From:
Patna Dharmapada Patna Dhammapada
11. Bāla 11. The Chapter about Fools
caranti bālā dummedhā amitteṇa-r-iva āttanā । Stupid fools live having themselves as their own foes,
karontā pāpakaṁ kammaṁ yaṁ hoti kaṭukapphalaṁ ।। committing wicked deeds, which produce bitter fruit.
kathañ ca taṁ kare kaṁmaṁ yaṁ kattā anutappati । How could he do that deed, which, having done, one has regret,
yassa aṁśumukho rodaṁ vipākaṁ paṭisevati ।। for which he has tears on his face, as the result follows him round.
taṁ ca kaṁmaṁ kataṁ sādhu yaṁ kattā nānutappati । But that deed is well done, which, having done, one has no regret,
yassa pratīto sumano vipākaṁ paṭisevati ।। for which he is pleased and happy, as the result follows him round.
yāvad eva anatthāya ñāttaṁ bālassa jāyati । As far as learning arises for a fool, it is only to his disadvantage,
hanti bālassa śukrāṅggaṁ (?) muddham assa nipātaye ।। it destroys the fool’s good quality, and it will destroy his head.
asatāṁ bhāvanam icchanti purekkhārañ ca bhikkhusu । He wishes for the respect that is lacking, and status amongst the monastics,
āvāsesu ca essariyaṁ pūjāṁ parakulesu ca ।। for control in the living quarters, and worship amongst good families:
mameva katamannentu gṛhī pravrajitā ca ye । “Householders and renunciants should think this was done by me,
na me pratibalā assa kiccā ’kiccesu kesuci ।। let none be a match for me, in all to be done and not done”,
iti bālassa saṁkappo icchāmāno ca vaddhati । so does the fool think, meanwhile his desires and conceit increase.
aṁñā hi lābhopaniśā aṁñā nibbāṇagāminī ।। For the means to gains is one thing, the path going to Nibbāna another,
evam etaṁ yathābhūtaṁ paśśaṁ buddhassa sāvako । thus seeing this as it really is the disciple of the Buddha
sakkāraṁ nābhinandeyā vivekam anubrūhaye ।। should not delight in honours, but practise in solitude.
jayaṁ ve manyate bālo vācāya paruṣaṁ bhaṇaṁ । The fool thinks there is success, when he speaks words that are rough,
satāṁ hesa jayo hoti yā titikkhā vijānato ।। but for the one who knows, endurance is the success of the good.
abalaṁ tassa balaṁ hoti yassa bālabalaṁ balaṁ । Without power is the power of him whose power is the power of a fool,
balassa dhammaguttassa paṭivattā na vijjati ।। reproach is not found for the powerful one, protected by Dhamma.
yo bālo bālamānī paṇḍito cāpi tattha so । The fool who conceives he is a fool, is at least wise in that matter,
bālo tu paṇḍitamānī sa ve bālo ti vuccati ।। the fool who is proud of his wisdom, he is said to be a fool indeed.
drīghā assupato rātrī drīghaṁ śāntassa yojanaṁ । Long is the night for one who sleeps not, long is a league for one tired,
drīgho bālānā saṁsāro saddhaṁmam avijānatāṁ ।। long is the round of births and deaths for fools who know not True Dhamma.
pūtimacche kuśāggreṇa yo naro upanahyati । That man who wraps up rotting fish with the best fragrant grass,
kuśā pi pūtiṁ vāyanti evaṁ bālopasevanā ।। makes the fragrant grass smell rotten, and so with those who associate with fools.
tagarañ ca palāśamhi yo naro upanahyati । That man who wraps up pinwheel in flame-tree leaves,
pattaṁ pi surabhiṁ vāti evaṁ dhīropasevanā ।। makes even the leaf fragrant, and so with those who associate with the wise.
akaronto pi ce pāpaṁ karonte upasevati । If one who does no wickedness associates with those who do,
śaṅkiyo hoti pāpamhi avaṇṇo cāssa rūhati ।। he is suspected of wickedness, and his disrepute increases.
sevamāno sevamāne saṁpuṭṭho saṁphusaṁ pare । An associate associating with others who are touched by contacts,
śaro litto kalāpe vā alitte upaliṁpati । like a smeared arrow in a bunch, smears that which is unsmeared,
upalepabhayā dhīro neva pāpasakhā siyā ।। fearing being smeared the wise one will not have wicked friends.
tassā phalapuṭasseva ñāyyā saṁpākam āttano । Therefore knowing the result for oneself of the fruit container,
asanto nopaseveyā santo seveya paṇḍito ।। he should not follow the bad one, the wise one should associate with the good one.
yāvaj jīvaṁ pi ce bālo paṇḍite payirupāsati । Even if a fool attends on a wise man for his whole life long,
neva dhammaṁ vijānāti dravvī sūparasān iva ।। he does not learn Dhamma, like the spoon learns not the taste of curry.
muhuttam api ce praṁño paṇḍite payirupāsati । If a perceptive man attends on a wise man even for a second,
khipraṁ dhammaṁ vijānāti jivhā sūparasān iva ।। he quickly learns Dhamma, like the tongue learns the taste of curry.
nāppaṁ pāpassa maṁñeyā na me taṁ āgamiṣyati । One should not despise a little wickedness thinking: it will not come to me,
udabindunipātena udakuṁbho pi pūrati ।। through the falling of water drops the water-pot is quickly filled,
pūrate bālo pāpassa thokathokaṁ pi ācinaṁ । the fool, gathering bit by bit, becomes full of wickedness.
nāppaṁ puṁñassa manyeyā na me taṁ āgamiṣyati ।। One should not despise little merit thinking: it will not come to me,
udabindunipātena udakumbho pi pūrati । through the falling of water drops the water-pot is quickly filled,
pūrate praṁño puṁñassa thokathokaṁ pi ācinaṁ ।। the wise one, gathering bit by bit, becomes full of merit.
Bālavarggaḥ The Chapter about Fools