อารัมภบทI shall now explain and expand upon the meaning of the Dhamma theme written above, as a guide for study and practice.

อธิบายบทตั้งTo explain: This saying teaches the value of good conduct. "They say" means it is heard or said, and "indeed" is an emphatic word meaning "that very thing". The main point is that a person's goodness should be judged by his conduct, not only by family background, status or knowledge and ability, because even with these qualities, if one behaves dishonestly, one can cause harm to oneself and others.

ขยายความบทตั้งThe commentary on the Sīlavīmaṃsana Jātaka tells of a brahmin chaplain who was respected by the king. He wanted to test whether this respect came from his family and learning or from his virtue, so he took some of the royal treasure without permission until he was arrested. While being taken before the king, he saw snake charmers handling a venomous snake and warned them of the danger. The snake charmers replied that the snake was virtuous and harmed no one, unlike him, who had been arrested for taking the king's property. The brahmin reflected that even a snake is praised for not harming others. When he came before the king and the king ordered him punished, he explained the reason for his action and spoke in praise of the virtue of sīla.

ขยายความบทตั้งThe lesson of this story is that family, position and knowledge cannot replace good conduct or serve as an excuse for wrongdoing. Honesty and not harming others are the essential foundation of trust; when a person violates these principles, the trust he once had may decline. The story is meant to make us aware of the value of virtue, not to encourage imitating wrongdoing in order to test others.

ประโยคสะพาน + ที่มา ๑Among all good qualities, virtue is supreme in the world, because it is the foundation that allows individuals and society to live together in peace. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in Khuddaka Nikāya, Jātaka, Ekanipāta:

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑To explain: This saying praises the excellence of virtue. "Unsurpassed" means supreme, with nothing higher. In this context it emphasises the value of good conduct as something important and worthy of honour, because virtue helps a person restrain body and speech, refrain from harming others, and is an essential foundation for living together in peace.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑Virtue is valuable to society because it restrains actions that cause trouble. When people refrain from killing and harming one another, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and drinking intoxicants that lead to heedlessness, the causes of conflict and damage are reduced and trust in living together increases. Keeping the precepts is therefore not only a private matter, but also a responsibility towards the peace of the community.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑Besides its benefit for living together, virtue is also a foundation that supports training the mind and developing wisdom. One who keeps the precepts has reason not to be troubled by his own wrongdoing. This freedom from remorse helps the mind become ready for training in concentration, and when the mind is steady, it supports careful and accurate reflection on things as they really are. This also requires study, training and right reflection. Virtue, concentration and wisdom are thus qualities that support one another in developing life.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑In the Sīlavīmaṃsana Jātaka and its commentary, a venomous snake is praised as virtuous because it does not bite or harm anyone. This story uses the quality of not harming to show the value of virtue: even an animal that people fear is praised when it does not harm others. People should therefore see the importance of restraining their conduct and not use their strength or abilities to cause trouble for anyone.

ตัวอย่างในชีวิตIn daily life, those with knowledge and ability should use their knowledge honestly and responsibly, because if ability is used to deceive or take advantage of others, it can cause great harm. Students who study diligently should be honest in exams and not copy others' work. Employees should be responsible in their duties and not be corrupt. Those entrusted with looking after property should care for it without treating it as their own. These examples show that ability and good conduct should develop together.

สรุปTo conclude: Those who wish to be good people should therefore keep their virtue firm while also developing knowledge and wisdom, using virtue as the principle that keeps their actions and words honest, harmless and fair to others. Goodness of this kind comes from actual practice, not merely from reputation, status or praise. This accords with the Dhamma saying set forth as the theme at the beginning:

ปิดท้ายThus has the meaning been explained, as set forth above.