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Rating: 
Summary: Dhammapada as close to the Pali as the Buddha is to the hear
Review: Carter and Palihawadana have done an excellet job keeping close to the Pali with their 1987 work. If the chapters sound stilted and harsh to the Western ears, then that may have more to do with the awkwardness of the English language which often fails to simply render the spiritual depths of the heart of the Buddha adequately. The layout of the book is of three parts:
Introduction, The Text and the Text With Transliteration and Commentary. The introduction by Jaroslav Pelikan, a noted Yale historian with an academic knowledge of organized religion, notes that this is a long-distance collaboration where the originaly manuscript may have been a lot of ocean voyages on its own. The Text covers the English translation from Chapters 1 to 26. If the text is dry in parts, it might be because both authors may not have had the luxury of a long ocean voyage during which such allusions to the spiritual ocean of mercy and love (compassion) may have had time to be realized as the complement of the spiritual wisdom hinted at through the academic knowledge contained in Pelikan's introduction, Carter's invisible hand at the Text, and Palihawadana's translation and philological commentary. However, the lack of numbered reference notes to match the citations throughout Palihawadana left me eager for the pages that match the numbered references with the proper citations. Indeed, there are 63 such references awaiting final resolution. Yet the commentaries are very edifying and always delight me with a somewhat greater familitarity with Pali than before I opened the book.
Rating: 
Summary: Fine translation
Review: I have previously read classic Max Muller's version and some translations foud at numerous web-pages. I think this is clearly
the best of them. Carter and Palihawadana have retained texts lyric style but still their ambition is to bring autentic text as such to us. Hence reader have to use glossary where most importánt words and referensees are. I may be a bit annoying but
If you really want know exactly what what is in original dhammapada you has to use such method. Some at web "intreprete"
too much, then the text may look easier but It may go also wrong.
Only negative comment is that people to which english is not native language, text may have too mamy many fine but unfamiliar words. I recommend this book. It is one of the classics of Worlds religious teachings.
Rating:
Summary: Infinitely better than the Penguin Classics version
Review: It is not easy to translate an ancient Indian language (Pali) to flowing English and retain the original meanings and senses. This is a meticulous translation and it is clear the authors have spent time and effort to try and get it right. One of the authors being Sinhalese (which is also a language close to Pali)would have better understood the meanings and senses of terms more than most Western scholars, and the joint authorship suggests a polished and balanced approach to attain near perfection. No translation could articulate the experiential meanings behind the verses or hope to equal the ancient material, but this one gets close representing an honest attempt at a challenging goal. The English may appear somewhat academic but the work represents a thoroughly modern translation and OUP have done their homework in bestowing authorship. The publisher is to be congratulated and this book deserves the shelf of any good library. Penguin ought to update its totally inaccurate version without delay to retain credibility.
Rating: 
Summary: A dissappointment.
Review: The introduction was helpful as was the short bibliography but the text itself lacked any sense of poetic fluidity or clarity. A disappointment. I enjoyed the translation by Eknath Easwaran.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Translation
Review: This is one of the finest versions of the classic Theravada text out there. Carter and Palihawadana managed to strike the perfect balance of getting the timeless message of the Buddha's teaching across while at the same time presenting it in a straight foward, easy to understand manner. Those who are unfamiliar with The Dhammapada will find this translation very accessible while those who are will greatly appreciate beautiful wisdom-filled verses that Carter and Palihawadana have so eloquently preserved. The Introduction and explanatory notes throughout the text also provide a great deal of rich knowledge which adds even more depth to this most cherished of work of Buddhist literature.
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