Attānaṁ damayanti paṇḍitā

Irrigators guide water. Fletchers straighten arrows. The wise shape themselves.

The Buddha, Dhammapada 80

What it means

Every craft works on its material: water, arrows, wood. The wise take themselves as the material. Treat your own character as the thing you are building.

The source

"Irrigators guide water. Fletchers straighten arrows. The wise shape themselves." The Buddha said it in Dhammapada 80. Translated from the original Pali by Spartan Surfers.

"Udakañhi nayanti nettikā, Usukārā namayanti tejanaṁ; Dāruṁ namayanti tacchakā, Attānaṁ damayanti paṇḍitā."

Original Pali, Dhammapada 80. Text read at suttacentral.net.

Who said it

The Buddha (c. 5th century BC). Siddhattha Gotama, the teacher from northern India whose path of insight and practice became Buddhism. His sayings survive in the Pali Canon, including the Dhammapada.

Questions

What does "Irrigators guide water. Fletchers straighten arrows. The wise shape themselves." mean?: Every craft works on its material: water, arrows, wood. The wise take themselves as the material. Treat your own character as the thing you are building.
Who said "Irrigators guide water. Fletchers straighten arrows. The wise shape themselves."?: The Buddha (c. 5th century BC). Source: Dhammapada 80.
What is the original Pali?: Udakañhi nayanti nettikā, Usukārā namayanti tejanaṁ; Dāruṁ namayanti tacchakā, Attānaṁ damayanti paṇḍitā. Translated from the original Pali by Spartan Surfers.
Is "Irrigators guide water. Fletchers straighten arrows. The wise shape themselves." on a shirt?: Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 7 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.

Cite this line

"Irrigators guide water. Fletchers straighten arrows. The wise shape themselves." (The Buddha, Dhammapada 80, translated by Spartan Surfers). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/irrigators-guide-water-fletchers-straighten-arrows-the-wise