V. Balavagga ~ The Fool
1. dīghā jāgarato ratti, dīghaṃ santassa yojanaṃ.
dīgho bālānaṃ saṃsāro, saddhammaṃ avijānataṃ.
Long is the night to the sleepless; long is the league to the weary. Long is worldly existence to fools who know not the Sublime Truth.
dīgho bālānaṃ saṃsāro, saddhammaṃ avijānataṃ.
Long is the night to the sleepless; long is the league to the weary. Long is worldly existence to fools who know not the Sublime Truth.
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2. carañce nādhigaccheyya, seyyaṃ sadisamattano.
ekacariyaṃ daḷhaṃ kayirā, natthi bāle sahāyatā.
Should a seeker not find a companion who is better or equal, let him resolutely pursue a solitary course; there is no fellowship with the fool.
ekacariyaṃ daḷhaṃ kayirā, natthi bāle sahāyatā.
Should a seeker not find a companion who is better or equal, let him resolutely pursue a solitary course; there is no fellowship with the fool.
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3. puttā matthi dhanammatthi, iti bālo vihaññati.
attā hi attano natthi, kuto puttā kuto dhanaṃ.
The fool worries, thinking, "I have sons, I have wealth." Indeed, when he himself is not his own, whence are sons, whence is wealth?
attā hi attano natthi, kuto puttā kuto dhanaṃ.
The fool worries, thinking, "I have sons, I have wealth." Indeed, when he himself is not his own, whence are sons, whence is wealth?
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4. yo bālo maññati bālyaṃ, paṇḍito vāpi tena so.
bālo ca paṇḍitamānī, sa ve 'bālo'ti vuccati.
A fool who knows his foolishness is wise at least to that extent, but a fool who thinks himself wise is a fool indeed.
bālo ca paṇḍitamānī, sa ve 'bālo'ti vuccati.
A fool who knows his foolishness is wise at least to that extent, but a fool who thinks himself wise is a fool indeed.
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5. yāvajīvampi ce bālo, paṇḍitaṃ payirupāsati.
na so dhammaṃ vijānāti, dabbī sūparasaṃ yathā.
Though all his life a fool associates with a wise man, he no more comprehends the Truth than a spoon tastes the flavor of the soup.
na so dhammaṃ vijānāti, dabbī sūparasaṃ yathā.
Though all his life a fool associates with a wise man, he no more comprehends the Truth than a spoon tastes the flavor of the soup.
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6. muhuttamapi ce viññū, paṇḍitaṃ payirupāsati.
khippaṃ dhammaṃ vijānāti, jivhā sūparasaṃ yathā.
Though only for a moment a discerning person associates with a wise man, quickly he comprehends the Truth, just as the tongue tastes the flavor of the soup.
khippaṃ dhammaṃ vijānāti, jivhā sūparasaṃ yathā.
Though only for a moment a discerning person associates with a wise man, quickly he comprehends the Truth, just as the tongue tastes the flavor of the soup.
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7. caranti bālā dummedhā, amitteneva attanā.
karontā pāpakaṃ kammaṃ, yaṃ hoti kaṭukapphalaṃ.
Fools of little wit are enemies unto themselves as they move about doing evil deeds, the fruits of which are bitter.
karontā pāpakaṃ kammaṃ, yaṃ hoti kaṭukapphalaṃ.
Fools of little wit are enemies unto themselves as they move about doing evil deeds, the fruits of which are bitter.
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8. na taṃ kammaṃ kataṃ sādhu, yaṃ katvā anutappati.
yassa assumukho rodaṃ, vipākaṃ paṭisevati.
Ill done is that action of doing which one repents later, and the fruit of which one, weeping, reaps with tears.
yassa assumukho rodaṃ, vipākaṃ paṭisevati.
Ill done is that action of doing which one repents later, and the fruit of which one, weeping, reaps with tears.
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9. tañca kammaṃ kataṃ sādhu, yaṃ katvā nānutappati.
yassa patīto sumano, vipākaṃ paṭisevati.
