ධම්මපදට්ඨකථා (Dhammapada Commentary — Sri Lankan Palm-Leaf MS)

A long, horizontal palm leaf manuscript (ola leaf). The text is handwritten in several columns. Two circular binding holes are visible; the left hole has a thin cord or string threaded through it. The leaf has a natural brownish-yellow hue with fine, dark ink characters.

[Leaf 1 - Upper Page]

And what, bhikkhus, is non-negligence?? He observes? how the Dhamma? is practiced by the Blessed One.? --- Non-negligence is the path to the Deathless; negligence is the path to death.?
The non-negligent do not die; the negligent are as if they are already dead.? --- Having understood this specifically, the wise, established in non-negligence,?
rejoice in non-negligence, delighting in the domain of the Noble Ones.? --- They, the meditative, the ever-constant, with firm persistence,?
reach Nibbana, the supreme security from bondage.? --- To one of rising effort, of mindful action, of pure conduct, of cautious action,?
restrained, living by the Dhamma, to the non-negligent, fame increases.? --- By effort and non-negligence, by restraint and self-control,?
let the wise person make an island that no flood can overwhelm.? --- Fools, people of low intelligence, indulge in negligence.?
But the wise person protects non-negligence as the greatest treasure.? --- Do not indulge in negligence, nor in the intimacy of sensual pleasure.?
For the non-negligent one, while meditating, attains great happiness.? --- May this be a condition for Nibbana.?

[Leaf 2 - Lower Page]

Furthermore, having established mindfulness in the four satipatthana foundations of mindfulness, he observes the Dhamma as it is.
The Blessed One is fully accomplished in all-knowing wisdom, worthy, perfectly self-enlightened, accomplished in true knowledge and conduct,
the Fortunate One, the knower of worlds, the incomparable guide of men to be tamed, the teacher of gods and humans, the Buddha, the Blessed One.
The Dhamma is well-expounded by the Blessed One, visible here and now, immediate, inviting inspection, leading inwards,
to be realized individually by the wise. The Order of the Blessed One's disciples has practiced well.
The Order of the Blessed One's disciples has practiced uprightly. The Order of the Blessed One's disciples has practiced methodically.
The Order of the Blessed One's disciples has practiced in the correct manner; that is, the four pairs of persons, the eight types of individuals.
This is the Order of the Blessed One's disciples.

And what, bhikkhus, are the sankhara conditioned phenomena that are impermanent? Here, a bhikkhu, secluded from sensual pleasures,
secluded from unwholesome states, enters and dwells in the first jhana meditative absorption, which is accompanied by thought and reflection, born of seclusion, with the joy and happiness of seclusion.
With the stilling of thought and reflection, he enters and dwells in the second jhana, which is inner confidence and unification of mind, free from thought and reflection, born of concentration, with the joy and happiness of concentration.
With the fading away of joy, he dwells in equanimity, mindful and clearly comprehending, experiencing happiness with the body; he dwells in the third jhana—
that which the Noble Ones describe as "one who has equanimity, is mindful, and dwells in happiness." With the abandoning of pleasure and pain, and the previous disappearance of joy and sadness...

"All sankhara conditioned things are impermanent"—when one sees this with wisdom, then one turns away from suffering.
This is the path to purity. "All sankhara conditioned things are suffering"—when one sees this with wisdom,
then one turns away from suffering. This is the path to purity. "All dhamma phenomena are non-self"—
when one sees this with wisdom, then one turns away from suffering. This is the path to purity.
Therefore, bhikkhus, whatever form there is, whether past, future, or present, internal
or external, gross or subtle, inferior or superior, far
or near, all form should be seen as it really is with correct wisdom: "This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self."
Thus, this should be seen as it truly is with correct wisdom. Nibbana is the supreme happiness.