The Discourse about the Stick

ekaṁ samayaṁ Bhagavā Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati,
at one time the Fortunate One was dwelling near Sāvatthī,

Jetavane Anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
in Jeta’s Wood, at Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā kumārakā
Then at that time many young boys

antarā ca Sāvatthiṁ antarā ca Jetavanaṁ ahiṁ daṇḍena hananti.
who were between Sāvatthī and Jeta’s Wood were attacking a snake with a stick.

Atha kho Bhagavā, pubbanhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā,
Then the Fortunate One, having dressed in the morning time,

pattacīvaram-ādāya, Sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi. The aorist in Pāḷi also covers the past continuous tense as here.
after picking up his bowl and robe, was entering Sāvatthī for alms.

Addasā kho Bhagavā sambahule kumārake
The Fortunate One saw (those) many young boys

antarā ca Sāvatthiṁ antarā ca Jetavanaṁ ahiṁ daṇḍena hanante.
between Sāvatthī and Jeta’s Wood attacking a snake with a stick.

Atha kho Bhagavā, etam-atthaṁ viditvā,
Then the Fortunate One, having understood the significance of it,

tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:
on that occasion uttered this exalted utterance:

“Sukhakāmāni bhūtāni, ~ yo daṇḍena vihiṁsati
^o “He who, while seeking happiness for himself, harms with a stick

Attano sukham-esāno, ~ pecca so na labhate sukhaṁ.
(Other) beings who desire happiness, ~ will not find happiness after passing away.

Sukhakāmāni bhūtāni, ~ yo daṇḍena na hiṁsati
^o He who, while seeking happiness for himself, does not harm with a stick

Attano sukham-esāno, ~ pecca so labhate sukhan”-ti.
(Other) beings who desire happiness, ~ will find happiness after passing away.”