With KhemaKhemasutta

Standing to one side, the godling Khema recited these verses in the Buddha’s presence:Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho khemo devaputto bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

“Fools and simpletons behave“Caranti 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.

“As a precaution, you should doPaṭikacceva taṁ kayirā, what you know is for your own welfare.yaṁ jaññā hitamattano; A thinker, an attentive one would not proceedNa sākaṭikacintāya, thinking like the cart driver.mantā dhīro parakkame.

Suppose a cart driver leaves the highway,Yathā sākaṭiko maṭṭhaṁ, so even and well compacted.samaṁ hitvā mahāpathaṁ; They enter upon a rough road,Visamaṁ maggamāruyha, and fret as soon as their axle is broken.akkhacchinnova jhāyati.

So too, a dullard leaves the goodEvaṁ dhammā apakkamma, to follow what’s against the good.adhammamanuvattiya; Fallen in the jaws of death,Mando maccumukhaṁ patto, they fret like one whose axle is broken.”akkhacchinnova jhāyatī”ti.