Chapter of Evil (DHP116-128)

Collection of Minor Texts

Verses of Dhamma

Chapter of Evil

Rush to do good,

keep the mind back from evil.

One who is slow to do good

appreciates evil.

If a person does something evil

they should not do it again.

Take no interest in it;

the accumulation of evil is suffering.

If a person does something good

they should do it again.

Take an interest in it;

the accumulation of merit is pleasant.

One sees evil as good

as long as its results have yet to fully manifest;

but when the results of that evil fully manifest,

then one sees evil as evil.

One sees good as evil

as long as its results have yet to fully manifest;

but when the results of that good fully manifest,

then one sees good as good.

Do not disregard evil,

thinking it will have no consequence.

Just as falling drops of water

fill up a bucket,

a fool becomes full of evil

collecting it little by little.

Do not disregard merit,

thinking it will have no consequence.

Just as falling drops of water

fill up a bucket,

a sage becomes full of merit

collecting it little by little.

Just as a wealthy merchant with little protection

avoids a dangerous road,

just as one who wishes to live avoids poison,

one should avoid evil.

If a hand is unwounded

then it can take away poison;

poison cannot affect one who has no wound.

No evil comes to one who does none.

If one abuses

a faultless, pure, and flawless person,

then evil will come back to that fool,

like fine dust thrown against the wind.

Some people arise in wombs;

evildoers, in hell;

those on the right course go to heaven;

the uncorrupted attain Nibbāna.

Not by going into the sky, or into the ocean,

or into a mountain cleft,

or anywhere in the world,

can one find a place where one is free from one’s evil deeds.

Not by going into the sky, or into the ocean,

or into a mountain cleft,

or anywhere in the world,

can one find a place where one is not caught by death.