Dhammapada, Dhamma Verses (KN 2)

22: The Chapter about the Underworld – 115
Apuññalābho ca gatī ca pāpikā,
Gaining demerit and a bad destiny,
bhītassa bhītāya ratī ca thokikā,
and (only) the small delight of a scared man with a scared woman,
rājā ca daṇḍaṁ garukaṁ paṇeti,
and kings who apply heavy punishment,
tasmā naro paradāraṁ na seve. [310]
a man therefore should not consort with another’s wife.
Kuso yathā duggahito hattham-evānukantati,
As jagged 1 grass, wrongly grasped, cuts into the hand,
sāmaññaṁ dupparāmaṭṭhaṁ nirayāyupakaḍḍhati. [311]
so does the ascetic life, wrongly grasped, drag one down to the underworld.
Yaṁ kiñci sithilaṁ kammaṁ saṅkiliṭṭhañ-ca yaṁ vataṁ,
Whatever lax deed there is and that vow which is defiled,
saṅkassaraṁ brahmacar i yaṁ na taṁ hoti mahapphalaṁ. [312]
(know that) a holy life that is doubtful does not have great fruit for that one.
Kay i rañ-ce kayirāthenaṁ, daḷham-enaṁ parakkame,
If he would do what should be done, he should be firm in his effort,
saṭhilo hi paribbājo bhiyyo ākirate rajaṁ. [313]
for the wanderer who is lax spreads a lot of impurity.
Akataṁ dukkataṁ seyyo, pacchā tapati dukkataṁ,
Better undone is a wrong-doing, a wrong-doing one later regrets,
katañ-ca sukataṁ seyyo, yaṁ katvā nānutappati. [314]
better done is what is well-done, which, when done, one does not regret.
1
Kusa is a particular type of grass, see Nature s.v. Kusa: A type of perennial grass with a sharp
spiky leaf growing up to 0.9 m. high and with deep roots; but the commentary here defines it to
mean any grass that is capable of cutting, including palm leaves, hence the translation.