UD 5.4  Kumāraka sutta - Boys

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā kumārakā antarā ca sāvatthiṁ antarā ca jetavanaṁ macchake bādhenti.

Thus have I heard—At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthi, in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park. Now at that time, several boys were catching fish between Sāvatthi and Jeta’s Grove.

Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi. Addasā kho bhagavā te sambahule kumārake antarā ca sāvatthiṁ antarā ca jetavanaṁ macchake bādhente. Disvāna yena te kumārakā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā te kumārake etadavoca: “bhāyatha vo, tumhe kumārakā, dukkhassa, appiyaṁ vo dukkhan”ti? “Evaṁ, bhante, bhāyāma mayaṁ, bhante, dukkhassa, appiyaṁ no dukkhan”ti.

Then the Blessed One, having dressed early in the morning and taking his alms bowl and outer robe, entered Sāvatthi for alms. The Blessed One saw those several boys between Sāvatthi and Jeta’s Grove, catching fish. Seeing them, he approached those boys; and having approached them, he said to the boys: “Are you afraid, boys, of |suffering::pain, discomfort, unease, unpleasantness, trouble, stress [dukkha]|? Is suffering displeasing to you?” “Yes, venerable sir, we are afraid of suffering; suffering is displeasing to us.”

Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

Then, understanding the significance of this, the Blessed One at that time expressed this inspired utterance:

“Sace bhāyatha dukkhassa,
sace vo dukkhamappiyaṁ;
Mākattha pāpakaṁ kammaṁ,
āvi vā yadi vā raho.

“If you fear suffering,
if suffering is displeasing to you;
Do not commit evil deeds,
whether openly or in secret.

Sace ca pāpakaṁ kammaṁ,
karissatha karotha vā;
Na vo dukkhā pamutyatthi,
upeccapi palāyatan”ti.

If you commit evil deeds,
or plan to commit them;
There is no escape from suffering for you,
even if you try to flee.”