154

If one holds oneself dear, one should diligently watch oneself. Let the wise person keep vigil during any of the three watches of the night.

155

One should first establish oneself in what is proper; then only should one instruct others.

156

Thus the wise person will not be reproached.

157

One should do what one teaches others to do; if one would train others, one should be well-controlled oneself. Difficult, indeed is self-control.

158

One truly is the protector of oneself, who else could the protector be? With oneself fully controlled one gains a mastery which is hard to gain.

159

The evil a witless person does by oneself, born of oneself and produced by oneself, grinds one as a diamond grinds a hard gem.

160

Just as a jungle creeper strangles the tree on which it grows, even so a person who is exceedingly depraved harms oneself as an enemy might wish.

161

Easy to do are things that are bad and harmful to oneself, but exceedingly difficult to do are things that are good and beneficial.

162

Whoever, on account of perverted views, reviles the Teaching of the Arahats, the Noble Ones of righteous life--that fool, like the bamboo, produces fruits only for self-destruction.

163

By oneself is evil done, by oneself is one defiled. By oneself is evil left undone, by oneself is one purified. Purity and impurity depend on oneself--no one can purify another.

164

Let one not neglect one's own welfare for the sake of another, however great. Clearly understanding one's own welfare, let one be intent upon the good.