Khemasutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 2.22

Linked Discourses 2.22

3. Nānātitthiyavagga

3. Various Sectarians

Khemasutta

With Khema

Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho khemo devaputto bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

Standing to one side, the godling Khema recited these verses in the Buddha’s presence:

“Caranti bālā dummedhā,

“Fools and simpletons behave

amitteneva attanā;

like their own worst enemies,

Karontā pāpakaṁ kammaṁ,

doing wicked deeds

yaṁ hoti kaṭukapphalaṁ.

that ripen as bitter fruit.

Na taṁ kammaṁ kataṁ sādhu,

It’s not good to do a deed

yaṁ katvā anutappati;

that plagues you later on,

Yassa assumukho rodaṁ,

for which you weep and wail,

vipākaṁ paṭisevati.

as its effect stays with you.

Tañca kammaṁ kataṁ sādhu,

It is good to do a deed

yaṁ katvā nānutappati;

that doesn’t plague you later on,

Yassa patīto sumano,

that gladdens and cheers,

vipākaṁ paṭisevati.

as its effect stays with you.”

Paṭikacceva taṁ kayirā,

“As a precaution, you should do

yaṁ jaññā hitamattano;

what you know is for your own welfare.

Na sākaṭikacintāya,

A thinker, an attentive one would not proceed

mantā dhīro parakkame.

thinking like the cart driver.

Yathā sākaṭiko maṭṭhaṁ,

Suppose a cart driver leaves the highway,

samaṁ hitvā mahāpathaṁ;

so even and well compacted.

Visamaṁ maggamāruyha,

They enter upon a rough road,

akkhacchinnova jhāyati.

and fret as soon as their axle is broken.

Evaṁ dhammā apakkamma,

So too, a dullard leaves the good

adhammamanuvattiya;

to follow what’s against the good.

Mando maccumukhaṁ patto,

Fallen in the jaws of death,

akkhacchinnova jhāyatī”ti.

they fret like one whose axle is broken.”