The Dhammapada - Chapter Nine - Evil

The Dhammapada is the most well-known of all Buddhist texts. It is a collection of the sayings of the Buddha from his most famous discourses. Dhamma means law, discipline, righteousness and truth. Pada means path, footstep and foundation. Translated from Pali by F. Max Muller.

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License.

Transcript

The Dhammapada,

Chapter 9,

Evil If a man would hasten towards the good,

He should keep his thought away from evil.

If a man does what is good slothfully,

His mind delights in evil.

If a man commits a sin,

Let him not do it again.

Let him not delight in sin.

Pain is the outcome of evil.

If a man does what is good,

Let him do it again.

Let him delight in it.

Happiness is the outcome of good.

Even an evildoer sees happiness as long as his evil deed has not ripened.

But when his evil deed has ripened,

Then does the evildoer see evil.

Even a good man sees evil days as long as his good deed has not ripened.

But when his good deed has ripened,

Then does the good man see happy days.

Let no man think lightly of evil,

Saying in his heart,

It will not come nigh unto me.

Even by the falling of water drops a water pot is filled.

The fall becomes full of evil,

Even if he gather it little by little.

Let no man think lightly of good,

Saying in his heart,

It will not come nigh unto me.

Even by the falling of water drops a water pot is filled.

The wise man becomes full of good,

Even if he gather it little by little.

Let a man avoid evil deeds as a merchant.

If he has few companions and carries much wealth,

Avoids a dangerous road.

As a man who loves life,

Avoids poison.

He who has no wound on his hand may touch poison with his hand.

Poison does not affect one who has no wound,

Nor is there evil for one who does not commit evil.

If a man offend a harmless,

Pure and innocent person,

The evil falls back upon that fool,

Like light dust thrown up against the wind.

Some people are born again,

Evildoers go to hell,

Righteous people go to heaven,

Those who are free from all worldly desires attain nirvana.

Not in the sky,

Not in the midst of the sea,

Not if we enter into the clefts of the mountains,

Is there known a spot in the whole world where death could not overcome the mortal.