DHAMMAPADAYA - Bala Waggaya (English)

Dīghā jāgarato ratti,
dīghaṃ santassa yojanaṃ;
Dīgho bālāna saṃsāro,
saddhammaṃ avijānataṃ.

60. Night is long for one lying awake. Seven miles is long for one exhausted. The journey of rebirth is long for fools who do not realize the true Dhamma.

Carañce nādhigaccheyya,
Seyyaṃ sadisamattano;
Ekacariyaṃ daḷhaṃ kayirā,
Natthi bāle sahāyatā.

61. You should find a friend who has better qualities than you or has equal qualities. If you do not find such a friend, with great determination, you should live alone. There is no friendship with fools.

Puttā matthi dhanaṃ matthi,
iti bālo vihaññati;
Attā hi attano natthi,
kuto puttā kuto dhanaṃ.

62. The fool is occupied with worldly things saying, “I have children! I have wealth!” In reality, one’s self is not even one’s own. How then are children? How then is wealth?

Yo bālo maññati bālyaṃ,
paṇḍito vāpi tena so;
Bālo ca paṇḍitamānī,
sa ve “bālo”ti vuccati.

63. The fool who knows his foolishness is wise to that extent. But a fool who considers himself wise is the one indeed to be called a fool.

Yāvajīvampi ce bālo,
paṇḍitaṃ payirupāsati;
Na so dhammaṃ vijānāti,
dabbī sūparasaṃ yathā.

64. Though a fool associates with a wise person for his entire life, he never understands the Dhamma like the spoon that never tastes the flavour of soup.

Muhuttamapi ce viññū,
paṇḍitaṃ payirupāsati;
Khippaṃ dhammaṃ vijānāti,
jivhā sūparasaṃ yathā.

65. Though a wise person associates with a wise person only for a moment, he quickly realizes this Dhamma, like the tongue that tastes the flavour of the soup.

Caranti bālā dummedhā,
amitteneva attanā;
Karontā pāpakaṃ kammaṃ,
yaṃ hoti kaṭukapphalaṃ.

66. Fools with no wisdom act as their own enemies. They live doing much evil. Eventually, their evil deeds will bear bitter fruit.

Na taṃ kammaṃ kataṃ sādhu,
yaṃ katvā anutappati;
Yassa assumukho rodaṃ,
vipākaṃ paṭisevati.

67. No deed is good that one regrets having done. No deed is good if the result is to be experienced with weeping and a tear-streaked face.

Tañca kammaṃ kataṃ sādhu,
yaṃ katvā nānutappati;
Yassa patīto sumano,
vipākaṃ paṭisevati.

68. A deed is good when one does not regret having done it. A deed is good if the result is to be experienced with joy and delight.

Madhuṃvā maññati bālo,
yāva pāpaṃ na paccati;
Yadā ca paccati pāpaṃ,
atha dukkhaṃ nigacchati.

69. As long as the results of evil deeds have not ripened, the fool thinks doing evil is as sweet as honey. But when the evil deeds ripen, then the fool suffers greatly.

Māse māse kusaggena,
bālo bhuñjeyya bhojanaṃ;
Na so saṅ­khā­ta­dhammānaṃ,
kalaṃ agghati soḷasiṃ.

70. The foolish ascetic who eats food with the tip of a blade of grass, month after month, is not worth a sixtieth part of the lives of the liberated ones who have realized the Dhamma.

Na hi pāpaṃ kataṃ kammaṃ,
Sajjukhīraṃva muccati;
Ḍahantaṃ bālamanveti,
Bhas­macchan­nova pāvako.

71. It is true that fresh milk curdles immediately, but the result of one’s evil deed does not ripen immediately. Rather, smoldering like fire covered by ashes, the result of the evil deed follows the fool looking for a chance to ripen.

Yāvadeva anatthāya,
ñattaṃ bālassa jāyati;
Hanti bālassa sukkaṃsaṃ,
muddhamassa vipātayaṃ.

72. The knowledge gained by the fool leads to his own ruin. He destroys his remaining goodness entirely. Finally, he cuts off his own head, namely his own wisdom.

Asantaṃ bhāva­na­mic­cheyya,
Purekkhārañca bhikkhusu;
Āvāsesu ca issariyaṃ,
Pūjaṃ parakulesu ca.

73. The foolish monk always desires to gain honour from others. He seeks leadership over fellow monks. He is greedy for authority in the monasteries. He desires gifts and homage from householders.

Mameva kata maññantu,
gihī pabbajitā ubho;
Mamevātivasā assu,
kiccākiccesu kismici;
Iti bālassa saṅkappo,
icchā māno ca vaḍḍhati.

74. The foolish monk thinks, “both householders and monks must seek advice only from me. In every task, they must follow my instructions.” These intentions only increase his evil wishes and pride.

Aññā hi lābhūpanisā,
aññā nibbānagāminī;
Evametaṃ abhiññāya,
bhikkhu buddhassa sāvako;
Sakkāraṃ nābhinandeyya,
viveka­manub­rūhaye.

75. The way to worldly gain, honour, fame, and praise is one thing. The way to Nibbāna is another. The monk, the disciple of the Buddha, clearly understands this distinction. Therefore, he does not delight in honour. His top priority is living in seclusion.

Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!