雖誦千章 無益之言 不如一句 聞已得道 雖戰勝百萬 未若克己者 自勝最賢 勝彼爲上
suī sòng qiān zhāng wú yì zhī yán bù rú yī jù wén yǐ dé dào suī zhàn shèng bǎi wàn wèi ruò kè jǐ zhě zì shèng zuì xián shèng bǐ wéi shàng
Key Message
A single verse that leads to awakening surpasses a thousand meaningless recitations; and to conquer oneself is a greater victory than to vanquish a million enemies in battle.
▸The Sahassavagga (Chapter on the Thousands) deploys the number 'thousand' to contrast quantity with quality in matters of spiritual development.
The Sahassavagga (Chapter on the Thousands) deploys the number 'thousand' to contrast quantity with quality in matters of spiritual development. Though one may recite a thousand verses of scripture that contain no meaningful content, a single verse that brings awakening when heard surpasses them all. This is a bold statement against mere religious recitation divorced from understanding and transformation. The second great teaching of this chapter is even more radical: though one might conquer a million enemies in battle, the person who conquers themselves is the most truly heroic. Self-conquest (atta-jaya in Pali) is the supreme victory — greater than any external triumph.