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Kumārakasutta

The Boys

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—
So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā kumārakā antarā ca sāvatthiṁ antarā ca jetavanaṁ macchake bādhenti.
Now at that time, between Sāvatthī and the Jeta Grove, several boys were tormenting some fish.

Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.
Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms.

Addasā kho bhagavā te sambahule kumārake antarā ca sāvatthiṁ antarā ca jetavanaṁ macchake bādhente.
He saw the boys tormenting the fish.

Disvāna yena te kumārakā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā te kumārake etadavoca:
He went to them and said,

“bhāyatha vo, tumhe kumārakā, dukkhassa, appiyaṁ vo dukkhan”ti?
“Boys, do you fear pain? Do you dislike pain?”

“Evaṁ, bhante, bhāyāma mayaṁ, bhante, dukkhassa, appiyaṁ no dukkhan”ti.
“Yes, sir,” they replied. “We dislike pain.”

Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:
Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:

“Sace bhāyatha dukkhassa,
“If you fear pain,

sace vo dukkhamappiyaṁ;
if you dislike pain,

Mākattha pāpakaṁ kammaṁ,
don’t do bad deeds

āvi vā yadi vā raho.
either openly or in secret.

Sace ca pāpakaṁ kammaṁ,
If you should do a bad deed,

karissatha karotha vā;
now or in the future,

Na vo dukkhā pamutyatthi,
you won’t be freed from suffering,

upeccapi palāyatan”ti.
though you fly away and flee.”

Catutthaṁ.