Chapter 17: Anger

The author opens by prescribing that anger and pride must be abandoned, and that freedom from suffering comes through non-attachment to name, form, and possessions.

The author uses the metaphor of a chariot-driver holding back a rolling chariot to illustrate the ideal of one who masters rising anger, contrasting with ordinary people merely holding reins.

The author prescribes three virtues as antidotes to corresponding vices: overcoming anger with love, evil with good, and greed with liberality, and lies with truth.

The author identifies speaking truth, restraining anger, and charitable giving as three practices that lead one toward divine status.

The author asserts that those who harm no one and maintain bodily control reach the unchangeable place (Nirvana) and suffer no more.

The author claims that those who are vigilant day and night and strive toward Nirvana will extinguish their passions.

The author invokes an old saying stating that people blame the silent, the talkative, and the moderate—there is no one on earth who escapes blame.

The author presents a logical assertion that no person has ever been, is now, or will be constantly blamed or constantly praised.

The author argues that one whom the wise continually praise as blameless, wise, and virtuous—like pure gold—rises above blame and earns even divine praise.

The author warns against bodily anger and commands control of the body, leaving bodily sins and practicing bodily virtue.

The author warns against anger of the tongue and commands control of the tongue, leaving tongue sins and practicing tongue virtue.

The author warns against anger of the mind and commands control of the mind, leaving mental sins and practicing mental virtue.

The author concludes that those wise enough to control all three domains—body, tongue, and mind—achieve complete self-mastery.