Piyavagga · Affection · Gāthā 217

Sīladassanasampannaṃ, dhammaṭṭhaṃ saccavedinaṃ; attano kamma kubbānaṃ, taṃ jano kurute piyaṃ.

Sīladassanasampannaṃ, dhammaṭṭhaṃ saccavedinaṃ; attano kamma kubbānaṃ, taṃ jano kurute piyaṃ.

One endowed with virtue and vision, established in Dhamma, knowing the truth and doing one’s own work — people love such a one.

Sīladassanasampannaṃ — endowed with virtue and vision: sīla (virtue) and dassana (vision/understanding). The combination of ethical conduct and profound understanding generates genuine respect and affection in others.

Dhammaṭṭhaṃ saccavedinaṃ — established in Dhamma, knowing the truth: dhammaṭṭha is one firmly established in the Dhamma; saccavedin is one who knows the truth directly.

Attano kamma kubbānaṃ — doing one’s own work: attano kamma — one’s own duty, one’s own task. This phrase has profound resonance: the practitioner who does what corresponds to them, without invading another’s space nor neglecting their own.

Taṃ jano kurute piyaṃ — people love such a one: paradox of non-attachment: while previous verses warned against attachment to the dear, this verse describes how one who genuinely practices naturally becomes dear to people. Love is not sought — it arises as a natural fruit of practice.