Daṇḍasutta

Udāna 2.3

Heartfelt Sayings 2.3

Daṇḍasutta

A Stick

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā kumārakā antarā ca sāvatthiṁ antarā ca jetavanaṁ ahiṁ daṇḍena hananti.

Now at that time, between Sāvatthī and the Jeta Grove, several boys were hitting a snake with a stick.

Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.

Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms.

Addasā kho bhagavā sambahule kumārake antarā ca sāvatthiṁ antarā ca jetavanaṁ ahiṁ daṇḍena hanante.

He saw the boys hitting the snake.

Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:

“Sukhakāmāni bhūtāni,

“Creatures love happiness,

yo daṇḍena vihiṁsati;

so if you harm them with a stick

Attano sukhamesāno,

in search of your own happiness,

pecca so na labhate sukhaṁ.

after death you’ll find no happiness.

Sukhakāmāni bhūtāni,

Creatures love happiness,

yo daṇḍena na hiṁsati;

so if you don’t harm them with a stick

Attano sukhamesāno,

in search of your own happiness,

pecca so labhate sukhan”ti.

after death you will find happiness.”

Tatiyaṁ.