“Let both layfolk and renunciants thinkMameva kata maññantu, the work was done by me alone.gihī pabbajitā ubho; In anything at all that’s to be done,Mamevātivasā assu, let them fall under my sway alone.”kiccākiccesu kismici; So thinks the fool,Iti bālassa saṅkappo, their greed and pride only growing.icchā māno ca vaḍḍhati.
- Minor CollectionKhuddakanikāya
- Sayings of the Dhamma 60–75Dhammapada
5. The FoolBālavagga
Long is the night for the wakeful;Dīghā jāgarato ratti, long is the league for the weary;dīghaṁ santassa yojanaṁ; long transmigrate the foolsDīgho bālāna saṁsāro, who don’t understand the true teaching.saddhammaṁ avijānataṁ.
If while wandering you find no partnerCarañce nādhigaccheyya, equal or better than yourself,Seyyaṁ sadisamattano; then firmly resolve to wander alone—Ekacariyaṁ daḷhaṁ kayirā, there’s no fellowship with fools.Natthi bāle sahāyatā.
“Sons are mine, wealth is mine”—Puttā matthi dhanaṁ matthi, thus the fool frets.iti bālo vihaññati; For even your self is not your own,Attā hi attano natthi, let alone your sons or wealth.kuto puttā kuto dhanaṁ.
The fool who thinks they’re a foolYo bālo maññati bālyaṁ, is wise at least to that extent.paṇḍito vāpi tena so; But the true fool is said to be oneBālo ca paṇḍitamānī, who imagines that they are wise.sa ve “bālo”ti vuccati.
Though a fool attends to the wiseYāvajīvampi ce bālo, even for the rest of their life,paṇḍitaṁ payirupāsati; they still don’t understand the teaching,Na so dhammaṁ vijānāti, like a spoon the taste of the soup.dabbī sūparasaṁ yathā.
If a clever person attends to the wiseMuhuttamapi ce viññū, even just for an hour or so,paṇḍitaṁ payirupāsati; they swiftly understand the teaching,Khippaṁ dhammaṁ vijānāti, like a tongue the taste of the soup.jivhā sūparasaṁ yathā.
Fools and simpletons behaveCaranti bālā dummedhā, like their own worst enemies,amitteneva attanā; doing wicked deedsKarontā pāpakaṁ kammaṁ, that ripen as bitter fruit.yaṁ hoti kaṭukapphalaṁ.
It’s not good to do a deedNa taṁ kammaṁ kataṁ sādhu, that plagues you later on,yaṁ katvā anutappati; for which you weep and wail,Yassa assumukho rodaṁ, as its effect stays with you.vipākaṁ paṭisevati.
It is good to do a deedTañca kammaṁ kataṁ sādhu, that doesn’t plague you later on,yaṁ katvā nānutappati; that gladdens and cheers,Yassa patīto sumano, as its effect stays with you.vipākaṁ paṭisevati.
The fool imagines that evil is sweet,Madhuṁvā maññati bālo, so long as it has not yet ripened.yāva pāpaṁ na paccati; But as soon as that evil ripens,Yadā ca paccati pāpaṁ, they fall into suffering.atha dukkhaṁ nigacchati.
Month after month a fool may eatMāse māse kusaggena, food from a grass-blade’s tip;bālo bhuñjeyya bhojanaṁ; but they’ll never be worth a sixteenth partNa so saṅkhātadhammānaṁ, of one who has appraised the teaching.kalaṁ agghati soḷasiṁ.
For a wicked deed that has been doneNa hi pāpaṁ kataṁ kammaṁ, does not curdle quickly like milk.Sajjukhīraṁva muccati; Smoldering, it follows the fool,Ḍahantaṁ bālamanveti, like a fire smothered over with ash.Bhasmacchannova pāvako.
Whatever fame a fool may get,Yāvadeva anatthāya, it only gives rise to harm.ñattaṁ bālassa jāyati; Whatever good features they have it ruins,Hanti bālassa sukkaṁsaṁ, and blows their head into bits.muddhamassa vipātayaṁ.
They’d seek the esteem that they lack,Asantaṁ bhāvanamiccheyya, and status among the mendicants;Purekkhārañca bhikkhusu; authority over monasteries,Āvāsesu ca issariyaṁ, and honor among other families.Pūjaṁ parakulesu ca.
For the means to profit and the path to quenchingAññā hi lābhūpanisā, are two quite different things.aññā nibbānagāminī; A mendicant disciple of the Buddha,Evametaṁ abhiññāya, understanding what this really means,bhikkhu buddhassa sāvako; would never delight in honors,Sakkāraṁ nābhinandeyya, but rather would foster seclusion.vivekamanubrūhaye.