Patna Dhammapada - 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.

Caranti bālā dummedhā amitteneva attanā,
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 kammaṁ, 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.

Na taṁ kammaṁ kataṁ sādhu, yaṁ katvā anutappati,
That deed is not well done, which, having done, one has regret,

yassa assumukho rodaṁ, vipākaṁ paṭisevati.
for which he has tears on his face, as the result follows him round.

Taṁ ca kammaṁ 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.

Tañ-ca kammaṁ kataṁ sādhu, yaṁ katvā nānutappati,
But that deed is well done, which, having done, one has no regret,

yassa patīto 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.

Yāvad-eva anatthāya, ñattaṁ bālassa jāyati,
As far as learning arises for a fool, it is only to his disadvantage,

hanti bālassa sukkaṁsaṁ, muddham-assa vipātayaṁ.
it destroys the fool’s good fortune, 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 ghī pravrajitā ca ye,
“Householders and renunciants should think this was done by me,

na me pratibalā assa, kiccākiccesu kesuci”,
let none be a match for me, in all to be done and not done”,

iti bālassa saṅkappo, icchā māno ca vaddhati.
so does the fool think, (meanwhile) his desires and conceit increase.

Asataṁ bhāvanam-iccheyya, purekkhārañ-ca bhikkhusu,
He may wish for the respect that is lacking, and status amongst the monastics,

āvāsesu ca issarⁱyaṁ, pūjā parakulesu ca:
for control in the living quarters, and worship amongst good families:

“Mameva kata’ maññantu gihī pabbajitā ubho,
“Householders and renunciants should both think this was done by me,

mameva ativasā assu, kiccākiccesu kismici”,
let them (all) be under my sway, in all to be done and not done”,

iti bālassa saṅkappo, icchā māno ca vaḍḍhati.
so does the fool think, (meanwhile) his desires and conceit increase.

[180cd(-181) Cone has divided the previous pair of verses and this pair differently, so that there are five verses instead of four, as here. As this goes against both the sense and the division in the Pāḷi parallel, it seems the division is wrong. To maintain consistency with Cone’s edition I have marked these three pādayugas as 180-181, although strictly speaking it is only one verse. ≈ Dhp 75]

Aññā hi lābhopaniśā, aññā 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.

Aññā hi lābhūpanisā, aññā Nibbānagāminī,
For the means to gains is one thing, the (path) going to Nibbāna another,

evam-etaṁ abhiññāya bhikkhu Buddhassa sāvako
thus knowing this the monastic disciple of the Buddha

sakkāraṁ nābhinandeyya, 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.

Jayaṁ ve maññate bālo, vācāya pharusaṁ bhaṇaṁ,
The fool thinks there is success, when he speaks words that are rough,

jayañ-cevassa taṁ hoti yā titikkhā vijānato.
but for the one who knows, endurance is his success.

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.

Abalaṁ taṁ balaṁ āhu, yassa bālabalaṁ balaṁ,
They say that power is powerless, 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.

Yo bālo maññati bālyaṁ, paṇḍito vāpi tena so,
The fool who knows (his) foolishness, is at least wise in that (matter),

bālo ca 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 Saddhammam avijānatāṁ.
long is the round of births and deaths for fools who know not True Dhamma.

Dīghā jāgarato ratti, dīghaṁ santassa yojanaṁ,
Long is the night for one awake, long is a league for one tired,

dīgho bālānaṁ saṁsāro Saddhammaṁ avijānataṁ.
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.

Pūtimacchaṁ kusaggena yo naro upanayhati,
That man who wraps up rotting fish with the best fragrant grass,

kusā pi pūti vāyanti, evaṁ bālūpasevanā.
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 Pinwheel (Tabernaemontana divaricata) is a common and fragrant flower. in flame-tree leaves,

pattaṁ pi surabhiṁ vāti evaṁ dhīropasevanā.
makes even the leaf fragrant, (and) so with those who associate with the wise.

Tagarañ-ca palāsena yo naro upanayhati,
That man who wraps up pinwheel in flame-tree leaves,

pattā pi surabhi vāyanti, evaṁ dhīrūpasevanā.
makes even the leaves 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.

Akaronto pi ce pāpaṁ karontam-upasevati,
If one who does no wickedness associates with one who does,

saṅkiyo hoti pāpasmiṁ, avaṇṇo cassa rūhati.
he is suspected of wickedness, and his disrepute increases.

Sevamāno sevamāne sampuṭṭho samphusaṁ pare,
An associate associating with others who are touched by contacts,

śaro litto kalāpe vā, alitte upalimpati,
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.

Sevamāno sevamānaṁ samphuṭṭho samphusaṁ paraṁ,
An associate associating with another who is touched by contacts,

saro diddho kalāpaṁ va, alittam upalimpati,
like a poisoned 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 sampākam āttano,
Therefore Therefore is said referring back to the group of verses beginning with 186 above. 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.

Tasmā pattapuṭasseva ñatvā sampākam attano,
Therefore knowing the result for oneself of the leaf container,

asante nopaseveyya, sante seveyya paṇḍito,
he should not follow the bad, the wise one should associate with the good,

asanto nirayaṁ nenti, santo pāpenti suggatiṁ.
the bad lead one to the underworld, the good attain heaven.

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.

Yāvajīvam-pi ce bālo paṇḍitaṁ payⁱrupāsati,
Even if a fool attends on a wise man for his whole life long,

na so Dhammaṁ vijānāti, dabbī sūparasaṁ yathā.
he does not learn Dhamma, just as spoon learns not the taste of curry.

Muhuttam api ce prañño 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.

Muhuttam-api ce viññū The word is different, but the meaning is similar. paṇḍitaṁ payⁱrupāsati,
If a perceptive man attends on a wise man even for a second,

khippaṁ Dhammaṁ vijānāti, jivhā sūparasaṁ yathā.
he quickly learns Dhamma, just as the tongue (learns) the taste of curry.

Nāppaṁ pāpassa maññeyā: na me taṁ āgamiṣyati,
One should not despise a little wickedness (thinking): it will not come to me,

udabindunipātena udakumbho 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.

Māppamaññetha pāpassa: na maṁ taṁ āgamissati,
One should not despise a little wickedness (thinking): it will not come to me,

udabindunipātena udakumbho pi pūrati,
through the falling of water drops the water-pot is (quickly) filled,

bālo pūrati pāpassa thokaṁ thokam-pi ācinaṁ.
the fool, gathering bit by bit, becomes full of wickedness.

Nāppaṁ puññassa 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 prañño puññassa thokathokaṁ pi ācinaṁ.
the wise one, gathering bit by bit, becomes full of merit.

Māppamaññetha puññassa: na maṁ taṁ āgamissati,
One should not despise a 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,

dhīro pūrati puññassa thokathokam-pi ācinaṁ.
the wise one, gathering bit by bit, becomes full of merit.