Dhammapada

Tipitaka » Sutta Pitaka » Khuddaka Nikaya

Introduction
The Dhammapada (Pali, translates as Path of the Dharma. Also Prakrit Dhamapada, Sanskrit Dharmapada) is a Buddhist religious scripture, containing 423 verses in 26 categories. According to tradition, these are answers to questions put to the Buddha on various occasions, most of which deal with ethics. A fifth century commentary by Buddhaghosa includes 305 stories which give context to the verses.

The Dhammapada is a popular section of the Pali Tipitaka and is considered one of the most important pieces of Theravada literature.

Although the Pali edition is the most well known, a Gandhari edition written in Kharosthi and a seemingly related text in Sanskrit known as the Udanavarga have also been discovered.

The Categories

 * 1) Yamakavagga: The Pairs (verses 1-20)
 * 2) Appamadavagga: Heedfulness (21-32)
 * 3) Cittavagga: The Mind (33-43)
 * 4) Pupphavagga: Flowers (44-59)
 * 5) Balavagga: The Fool (60-75)
 * 6) Panditavagga: The Wise (76-89)
 * 7) Arahantavagga: The Arahant (90-99)
 * 8) Sahassavagga: Thousands (100-115)
 * 9) Papavagga: Evil (116-128)
 * 10) Dandavagga: Violence (129-145)
 * 11) Jaravagga: Old Age (146-156)
 * 12) Attavagga: The Self (157-166)
 * 13) Lokavagga: The World (167-178)
 * 14) Buddhavagga: The Buddha (179-196)
 * 15) Sukhavagga: Happiness (197-208)
 * 16) Piyavagga: Affection (209-220)
 * 17) Kodhavagga: Anger (221-234)
 * 18) Malavagga: Impurity (235-255)
 * 19) Dhammatthavagga: The Just (256-272)
 * 20) Maggavagga: The Path (273-289)
 * 21) Pakinnakavagga: Miscellany (290-305)
 * 22) Nirayavagga: Hell (306-319)
 * 23) Nagavagga: Elephants (320-333)
 * 24) Tanhavagga: Craving (334-359)
 * 25) Bhikkhuvagga: Monks (360-382)
 * 26) Brahmanavagga: Brahmans (383-423)

Reference
Dhammapada: Significance