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Dhammapada 116–128

Pāpavagga

9. Wickedness · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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Abhittharetha kalyāṇe,
pāpā cittaṁ nivāraye;
Dandhañhi karoto puññaṁ,
pāpasmiṁ ramatī mano.

Rush to do good, shield your mind from evil; for when you’re slow to do good, your thoughts delight in wickedness.

Pāpañce puriso kayirā,
Na naṁ kayirā punappunaṁ;
Na tamhi chandaṁ kayirātha,
Dukkho pāpassa uccayo.

If you do something bad, don’t do it again and again, don’t set your heart on it, for piling up evil is suffering.

Puññañce puriso kayirā,
kayirā naṁ punappunaṁ;
Tamhi chandaṁ kayirātha,
sukho puññassa uccayo.

If you do something good, do it again and again, set your heart on it, for piling up goodness is joyful.

Pāpopi passati bhadraṁ,
Yāva pāpaṁ na paccati;
Yadā ca paccati pāpaṁ,
Atha pāpo pāpāni passati.

Even the wicked see good things, so long as their wickedness has not ripened. But as soon as that wickedness ripens, then the wicked see wicked things.

Bhadropi passati pāpaṁ,
Yāva bhadraṁ na paccati;
Yadā ca paccati bhadraṁ,
Atha bhadro bhadrāni passati.

Even the good see wicked things, so long as their goodness has not ripened. But as soon as that goodness ripens, then the good see good things.

Māvamaññetha pāpassa,
na mantaṁ āgamissati;
Udabindunipātena,
udakumbhopi pūrati;
Bālo pūrati pāpassa,
thokaṁ thokampi ācinaṁ.

Think not lightly of evil, that it won’t come back to you. The pot is filled with water falling drop by drop; the fool is filled with wickedness piled up bit by bit.

Māvamaññetha puññassa,
na mandaṁ āgamissati;
Udabindunipātena,
udakumbhopi pūrati;
Dhīro pūrati puññassa,
thokaṁ thokampi ācinaṁ.

Think not lightly of goodness, that it won’t come back to you. The pot is filled with water falling drop by drop; the attentive one is filled with goodness piled up bit by bit.

Vāṇijova bhayaṁ maggaṁ,
appasattho mahaddhano;
Visaṁ jīvitukāmova,
pāpāni parivajjaye.

Avoid wickedness, as a merchant with rich cargo and small escort would avoid a dangerous road, or one who loves life would avoid drinking poison.

Pāṇimhi ce vaṇo nāssa,
hareyya pāṇinā visaṁ;
Nābbaṇaṁ visamanveti,
natthi pāpaṁ akubbato.

You can carry poison in your hand if it has no wound, for poison does not infect without a wound; nothing bad happens unless you do bad.

Yo appaduṭṭhassa narassa dussati,
Suddhassa posassa anaṅgaṇassa;
Tameva bālaṁ pacceti pāpaṁ,
Sukhumo rajo paṭivātaṁva khitto.

Whoever wrongs a man who has done no wrong, a pure man who has not a blemish, the evil backfires on the fool, like fine dust thrown upwind.

Gabbhameke uppajjanti,
nirayaṁ pāpakammino;
Saggaṁ sugatino yanti,
parinibbanti anāsavā.

Some are born in a womb; evildoers go to hell; the virtuous go to heaven; the undefiled are fully extinguished.

Na antalikkhe na samuddamajjhe,
Na pabbatānaṁ vivaraṁ pavissa;
Na vijjatī so jagatippadeso,
Yatthaṭṭhito mucceyya pāpakammā.

Not in midair, nor mid-ocean, nor hiding in a mountain cleft; you’ll find no place on the planet to escape your wicked deeds.

Na antalikkhe na samuddamajjhe,
Na pabbatānaṁ vivaraṁ pavissa;
Na vijjatī so jagatippadeso,
Yatthaṭṭhitaṁ nappasaheyya maccu.
Pāpavaggo navamo.

Not in midair, nor mid-ocean, nor hiding in a mountain cleft; you’ll find no place on the planet where you won’t be vanquished by death.

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