Dhammapada

The Path of Dhamma

IX. Papavagga: Evil (116-128)

By Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
For free distribution only.

[116] Be quick in doing
what's admirable.
Restrain your mind
from what's evil.
When you're slow
in making merit,
evil delights the mind.

[117] If a person does evil,
he shouldn't do it again and again,
shouldn't develop a penchant for it.
To accumulate evil
brings pain.

[118] If a person makes merit,
he should do it again and again,
should develop a penchant for it.
To accumulate merit
brings ease.

[119] Even the evil
meet with good fortune
as long as their evil
has yet to mature.
But when it's matured
that's when they meet
with evil.

[120] Even the good
meet with bad fortune
as long as their good
has yet to mature.
But when it's matured
that's when they meet
with good fortune.

[121] Don't be heedless of evil
('It won't come to me').
A water jar fills,
even with water
falling in drops.
With evil -- even if
bit
by
bit,
habitually --
the fool fills himself full.

[122] Don't be heedless of merit
('It won't come to me').
A water jar fills,
even with water
falling in drops.
With merit -- even if
bit
by
bit,
habitually --
the enlightened one fills himself full.

[123] Like a merchant with a small
but well-laden caravan
-- a dangerous road,
like a person who loves life
-- a poison,
one should avoid
-- evil deeds.

[124] If there's no wound on the hand,
that hand can hold poison.
Poison won't penetrate
where there's no wound.
There's no evil
for those who don't do it.

[125] Whoever harasses
an innocent man,
a man pure, without blemish:
the evil comes right back to the fool
like fine dust
thrown against the wind.

[126] Some are born in the human womb,
evildoers in hell,
those on the good course go
to heaven,
while those without effluent:
totally unbound.

[127] Not up in the air,
nor in the middle of the sea,
nor going into a cleft in the mountains
-- nowhere on earth --
is a spot to be found
where you could stay and escape
your evil deed.

[128] Not up in the air,
nor in the middle of the sea,
nor going into a cleft in the mountains
-- nowhere on earth --
is a spot to be found
where you could stay and not succumb
to death.

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