Among the verses traditionally attributed to the Buddha in the Dhammapada, a few clusters have come to be regarded as especially emblematic of the text’s spirit. The opening twin verses (1–2) declare that all phenomena are “preceded by the mind, led by the mind, formed by the mind,” and that suffering or happiness follow one’s words and deeds as surely as the wheel follows the ox or the shadow follows the body. These lines place responsibility squarely on the quality of one’s own mind, suggesting that the entire field of experience is shaped by intention. Closely related is verse 5, which teaches that hatred is never appeased by hatred, but only by non-hatred or loving-kindness, described as an “eternal law.” Together, these verses sketch a world in which inner disposition is both the origin of conflict and the key to its resolution.

Another widely cited summary of the path appears in verse 183: “To avoid all evil, to cultivate good, and to cleanse one’s mind — this is the teaching of the Buddhas.” Here the ethical, the wholesome, and the contemplative are woven into a single, compact formula, often treated as a touchstone for Buddhist practice. Verses 276 and related passages extend this emphasis on personal responsibility: “You yourself must strive; the Buddhas only point the way. Those who enter the path and practice meditation are released from the bonds of Māra.” The image is of guides who can indicate the road, but cannot walk it on behalf of another, underscoring that liberation cannot be outsourced.

A number of verses develop the theme of self-mastery as the highest victory. Verses 103–104 contrast the conquest of countless opponents in battle with the far greater conquest of oneself, a victory that even powerful beings such as Māra or Brahmā cannot overturn. Verse 160 echoes this by stating that one is truly one’s own protector and refuge, and that training oneself is like a skilled horse-dealer training a thoroughbred steed. These images suggest that the real battlefield is internal, and that disciplined self-cultivation yields a refuge “hard to gain” by any other means.

Other verses, though fewer in number, are equally cherished for their clarity and depth. Verse 25 praises effort, diligence, discipline, and self-control, urging the wise to make for themselves an island that no flood can overwhelm, a metaphor for inner stability amid the changing conditions of life. Verses on impermanence and non-self, on the fragrance of virtue that travels against the wind, and on the value of those who reveal one’s faults, all reinforce the same current: the Dhammapada repeatedly turns attention back to the mind, to ethical conduct, and to the quiet heroism of sustained practice.