Dhammapada, Dhamma Verses (KN 2)

5: The Chapter about Fools – 36
Na hi pāpaṁ kataṁ kammaṁ, sajju khīraṁ va muccati,
A wicked deed that has been done, like milk, does not turn all at once,
ḍahantaṁ bālam-anveti, bhasmacchanno va pāvako. [71]
smouldering, 1 it follows the fool, like a fire covered with ashes. 2
Yāvad-eva anatthāya ñattaṁ bālassa jāyati,
As far as learning arises for a fool, it is only to his disadvantage,
hanti bālassa sukkaṁsaṁ, muddham-assa vipātayaṁ. [72]
it destroys the fool’s good fortune, and it will destroy his head. 3
Asataṁ bhāvanam-iccheyya, purekkhārañ-ca bhikkhusu,
He may wish for the respect that is lacking, and status amongst the monastics,
āvāsesu ca issar i yaṁ, pūjā parakulesu ca: [73]
for control in the living quarters, and worship amongst good families:
“Mameva kata’ maññantu gihī pabbajitā ubho,
“Householders and renunciants should both think this was done by me,
mameva ativasā assu, kiccākiccesu kismici”,
let them (all) be under my sway, in all to be done and not done”,
iti bālassa saṅkappo, icchā māno ca vaḍḍhati. [74]
so does the fool think, (meanwhile) his desires and conceit increase.
Aññā hi lābhūpanisā, aññā Nibbānagāminī,
For the means to gains is one thing, the (path) going to Nibbāna another,
evam-etaṁ abhiññāya bhikkhu Buddhassa sāvako
thus knowing this the monastic disciple of the Buddha
sakkāraṁ nābhinandeyya, vivekam-anubrūhaye. [75]
should not delight in honours, (but) practise in solitude. 4
Bālavaggo Pañcamo
The Chapter about Fools, the Fifth
1
Ḍahati means burns, smoulders, consumes, torments; it is hard to get the force of it over in
natural English.
2
There is a mix of similes in this verse, which don’t fit well together.
3
The commentary explains that his head here means his wisdom, though it would have been easy
to write paññam-assa vipātayaṁ if that was what was intended.
4
Again the verse lacks any mention of fools, and might have been better placed in the
Bhikkhuvagga.