Dhammapada translations - which is your favourite?

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

Different translations of suttas can convey different meanings... some explaining the Dhamma clearly, and others obscuring it.

Here (http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/dhp/index.html) are a couple of translations of the Dhamma. One from Thanissaro Bhikkhu which is OK and another from Buddharakkhita which is my favourite translation of the Dhammapada.

What's your favourite translation of the Dhammapada? What do you think separates the good from the bad when it comes to translations of the Dhammapada (or the Dhamma in general)?

Metta,
Retro.

[appicchato]

Hi,

I'm partial to the translation by Glen Wallis...in large part for his 'Guide to reading the text' (which is about half the book in itself) that is included, which gave me some additional perspective that I hadn't come across before, and hadn't (until then) thought about too much myself...

Be well...

[dhammanando]

For maximum accuracy I use the translations of Buddharakkhita and K.R. Norman, or else translate the verse myself. Among the freer and more literary renderings I like Sangharakshita's best. Also the rhyming Dhammapada of Samanera Bodhesako:

The indolent glutton who gobbles his fill
Like a corpulent porker that’s fattened on swill,
Rolling around in luxurious slumber,
Will enter the womb again, times without number. (325)


The words of a monk who’s restrained in his speech,
Whose advice is incisive, whose manner is meek,
Who illuminates Dhamma, both letter and spirit,
The words he delivers indeed are exquisite. (363)

Best wishes,
Dhammanando Bhikkhu