dhammapada

Wisdom23

I would like to ask if anyone knows where i can purchase (prefrably online) a full or the most extensive version of the dhammapada.

Many thanks fellow buddhist homies

BhanteLucky

Do you want a paper one or an e-version?
There are lots of free e-books of it.
Acharya Buddharakkhita's translation, said by some to be the best.

If you want a free paper book (you pay the postage), then you can find a lot of different places offering it here. Some publishers charge commercial rates for it ($20 or so) but there are many places offering it for free, or for what it cost them to print it... about $4 or so.
The Dhammapada is pretty cool. Readable, quotable, and to the point.

BonsaiDoug

Here's one of the most interesting I've found. On the following webpage, download "Treasury of Truth - Dhammapada." It not only contains the verses in both English and Pali, but also provides the Suttas from which they are derived: http://www.buddhadhammasangha.com/secondlevelsite/thirdlevelsite/ebooklibrary/textandteachingstheravadin.htm

Jason

The Dhammapada, a small collection of verses attributed to the Buddha, is one of the most popular and well-known Buddhist texts. It's short, readable and full of great examples of the Buddha's wisdom.

Personally, given the inherent limitations of translation itself (which I view as more of an art form than an exact science), I don't think there's one definitive translation, especially since each translation has its own pros and cons. That said, I do think that there are a lot of good translations out there, many of which can be found online.

If someone is looking for a more poetic rendition, for example, I'd suggest Thanissaro Bhikkhu's version. If they're looking for something that represents the commentarial tradition of Theravada, on the other hand, I'd suggest Daw Mya Tin's translation, which includes the Pali text along with a summary of the background stories to each verse as related by the ancient commentator, Buddhaghosa. Narada Thera's translation and Acharya Buddharakkhita's translation are also highly regarded in the Theravadin community. And if one wants to go really old school, they can check out Max Muller's 1881 translation; which isn't without its flaws, but still quite popular and respected despite its age.

As for where to get hard copies, Thanissaro's version can be for ordered free from his monastery. Daw Mya Tin's translation can found on Amazon, as can Narada Thera's, Acharya Buddharakkhita's, and Max Muller's. Gil Fronsdal's competent translation can be purchased there, as well.

Glow

I like Gil Fronsdal's translation a lot. It strikes a good balance between accuracy and simplicity/poetry.