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 praises wisdom as the light that guides life, helping us know what should be done, what should be avoided, and what, though pleasing today, may bring trouble in days to come.

ขยายความบทตั้งJust as at night the moon shines brightly and stands out among the stars, wisdom likewise lights the way of life. When we have wisdom, we do not look only at what we want to get, but also consider whether it is gained rightly; we do not look only at whether our words will give us satisfaction, but also think about whether they will hurt anyone. Wisdom therefore helps us choose the good path, even if at times that path requires patience and sacrifice.

ขยายความบทตั้งSaying that virtue, glory and the Dhamma of the good follow the one who is wise means that when one knows how to consider causes and reasons, one sees the value of good conduct. The wise see that harming others brings trouble, and so they resolve to keep the precepts; they see the value of honesty, kindness and gratitude, and so they take up the Dhamma of good people and put it into practice. As for glory, that is, dignity or prosperity, it is supported by knowing how to live one's life appropriately. Wisdom thus helps all the virtues bear fruit in real life.

ขยายความบทตั้งThe wisdom this saying praises is not cleverness in deceiving or taking advantage of others. Someone who can devise subtle ways to cheat may be quick-witted, but still lacks awareness of the harm of such actions. The wise must therefore know how to weigh both benefit and rightness, must not trade honesty for merely temporary gain, and must not use their abilities to cause anyone suffering.

ประโยคสะพาน + ที่มา ๑One of poor wisdom, having gained honour, rank, power, and followers, tends to use them in unbeneficial ways, until they become a means of harming both themselves and others. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in Khuddaka Nikāya, Jātaka, Ekanipāta:

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑To explain: "Honour" (yasa) here means position, power, fame and followers. This saying warns that honour in the hands of one without wisdom becomes a means of destroying both himself and others.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑Honour and power are like a very powerful tool. In the hands of the wise, they are used to create benefit for the public; in the hands of the foolish, they are used to satisfy their own desires, such as using power to oppress others, seeking improper gain, or becoming so conceited that they ignore all warnings. Such actions harm others directly and in the end turn back to harm oneself, leading to the loss of respect, to punishment and to the loss of that very honour.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑This saying teaches that gaining honour is not simply something to rejoice over, but a responsibility that requires wisdom and virtue to maintain. Those who will receive important positions should prepare themselves, and those responsible for selecting people for positions should consider their wisdom and conduct rather than merely their ability or closeness.

ประโยคสะพาน + ที่มา ๒When a person builds their own happiness on the suffering of others by using force or violence to harm them, the happiness gained does not last, and they find no happiness after leaving this world. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in Khuddaka Nikāya, Dhammapada:

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๒To explain: "All beings" includes both humans and other animals, "the rod" here means a stick or weapon used to cause harm, and "after death" means after one has passed away. This saying warns that seeking happiness for oneself by harming other lives is evil kamma and does not lead to happiness in the next world.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๒The commentary on the Dhammapada tells that the Buddha saw a group of boys beating a snake with sticks. When he asked why they were doing so, the boys replied that it was because they were afraid the snake would bite them. The Buddha then taught that one who desires happiness for oneself should not harm other beings, and spoke this verse. This story invites us to reflect that just as we love life and do not want to be hurt, other lives likewise want happiness and do not want to be harmed.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๒One who harms others may gain momentary satisfaction or benefit, but that satisfaction arises from the suffering of the other party, and it may also give rise to fear, conflict and enmity. Harming until it becomes a habit may also make it easier to overlook the pain of others. We should therefore cultivate loving-kindness and consider whether what we are doing for our own happiness is causing trouble for anyone.

ประโยคสะพาน + ที่มา ๓A fool of poor wisdom often does not realize it while doing evil, because they cannot see its danger, but when the results appear, they are tormented by their own deeds as if burnt by fire. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in Khuddaka Nikāya, Dhammapada:

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๓To explain: This saying teaches that a fool does evil without clearly knowing the harmful results that will follow, but when the evil deed bears fruit, he himself must suffer from what he has done. "A fool" here refers to one who lacks the wisdom to weigh evil and merit, benefit and harm; it does not mean one who has little education.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๓The commentary explains that "does not realise it" in this verse means not knowing what result the deed one does will bring, not failing to know that one is doing evil. For example, some people know that cheating or harming others is wrong, yet still do it because they want to gain something or want revenge, without being aware of the harmful results that will follow. "As if burned by fire" shows the burning torment that comes from the result of evil kamma, and the commentary also speaks of the suffering in hell, so its meaning is broader than the regret one feels on realising one has done wrong.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๓The important lesson is that we should not look only at the satisfaction or benefit gained at the moment, but should use mindfulness and wisdom to consider before acting whether this is right, whom it will harm and what damage it may cause. Even when we are angry or strongly want something, we should stop and think, and not let our emotions lead us into wrongdoing. Not yet seeing harmful results immediately does not make evil something that ought to be done.

ตัวอย่างในชีวิตIn daily life, a student who uses wisdom sees that studying attentively brings knowledge, while copying answers means missing the chance to practise. A trader who uses wisdom sees the value of honesty, because trust should be protected more than profit from deception. A leader should likewise listen to reasons and treat others fairly. Even when angry, if one knows how to stop and think before speaking, one is using wisdom to protect both one's own conduct and the goodwill of others.

สรุปTo conclude: We should therefore diligently develop wisdom by studying, listening and considering things carefully. When we know that something is good, we should put it into practice; when we see that something is wrong, we should be ready to correct it. Do not let knowledge exist only in memory, but make it a light that guides thought, word and deed, so that life moves forward together with virtue and moral qualities. This accords with the Dhamma saying set forth as the theme at the beginning:

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