The Chapter about Wickedness (DHP116-128)

Hasten to do wholesome deeds, ward off the mind from wickedness,
for the mind of the one slow in merit delights in wickedness.

Should a person do that which is wicked, he should not do it again and again,
let him not place his intention in it, for there is an accumulation of suffering for the wicked one.
If a person should make merit, he should do it again and again,
let him place his intention there, there is an increase of joy for the one who has made merit.

Even the wicked one experiences good fortune while the wickedness does not ripen,
but when the wickedness ripens then the wicked one experiences wicked things.

Even the fortunate one experiences wickedness as long as the good fortune does not ripen,
but when the fortune ripens then the fortunate one experiences good fortune.

One should not despise a little wickedness thinking: it will not come to me,
through the falling of water drops the water-pot is quickly filled,
the fool, gathering bit by bit, becomes full of wickedness.

One should not despise a little merit thinking: it will not come to me,
through the falling of water drops the water-pot is quickly filled,
the wise one, gathering bit by bit, becomes full of merit.

Like a merchant on a fearful path, with few friends and great wealth,
as one loving life would avoid poison, so should one avoid wicked deeds.

If there is no wound in his hand he can carry poison with his hand,
poison does not enter without a wound, there is no bad result for the one who does no wrong.

One offends against the inoffensive one,
a purified and passionless person,
that wicked deed then returns to the fool,
like fine dust that is thrown against the wind.

Some are reborn in the womb, but those who are wicked in the underworld,
the righteous go to heaven, those who are pollutant-free are emancipated.

Neither in the sky, nor in the middle of the ocean,
nor after entering a mountain cleft:
there is no place found on this earth
where one can be free from the results of wicked deeds.

Neither in the sky, nor in the middle of the ocean,
nor after entering a mountain cleft:
there is no place found on this earth,
in which death does not overcome one.

Translated by Ānandajoti Bhikkhu.

2nd edition, November 2017.

The text and translation, together with detailed notes and discussions, may be found in multiple formats on the translator’s website, Ancient Buddhist Texts.

Used by kind permission of Bhikkhu Ānandajoti.

The original translation was released under the following licence: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

Prepared for SuttaCentral by Aminah Borg-Luck.