Sacred Text · The Dhammapada
The Dhammapada, verse 103
Chapter 8, The Thousands · verse 103
“If one man conquer in battle a thousand times thousand men, and if another conquer himself, he is the greatest of conquerors.”
Dhammapada 103 · Müller
Translation: F. Max Müller (1881), The Dhammapada, Sacred Books of the East vol. X, public domain, via Project Gutenberg (ebook 2017). Reproduced in full and in context; verse 5 and the verse count (423 verses, 26 chapters) validated against the source before publishing.
Christian comparison
How this connects to Jesus
To conquer oneself is greater than to conquer thousands in battle. Jesus honoured the same inner victory: whoever would follow him must deny himself and take up his cross daily (Luke 9:23). Christianity teaches that this victory is not finally won by our strength alone; Christ wins it in us, and shares his victory with us.
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