Peace and quiet are what they value. They do not glory in victory......Tao

Verse 31

Weapons are ill-omened things.
Among gentle people the left side is the place of honour when at home,
but in war the right side is the place of honour.

Weapons are not proper instruments for gentle people;
they use them only when they have no other choice.

Peace and quiet are what they value.
They do not glory in victory.
to glorify it is to delight in the slaughter of people.

Those who delight in the slaughter of people will
never thrive among all that dwell under heaven.

The army that has killed people should be received with sorrow.
Conquerors should be received with the rites of mourning.


Verse 32

The Tao is forever nameless.
Though the Uncarved Block is small,
it is not inferior to anything under heaven.

If leaders could keep hold of it,
the ten thousand things would submit to them freely.
Heaven and earth would unite and sweet dew would fall.

The people would live in harmony without any law or decree.
Only when the Block is carved are there names.

As soon as there are names it is time to stop.
Knowing when to stop prevents trouble.

All under heaven will return to the Tao
as brooks and streams flow home to the sea.


Verse 33

Knowing others is to be clever.
Knowing yourself is to be enlightened.

Overcoming others requires force.
Overcoming yourself requires strength.

To know that you have enough is to be rich.
Push through and you may get your way,

but return home and you will endure.
Live out your days and you have had a long life.


Verse 34

The great Tao covers everything like a flood.
It flows to the left and to the right.

The ten thousand things depend upon it
and it denies none of them.

It accomplishes its task yet claims no reward.
It clothes and feeds the ten thousand things

yet it does not attempt to control them.
Therefore, it may be called “the little.”

The ten thousand things return to it,
even though it does not control them.

Therefore, it may be called “the great.”
So it is that the True Person does not wish to be great
and therefore becomes truly great.

Verse 35

Hold on to the Great Image
and all under heaven will approach you.
Coming to you and not being harmed,
they will find rest, peace, and security.

A passing guest will pause at the sound of music
and the smell of fancy food.
By comparison the Tao is mild and flavourless.

It is not solid enough to be seen,
nor loud enough to be heard.
Yet, it lasts forever.


Verse 36

That which is to be shrunk must first be stretched out.
That which is to be weakened must first be strengthened.

That which is to be cast down must first be raised up.
That which is to be taken must first be given.

There is wisdom in dimming your light.
For the soft and gentle will overcome the hard and powerful.

Fish are best left in deep waters.
And, weapons are best kept out of sight.


Verse 37

The Tao never strives, yet nothing is left undone.

If leaders were able to adhere to it
the ten thousand things
would develop of their own accord.

If after they have developed
they experience desires to strive,
they can bury those desires
under the nameless Uncarved Block.

The nameless Uncarved Block can protect against desire.
When desires are restrained there will be peace,
and then all under heaven will be at rest.


Verse 38

A person of high virtue is not conscious of virtue
and therefore possesses Virtue.
A person of little virtue tries to be virtuous and therefore lacks Virtue.

A person of high virtue does not make a fuss and is not seen.
A person of little virtue always makes a fuss and is always seen.

A truly good person functions without ulterior motive.
A moralist acts out of private desires.
A ritualist acts and, when no one responds, rolls up a sleeve and marches.

When we lose the Tao, we turn to Virtue.
When we lose Virtue, we turn to kindness.
When we lose kindness, we turn to morality.
When we lose morality, we turn to ritual.

Ritual is the mere husk of good faith
and loyalty and the beginning of disorder.
Knowledge of what is to come may be a flower of the Tao,
but it is the beginning of folly.

Hence, the well-formed person relies
on what is solid and not on what is flimsy,
on the fruit and not the flower.
Therefore, such a person lets go of that without
and is content with this within.

Verse 39

From ancient times these things have arisen from the One:
Heaven is clear because of the One,
The earth is firm because of the One,
The Spirit is strong because of the One,
The valley is full because of the One,
The ten thousand things reproduce because of the One,
Leaders are able to lead because of the One.
All of this comes from the One.

If heaven were not clear it would soon split.
If the earth were not firm it would soon bend and break.
If the Spirit were not strong it would soon wear out.
If the valley were not full it would soon dry up.
If the ten thousand things did not reproduce they would soon die out.
If leaders could not lead they would soon fall.

Therefore, greatness has its source in the little.
The low is the foundation of the high.
Princes call themselves “alone,” “helpless,” “worthless.”
Is this not acknowledging a humble root?
Enumerate the parts of a carriage and you have not defined a carriage.
Better to resound like stone chimes than to tinkle like jade bells.


Verse 40

Returning is the direction of the Tao.
Yielding is the way of the Tao.

The ten thousand things are born of Being
and Being is born of Nonbeing.    
...........................................................Neelanjan