Dhammapada

Dhammapada part of the pali Khuddakanikaya, containing 423 verses organized into 26 chapters. It explicates Buddhist doctrinal points and prescribes rules for daily living. A number of stories from Dhammapada have been quoted in the tripitaka. Some stories of the ramayana and the mahabharata resemble those of Dhammapada. The text continues to be popular for its ethical and moral teachings, which appeal to both monks and lay persons. The language is simple and lucid, and the text is embellished with similes and metaphors drawn from ordinary experience. It has been widely translated into Sanskrit, Prakrit, Chinese, Tibetan, Bangla, English, Hindi, French, German etc. [Binayendra Chaudhury]