Dhammapada, Dhamma Verses (KN 2)

2: The Chapter about Heedfulness – 23
Pamādam-anuyuñjanti bālā dummedhino janā,
The foolish and stupid people cultivate heedlessness,
appamādañ-ca medhāvī dhanaṁ seṭṭhaṁ va rakkhati. [26]
but the sagacious one guards heedfulness just as his greatest wealth.
Mā pamādam-anuyuñjetha mā kāmaratisanthavaṁ,
Do not cultivate heedlessness, do not be acquainted with delight in sensual pleasure,
appamatto hi jhāyanto pappoti vipulaṁ sukhaṁ. [27]
for the heedful one, meditating, (surely) attains great happiness.
Pamādaṁ appamādena yadā nudati paṇḍito,
When the wise one eliminates heedlessness with his heedfulness,
paññāpāsādam-āruyha, asoko sokiniṁ pajaṁ,
and mounts the palace of wisdom, griefless, (he looks) on grieving people;
pabbataṭṭho va bhummaṭṭhe dhīro bāle avekkhati. [28]
the wise one, like one standing on a mountain, looks down on the fools, who are standing
on the plains.
Appamatto pamattesu, suttesu bahujāgaro,
Heedful amongst the heedless ones, wakeful amongst the ones who sleep,
abalassaṁ va sīghasso hitvā, yāti sumedhaso. [29]
like a swift horse who abandons a weak horse, the true sage moves on.
Appamādena Maghavā devānaṁ seṭṭhataṁ gato,
Through heedfulness Maghavā 1 attained leadership of the gods,
appamādaṁ pasaṁsanti, pamādo gar a hito sadā. [30]
(the good) praise heedfulness, (but) heedlessness is always blamed.
Appamādarato bhikkhu, pamāde bhayadassivā,
A monastic who delights in heedfulness, seeing danger in heedlessness,
saṁyojanaṁ aṇuṁ-thūlaṁ ḍahaṁ aggīva gacchati. [31]
advances like burning fire against the fetter, 1 small or large.
1
Maghavā is another name for Sakka, how he became Sakka is told in the commentary. The verse
assumes the auditor has some knowledge of the legend, or it may be, that the verse is extracted
from the story.