Well done is that action of doing which one repents not later, and the fruit of which one reaps with delight and happiness.
yassa patīto sumano, vipākaṃ paṭisevati.
Well done is that action of doing which one repents not later, and the fruit of which one reaps with delight and happiness.
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10. madhuvā maññati bālo, yāva pāpaṃ na paccati.
yadā ca paccati pāpaṃ, bālo dukkhaṃ nigacchati.
So long as an evil deed has not ripened, the fool thinks it as sweet as honey. But when the evil deed ripens, the fool comes to grief.
yadā ca paccati pāpaṃ, bālo dukkhaṃ nigacchati.
So long as an evil deed has not ripened, the fool thinks it as sweet as honey. But when the evil deed ripens, the fool comes to grief.
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11. māse māse kusaggena, bālo bhuñjeyya bhojanaṃ.
na so saṅkhātadhammānaṃ, kalaṃ agghati soḷasiṃ.
Month after month a fool may eat his food with the tip of a blade of grass, but he still is not worth a sixteenth part of the those who have comprehended the Truth.
na so saṅkhātadhammānaṃ, kalaṃ agghati soḷasiṃ.
Month after month a fool may eat his food with the tip of a blade of grass, but he still is not worth a sixteenth part of the those who have comprehended the Truth.
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12. na hi pāpaṃ kataṃ kammaṃ, sajju khīraṃva muccati.
ḍahantaṃ bālamanveti, bhasmacchannova pāvako.
Truly, an evil deed committed does not immediately bear fruit, like milk that does not turn sour all at once. But smoldering, it follows the fool like fire covered by ashes.
ḍahantaṃ bālamanveti, bhasmacchannova pāvako.
Truly, an evil deed committed does not immediately bear fruit, like milk that does not turn sour all at once. But smoldering, it follows the fool like fire covered by ashes.
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13. yāvadeva anatthāya, ñattaṃ bālassa jāyati.
hanti bālassa sukkaṃsaṃ, muddhamassa vipātayaṃ.
To his own ruin the fool gains knowledge, for it cleaves his head and destroys his innate goodness.
hanti bālassa sukkaṃsaṃ, muddhamassa vipātayaṃ.
To his own ruin the fool gains knowledge, for it cleaves his head and destroys his innate goodness.
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14-15. asantaṃ bhāvanamiccheyya, purekkhārañca bhikkhusu.
āvāsesu ca issariyaṃ, pūjā parakulesu ca.ññantu, gihīpabbajitā ubho.
mamevātivasā assu, kiccākiccesu kismici.
iti bālassa saṅkappo, icchā māno ca vaḍḍhati.
The fool seeks undeserved reputation, precedence among monks, authority over monasteries, and honor among householders.
"Let both laymen and monks think that it was done by me. In every work, great and small, let them follow me" - such is the ambition of the fool; thus his desire and pride increase.
āvāsesu ca issariyaṃ, pūjā parakulesu ca.ññantu, gihīpabbajitā ubho.
mamevātivasā assu, kiccākiccesu kismici.
iti bālassa saṅkappo, icchā māno ca vaḍḍhati.
The fool seeks undeserved reputation, precedence among monks, authority over monasteries, and honor among householders.
"Let both laymen and monks think that it was done by me. In every work, great and small, let them follow me" - such is the ambition of the fool; thus his desire and pride increase.
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16. aññā hi lābhūpanisā, aññā nibbānagāminī.
evametaṃ abhiññāya, bhikkhu buddhassa sāvako.
sakkāraṃ nābhinandeyya, vivekamanubrūhaye.
One is the quest for worldly gain, and quite another is the path to Nibbana. Clearly understanding this, let not the monk, the disciple of the Buddha, be carried away by worldly acclaim, but develop detachment instead.
evametaṃ abhiññāya, bhikkhu buddhassa sāvako.
sakkāraṃ nābhinandeyya, vivekamanubrūhaye.
One is the quest for worldly gain, and quite another is the path to Nibbana. Clearly understanding this, let not the monk, the disciple of the Buddha, be carried away by worldly acclaim, but develop detachment instead.
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