The Dhammapada is traditionally included in the Khuddaka Nikaya.
The Khuddaka Nikaya, or “Minor Collection,” is one of the five collections of the Sutta Pitaka in the Pali Canon. It contains a varied group of texts, including the Dhammapada, Udana, Itivuttaka, Sutta Nipata, and Jataka material. The Dhammapada itself consists of 423 verses arranged in 26 chapters.
Its verses address themes such as ethical conduct, mental discipline, wisdom, impermanence, and the consequences of actions. Because many passages are short and memorable, the Dhammapada has become one of the most widely translated Buddhist scriptures.
The word “Dhammapada” is commonly translated as “Way of the Dharma” or “Verses of the Dharma.” It is not a separate basket of the canon: the three baskets are the Vinaya Pitaka, Sutta Pitaka, and Abhidhamma Pitaka.