Book X. The Rod or Punishment, Daṇḍa Vagga

129

All men tremble at the rod; all men fear death.
One should treat one’s neighbor as oneself, and therefore neither strike nor kill.

130

All men tremble at the rod; to all men life is dear.
One should treat one’s neighbor as oneself, and should neither strike nor kill.

131, 132

Whoever injures with the rod living beings that long for happiness,
Longing himself for happiness, will not obtain happiness after death.

Whoever does not injure with the rod living beings that long for happiness,
Longing himself for happiness, will obtain happiness after death.

133, 134

Speak not harshly to anyone; those you address may answer you;
For angry words bring trouble; blows for blows may touch you.

If you keep yourself silent as a broken gong,
You have already reached Nibbāna; angry speech is not found in you.

135

As with a staff a cowherd drives his cows to pasture,
Even so old age and death drive the life of living beings.

136

In the act of committing wicked deeds, the simpleton does not realize their wickedness;
But the stupid man is consumed by his own wicked deeds, as if burnt with fire.

137, 138, 139, 140

Whosoever visits punishment upon those that deserve not punishment,
Whosoever offends against those that are without offense,
Such an one will right quickly come to one of ten states:

He will incur cruel suffering, or infirmity or injury of the body,
Or severe sickness, or loss of mind,

Or misfortune proceeding from the king, or a heavy accusation,
Or death of relatives, or loss of treasures,

Or else the fire of lightning will consume his houses;
Upon dissolution of the body such a simpleton will go to Hell.

141

Neither going naked, nor matted locks, nor filth, nor fasting, nor sleeping on the bare ground,
Nor rubbing with dust, nor sitting on the haunches, can purify that mortal who has not overcome doubt.

142

Even though a man be richly adorned, if he walk in peace,
If he be quiet, subdued, restrained, and chaste,
And if he refrain from injuring any living being,
That man is a Brahman, that man is a hermit, that man is a monk.

143, 144

Is there a man in this world so restrained by modesty
That he wards off reproach as a well-bred horse the whip?

Even as a well-bred horse touched by the whip, so be ye ardent and active.
By faith, by virtue, by resolution, by meditation, by understanding of the Law,
Possessing perfect knowledge and behavior, thoughtful, you will rid yourselves of this great suffering.

145

Ditch-diggers lead the water, arrow-makers bend their shafts,
Carpenters bend the wood, good men control themselves.