Overcome by the Fearful

Translated from the Pāḷi
by
Michael M. Olds

[1][pts] I Hear Tell:

Once upon a time, Sāvatthī-town revisiting
The Lucky Man addressed the beggars there:

"Beggars!"

And the beggars responding "Bhante!"
The Lucky Man said:

"Possessed by five things, beggars, a beggar has been overcome by the fearful.

What five?

In this case, beggars, a beggar is faithless,
is without ethical standards,
is unlearned,
is lazy,
is unwise.

These then beggars, are the five things possessed by which a beggar has been overcome by the fearful.

"Possessed by five things, beggars, a beggar is fearless.

What five?

In this case beggars, a beggar has faith,
has ethical standards
is learned,
is of aroused energy,
is wise.

These then, beggars, are the five things possessed by which a beggar is fearless.