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Khuddakanikāya Collection of Minor Texts Minor Collection
Dhammapada Verses of Dhamma Sayings of the Dhamma 60–75
Bālavagga Chapter on Fools 5. The Fool
Aññatarapurisavatthu
Dīghā jāgarato ratti, Long is the night for one who is awake, Long is the night for the wakeful;
dīghaṁ santassa yojanaṁ; long is a yojana for one who is weary, long is the league for the weary;
Dīgho bālāna saṁsāro, long is saṁsāra for fools long transmigrate the fools
saddhammaṁ avijānataṁ. who do not understand the true Dhamma. who don’t understand the true teaching.
Mahākassapasaddhivihārikavatthu
Carañce nādhigaccheyya, If you do not find a traveler If while wandering you find no partner
Seyyaṁ sadisamattano; who is superior or equal to yourself, equal or better than yourself,
Ekacariyaṁ daḷhaṁ kayirā, then resolutely travel alone; then firmly resolve to wander alone—
Natthi bāle sahāyatā. one cannot go with a fool. there’s no fellowship with fools.
Ānandaseṭṭhivatthu
Puttā matthi dhanaṁ matthi, A fool is tormented “Sons are mine, wealth is mine”—
iti bālo vihaññati; by thoughts of children and wealth; thus the fool frets.
Attā hi attano natthi, but since one does not even possess oneself, For even your self is not your own,
kuto puttā kuto dhanaṁ. how could one possess children and wealth? let alone your sons or wealth.
Gaṇṭhibhedakacoravatthu
Yo bālo maññati bālyaṁ, A fool who conceives of foolishness The fool who thinks they’re a fool
paṇḍito vāpi tena so; is wise in that regard; is wise at least to that extent.
Bālo ca paṇḍitamānī, but a fool who has the conceit of wisdom But the true fool is said to be one
sa ve “bālo”ti vuccati. can truly be called a fool. who imagines that they are wise.
Udāyittheravatthu
Yāvajīvampi ce bālo, Even if a fool spends a lifetime Though a fool attends to the wise
paṇḍitaṁ payirupāsati; in the presence of the wise, even for the rest of their life,
Na so dhammaṁ vijānāti, they do not understand the Dhamma, they still don’t understand the teaching,
dabbī sūparasaṁ yathā. just as a spoon does not understand the flavor of soup. like a spoon the taste of the soup.
Tiṁsapāveyyakabhikkhuvatthu
Muhuttamapi ce viññū, Even if a discerning person spends only a moment If a clever person attends to the wise
paṇḍitaṁ payirupāsati; in the presence of the wise, even just for an hour or so,
Khippaṁ dhammaṁ vijānāti, they quickly understand the Dhamma, they swiftly understand the teaching,
jivhā sūparasaṁ yathā. just as a tongue understands the flavor of soup. like a tongue the taste of the soup.
Suppabuddhakuṭṭhivatthu
Caranti bālā dummedhā, Unwise fools act as if Fools and simpletons behave
amitteneva attanā; they are not even their own friends—like their own worst enemies,
Karontā pāpakaṁ kammaṁ, they perform evil actions doing wicked deeds
yaṁ hoti kaṭukapphalaṁ. which yield bitter fruit. that ripen as bitter fruit.
Kassakavatthu
Na taṁ kammaṁ kataṁ sādhu, It is not good to perform an action It’s not good to do a deed
yaṁ katvā anutappati; which one will later regret, that plagues you later on,
Yassa assumukho rodaṁ, when, weeping with a tearful face, for which you weep and wail,
vipākaṁ paṭisevati. one experiences its result. as its effect stays with you.
Sumanamālākāravatthu
Tañca kammaṁ kataṁ sādhu, But it is good to perform an action It is good to do a deed
yaṁ katvā nānutappati; which one will not later regret, that doesn’t plague you later on,
Yassa patīto sumano, when, satisfied and uplifted, that gladdens and cheers,
vipākaṁ paṭisevati. one experiences its result. as its effect stays with you.
Uppalavaṇṇattherīvatthu
Madhuṁvā maññati bālo, A fool thinks that evil is sweet The fool imagines that evil is sweet,
yāva pāpaṁ na paccati; as long as its results have yet to fully manifest; so long as it has not yet ripened.
Yadā ca paccati pāpaṁ, but when the results of that evil fully manifest, But as soon as that evil ripens,
atha dukkhaṁ nigacchati. then they descend into suffering. they fall into suffering.
Jambukattheravatthu
Māse māse kusaggena, Month after month Month after month a fool may eat
bālo bhuñjeyya bhojanaṁ; a fool might eat using the tip of a blade of grass; food from a grass-blade’s tip;
Na so saṅkhātadhammānaṁ, but such a one is not worth even a sixteenth as much but they’ll never be worth a sixteenth part
kalaṁ agghati soḷasiṁ. as those who comprehend the Dhamma. of one who has fathomed the teaching.
Ahipetavatthu
Na hi pāpaṁ kataṁ kammaṁ, Once an evil action has been performed, For a wicked deed that has been done
Sajjukhīraṁva muccati; it is not released suddenly like milk; does not curdle quickly like milk.
Ḍahantaṁ bālamanveti, burning, it follows a fool, Smoldering, it follows the fool,
Bhasmacchannova pāvako. like fire concealed by ash. like a fire smothered over with ash.
Saṭṭhikūṭapetavatthu
Yāvadeva anatthāya, It brings no benefit Whatever fame a fool may get,
ñattaṁ bālassa jāyati; when fame comes to a fool; it only gives rise to harm.
Hanti bālassa sukkaṁsaṁ, it destroys their good traits Whatever good features they have it ruins,
muddhamassa vipātayaṁ. and tears apart their head. and blows their head into bits.
Cittagahapativatthu
Asantaṁ bhāvanamiccheyya, A fool wishes for a false existence—They’d seek the esteem that they lack,
Purekkhārañca bhikkhusu; preeminence among monks, and status among the mendicants;
Āvāsesu ca issariyaṁ, dominion in residences, authority over monasteries,
Pūjaṁ parakulesu ca. and honor among other families. and honor among other families.
Mameva kata maññantu, “May both renunciants and laypeople “Let both layfolk and renunciants think
gihī pabbajitā ubho; think it was done by me alone; the work was done by me alone.
Mamevātivasā assu, may I alone have the highest authority, In anything at all that’s to be done,
kiccākiccesu kismici; in determining what should or should not be done.” let them fall under my sway alone.”
Iti bālassa saṅkappo, In this way, So thinks the fool,
icchā māno ca vaḍḍhati. the attitude, desire, and conceit of a fool grows. their greed and pride only growing.
Vanavāsitissasāmaṇeravatthu
Aññā hi lābhūpanisā, Knowledge is the cause of gain, For the means to profit and the path to quenching
aññā nibbānagāminī; knowledge leads to Nibbāna; are two quite different things.
Evametaṁ abhiññāya, since this is exactly what A mendicant disciple of the Buddha,
bhikkhu buddhassa sāvako; a monastic disciple of the Buddha understands, understanding what this really means,
Sakkāraṁ nābhinandeyya, they do not delight in acclaim; would never delight in honors,
vivekamanubrūhaye. they devote themselves to seclusion. but rather would foster seclusion.
Bālavaggo pañcamo.