Definition: Sīla denotes the settled ethical character of one who has brought bodily, verbal, and livelihood conduct into harmony with the training. It is the first member of the threefold training (sīla–samādhi–paññā) and serves as the structural base on which concentration and wisdom are built.
Canonical usage
Dhp 55 (dhp55:3–55:4)
Etesaṁ gandhajātānaṁ, sīlagandho anuttaro.
>
English (Sujato): Among all these fragrances, the fragrance of virtue is supreme.
Dhp 56 (dhp56:3–56:4)
Yo ca sīlavataṁ gandho, vāti devesu uttamo.
>
English (Sujato): The fragrance of those possessed of virtue floats to the highest gods.
Dhp 57 (dhp57:1–57:4)
Tesaṁ sampannasīlānaṁ, appamādavihārinaṁ; / Sammadaññā vimuttānaṁ, māro maggaṁ na vindati.
>
English (Sujato): Māra cannot find the path of those who are accomplished in ethics, living heedfully, rightly freed by enlightened knowledge.
Nuances and translation notes
- Sujato: "ethics" (technical register) / "virtue" (poetic register) — alternates by context
- Buddharakkhita: "virtue"
- Norman (PTS): "virtuous conduct"
- de Zoysa (Sinhala): ශීල — direct cognate, keeps the Indic register
The compound sīla-gandha at Dhp 55 is definitional: the virtue is the fragrance, not a fragrance that virtue possesses. English "fragrance of virtue" can mislead into a possessive reading.
Related concepts
- virtue sila — concept page
- samādhi — concentration; the middle member of the threefold training (pending)
- panna — wisdom; the third member of the threefold training
- appamada — paired with sīla at Dhp 57
- sampajanna — clear comprehension; the discerning faculty that monitors sīla (pending)
Related pages
- virtue sila — concept page
- dhammapada 04 pupphavagga — sīla-gandha locus at Dhp 54–56
- dhammapada 04 pupphavagga — Dhp 57 bridge verse