Sukhavagga · Happiness · Gāthā 202

Natthi rāgasamo aggi, natthi dosasamo kali; natthi khandhasamā dukkhā, natthi santiparaṃ sukhaṃ.

Natthi rāgasamo aggi, natthi dosasamo kali; natthi khandhasamā dukkhā, natthi santiparaṃ sukhaṃ.

There is no fire like passion, no misfortune like hatred, no suffering like the aggregates, no happiness superior to peace.

Natthi rāgasamo aggi — there is no fire like passion: rāga is passion, craving, the coloring of desire. Aggi is fire. Passion burns with more intensity than any physical fire because it consumes from within, without possibility of external extinguishment.

Natthi dosasamo kali — there is no misfortune like hatred: dosa is hatred, aversion. Kali is misfortune, bad luck. Hatred produces worse consequences than any external misfortune.

Natthi khandhasamā dukkhā — there is no suffering like the aggregates: khandha are the five aggregates (form, sensation, perception, mental formations, consciousness) that constitute experience. Identification with the aggregates is the very source of existential suffering.

Natthi santiparaṃ sukhaṃ — there is no happiness superior to peace: santi is peace; paraṃ is superior. The conclusion is revealing: after enumerating the three fires (passion, hatred, identification with aggregates), the supreme happiness is the peace that arises when all three cease. Nibbānaṃ paramaṃ sukhaṃ.