sutta » sn » sn2 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 2.22

Khemasutta

With Khema Khema

Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho khemo devaputto bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi:
Standing to one side, the god Khema recited these verses in the Buddha’s presence:
Standing to one side, the young deva Khema recited these verses in the presence of the Blessed One:

“Caranti bālā dummedhā,
“Fools and simpletons behave
“Foolish people devoid of wisdom

amitteneva attanā;
like their own worst enemies,
Behave like enemies towards themselves.

Karontā pāpakaṁ kammaṁ,
doing wicked deeds
They go about doing evil deeds

yaṁ hoti kaṭukapphalaṁ.
that ripen as bitter fruit.
Which yield only bitter fruit.

Na taṁ kammaṁ kataṁ sādhu,
It’s not good to do a deed
“That deed is not well performed

yaṁ katvā anutappati;
that plagues you later on,
Which, having been done, is then repented,

Yassa assumukho rodaṁ,
for which you weep and wail,
The result of which one experiences

vipākaṁ paṭisevati.
as its effect stays with you.
Weeping with a tearful face.

Tañca kammaṁ kataṁ sādhu,
It is good to do a deed
“But that deed is well performed

yaṁ katvā nānutappati;
that doesn’t plague you later on,
Which, having been done, is not repented,

Yassa patīto sumano,
that gladdens and cheers,
The result of which one experiences

vipākaṁ paṭisevati.
as its effect stays with you.”
Joyfully with a happy mind.

Paṭikacceva taṁ kayirā,
“As a precaution, you should do
”[The Blessed One: ] “One should promptly do the deed

yaṁ jaññā hitamattano;
what you know is for your own welfare.
One knows leads to one’s own welfare;

Na sākaṭikacintāya,
A thinker, a wise one would not proceed
With the reflection of the carter.

mantā dhīro parakkame.
thinking like the cart driver.
The thinker, the wise one, should not advance

Yathā sākaṭiko maṭṭhaṁ,
Suppose a cart driver leaves the highway,
“As the carter who left the highway,

samaṁ hitvā mahāpathaṁ;
so even and well compacted.
A road with an even surface,

Visamaṁ maggamāruyha,
They enter upon a rough road,
And entered upon a rugged bypath

akkhacchinnova jhāyati.
and fret when their axle breaks.
Broods mournfully with a broken axle—

Evaṁ dhammā apakkamma,
So too, a dullard departs the good
“So the fool, having left the Dhamma

adhammamanuvattiya;
to follow what’s against the good.
To follow a way opposed to Dhamma,

Mando maccumukhaṁ patto,
Fallen in the jaws of death,
When he falls into the mouth of Death

akkhacchinnova jhāyatī”ti.
they fret like their axle’s broken.”
Broods like the carter with a broken axle. ”