Khemasutta
With Khema
Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho khemo devaputto bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi:
Standing to one side, the god 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, a wise 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 when their axle breaks.
Evaṁ dhammā apakkamma, So too, a dullard departs 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 their axle’s broken.”
