Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).
Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho khemo devaputto bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi:
Standing to one side, the godling Khema recited these verses in the Buddha’s presence:
“Caranti bālā dummedhā,
“Fools and simpletons behave
amitteneva attanā;
like their own worst enemies,
Karontā pāpakaṁ kammaṁ,
doing wicked deeds
yaṁ hoti kaṭukapphalaṁ.
that ripen as bitter fruit.
Na taṁ kammaṁ kataṁ sādhu,
It’s not good to do a deed
yaṁ katvā anutappati;
that plagues you later on,
Yassa assumukho rodaṁ,
for which you weep and wail,
vipākaṁ paṭisevati.
as its effect stays with you.
Tañca kammaṁ kataṁ sādhu,
It is good to do a deed
yaṁ katvā nānutappati;
that doesn’t plague you later on,
Yassa patīto sumano,
that gladdens and cheers,
vipākaṁ paṭisevati.
as its effect stays with you.”
Paṭikacceva taṁ kayirā,
“As a precaution, you should do
yaṁ jaññā hitamattano;
what you know is for your own welfare.
Na sākaṭikacintāya,
A thinker, a wise one would not proceed
mantā dhīro parakkame.
thinking like the cart driver.
Yathā sākaṭiko maṭṭhaṁ,
Suppose a cart driver leaves the highway,
samaṁ hitvā mahāpathaṁ;
so even and well compacted.
Visamaṁ maggamāruyha,
They enter upon a rough road,
akkhacchinnova jhāyati.
and fret as soon as their axle is broken.
Evaṁ dhammā apakkamma,
So too, a dullard leaves the good
adhammamanuvattiya;
to follow what’s against the good.
Mando maccumukhaṁ patto,
Fallen in the jaws of death,
akkhacchinnova jhāyatī”ti.
they fret like one whose axle is broken.”
Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).
Standing to one side, the godling Khema recited these verses in the Buddha’s presence:
“Fools and simpletons behave
like their own worst enemies,
doing wicked deeds
that ripen as bitter fruit.
It’s not good to do a deed
that plagues you later on,
for which you weep and wail,
as its effect stays with you.
It is good to do a deed
that doesn’t plague you later on,
that gladdens and cheers,
as its effect stays with you.”
“As a precaution, you should do
what you know is for your own welfare.
A thinker, a wise one would not proceed
thinking like the cart driver.
Suppose a cart driver leaves the highway,
so even and well compacted.
They enter upon a rough road,
and fret as soon as their axle is broken.
So too, a dullard leaves the good
to follow what’s against the good.
Fallen in the jaws of death,
they fret like one whose axle is broken.”
Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho khemo devaputto bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi:
“Caranti bālā dummedhā,
amitteneva attanā;
Karontā pāpakaṁ kammaṁ,
yaṁ hoti kaṭukapphalaṁ.
Na taṁ kammaṁ kataṁ sādhu,
yaṁ katvā anutappati;
Yassa assumukho rodaṁ,
vipākaṁ paṭisevati.
Tañca kammaṁ kataṁ sādhu,
yaṁ katvā nānutappati;
Yassa patīto sumano,
vipākaṁ paṭisevati.
Paṭikacceva taṁ kayirā,
yaṁ jaññā hitamattano;
Na sākaṭikacintāya,
mantā dhīro parakkame.
Yathā sākaṭiko maṭṭhaṁ,
samaṁ hitvā mahāpathaṁ;
Visamaṁ maggamāruyha,
akkhacchinnova jhāyati.
Evaṁ dhammā apakkamma,
adhammamanuvattiya;
Mando maccumukhaṁ patto,
akkhacchinnova jhāyatī”ti.