Dhp 116-128 - Chapter of Evil
Translated by Bhante Suddhāso
Source: https://suttacentral.net/dhp116-128/en/suddhaso
License: CC0-1.0
Source note: 13 Pali headings, colophons, or recitation-summary segments have no English translation in the source. All English source segments are retained; no body passages are omitted.

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.