Verbatim Translation:
mano pubbangamá dhammá mano setthá mano mayá
thought precedes things thought predominant thought mademanasá ce pasannena bhásati vá karoti vá
thoughts if pure speaks or acts ortato nam sukham anveti cháyá ‘va anapáyini
because that happiness follow shadow as not-leave
Translations:
Beck
What we are is the result of what we have thought, is built by our thoughts, is made up of our thoughts. If one speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows one, like a shadow that never leaves.
Buddharakkhita
Mind precedes all mental states. Mind is their chief; they are all mind-wrought. If with a pure mind a person speaks or acts happiness follows him like his never-departing shadow
Davids
Things are forerun by mind, have mind as best, are compounds of the mind. If with a mind serene a man do speak or act, there from bliss follows him as shadow that does not depart.
Kaviratna
All the phenomena of existence have mind as their precursor, mind as their supreme leader, and of mind are they made. If with a pure mind one speaks or acts, happiness follows him like his shadow that never leaves him.
Muller
All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him.
Narada
Mind is the forerunner of (all good) states. Mind is chief; mind-made are they. If one speaks or acts with pure mind, because of that, happiness follows one, even as one’s shadow that never leaves.
Richards
Mind precedes its objects. They are mind-governed and mind-made. To speak or act with a peaceful mind, is to draw happiness after oneself, like an inseparable shadow.
Sarada
Mind precedes all knowables, mind’s their chief, mind-made are they. If with a clear, a confident mind one should either speak or act, happiness follows caused by that, as one’s shadow ne’er departing.
Tin
All mental phenomena have mind as their forerunner; they have mind as their chief; they are mind-made. If one speaks or acts with a pure mind, happiness follows him like a shadow that never leaves him.
