The Dhammapada is a collection of 423 verses in classical Pali language arranged in 26 chapters according to the subject-matter. As an authentic guide to seekers of Nirvana, the Dhammapada seems to present us with a complete perspective of the way to Nirvana.

The word Dhamma means Nirvana and the word Pada means the way. In other words Dhammapada has been interpreted in the sense of "The Way to Nirvana". Dhammapada has the same place in Buddhism as the Gita in Hinduism.

The Dhammapada is the most wonderful, distinguished and unique collection of euphonic, euphemistic verses of the Lord Buddha. It is the best collection of Tripitaka's Buddhist philosophical, moral and spiritual teachings.

All the verses of the text are fine, beautiful, melodious an are like glittering gems. This wonderful book has been captivating the hearts of scholars and saints from East and West alike from the remote past to present day.

For centuries past it has influenced the life and career of great men. Through these verses, the Buddha exhorts one to achieve the greatest of all conquests - the conquest of self; to escape from the evils of passion, hatred and ignorance and to strive hard to attain freedom from the cycle of rebirth. From Sanyutta Nikaya we know that the Dhammapada is meant for the manifold elevation and welfare of the human beings. The religious aspect dealt with in Dhammapada in Arya.

About the Author :

Dr. Mahesh Kumar Sharan, M.A. (A.1.&A.S), M.A, (Hist.), Ph.D., D.Litt., D.R.S. (b. 1944) topped the list of successful candidates of M.A. examination in Ancient Indian and Asian Studies of Magadh University, BodhGaya held in the year 1965. He was appointed Lecturer in the Post-Graduate Department of Ancient Indian and Asian Studies, Magadh University in January 1966. He secured his second M.A. degree in History in 1969. In the year 1969 also he was awarded Ph.D. degree. In 1973 he secured D. Litt. degree. Since 1974 he is the Head of the P.G. Department of Ancient Indian and Asian Studies, Gaya College Gaya. In 1980 he was promoted to the post of Reader and to the post of University Professor in the year 1985. He served the College till his retirement on 30.6.2004.

Dr. Sharan was invited by the Mahachulalongkorm Buddhist University, Bangkok (Thailand) as Guest Fellow and delivered a series of lectures on various aspects of Indian history and civilization.