At Sedaka (SN 47.19)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WordsOfTheBuddha/comments/1av4mon/the_way_to_look_after_yourself_and_others_at/) \- Two acrobats discuss whether one should support the other, or the other way around. The Buddha says they should support each other. In the same way we should practice the four kinds of mindfulness meditation both for one’s own benefit and to protect others.

One who is well-tamed can tame others, for it is hard to tame oneself (DhP 157-166)