‹ Library

Dhammapada 60–75

Bālavagga

5. Fools · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

Parallels & more translations on SuttaCentral

Glosses: Fluent · Literal · Off
Translation: Hide · Show

Tap any word for its dictionary entry.

longDīghā for the wakefuljāgarato nightratti,
longdīghaṁ for the wearysantassa leagueyojanaṁ;
longDīgho of foolsbālāna transmigrationsaṁsāro,
true teachingsaddhammaṁ not understandingavijānataṁ.

if while wanderingCarañce should not findnādhigaccheyya,
betterSeyyaṁ or equal to oneselfsadisamattano;
wandering aloneEkacariyaṁ firmdaḷhaṁ should makekayirā,
there is notNatthi with foolsbāle fellowshipsahāyatā.

sonsPuttā are minematthi wealthdhanaṁ is minematthi,
thusiti foolbālo fretsvihaññati;
selfAttā indeedhi of oneselfattano is notnatthi,
from wherekuto sonsputtā from wherekuto wealthdhanaṁ.

whoYo a foolbālo thinksmaññati foolishnessbālyaṁ,
a wise onepaṇḍito or evenvāpi to that extenttena heso;
a foolBālo butca one who imagines himself wisepaṇḍitamānī,
hesa indeedve "a fool"“bālo”ti is calledvuccati.

even for lifeYāvajīvampi ifce a foolbālo,
the wise onepaṇḍitaṁ attends topayirupāsati;
notNa heso the teachingdhammaṁ understandsvijānāti,
a spoondabbī the taste of the soupsūparasaṁ likeyathā.

even for an hourMuhuttamapi ifce clever personviññū,
the wisepaṇḍitaṁ attends topayirupāsati;
swiftlyKhippaṁ the teachingdhammaṁ understandsvijānāti,
a tonguejivhā the taste of the soupsūparasaṁ likeyathā.

they wanderCaranti foolsbālā simpletonsdummedhā,
just like an enemyamitteneva with themselvesattanā;
doingKarontā wickedpāpakaṁ deedkammaṁ,
whichyaṁ becomeshoti of bitter fruitkaṭukapphalaṁ.

notNa thattaṁ deedkammaṁ donekataṁ good,sādhu,
whichyaṁ having donekatvā one is tormented;anutappati;
whoseYassa with tearful faceassumukho weeping,rodaṁ,
effectvipākaṁ experiences.paṭisevati.

and thatTañca deedkammaṁ donekataṁ goodsādhu,
whichyaṁ having donekatvā does not regretnānutappati;
whoseYassa delightedpatīto glad-mindedsumano,
effectvipākaṁ experiencespaṭisevati.

as honeyMadhuṁvā imaginesmaññati the foolbālo,
as long asyāva evilpāpaṁ notna ripenspaccati;
whenYadā andca ripenspaccati evilpāpaṁ,
thenatha sufferingdukkhaṁ falls intonigacchati.

month after monthMāse month after monthmāse with a blade of kusa grasskusaggena,
a foolbālo might eatbhuñjeyya foodbhojanaṁ;
notNa heso of those who have appraised the teachingsaṅkhātadhammānaṁ,
a partkalaṁ is worthagghati a sixteenthsoḷasiṁ.

notNa indeedhi wickedpāpaṁ donekataṁ deedkammaṁ,
like fresh milkSajjukhīraṁva curdlesmuccati;
smolderingḌahantaṁ it follows the foolbālamanveti,
like a fire smothered over with ashBhasmacchannova firepāvako.

as far as indeedYāvadeva for harmanatthāya,
fameñattaṁ of a foolbālassa is bornjāyati;
it strikesHanti of a foolbālassa good featuressukkaṁsaṁ,
and its headmuddhamassa blowing apartvipātayaṁ.

esteem that they lackAsantaṁ they would seekbhāvanamiccheyya,
and statusPurekkhārañca among the mendicantsbhikkhusu;
authority over monasteriesĀvāsesu andca authorityissariyaṁ,
honorPūjaṁ among other familiesparakulesu andca.

by me aloneMameva donekata let them thinkmaññantu,
layfolkgihī renunciantspabbajitā bothubho;
under my sway aloneMamevātivasā let them beassu,
in things to be done and not donekiccākiccesu in anything at allkismici;
soIti of the foolbālassa thoughtsaṅkappo,
greedicchā pridemāno andca growsvaḍḍhati.

one thingAññā indeedhi means to profitlābhūpanisā,
anotheraññā going to quenchingnibbānagāminī;
thisEvametaṁ having understoodabhiññāya,
a mendicantbhikkhu of the Buddhabuddhassa disciplesāvako;
honorsSakkāraṁ would not delight innābhinandeyya,
would foster seclusionvivekamanubrūhaye.
the chapter on foolsBālavaggo fifthpañcamo.

Lite mode — plain HTML for e-readers and old browsers. Full version