116 |
Lose not a moment in doing things virtuous;
Hold your mind back from whatever’s iniquitous.
They who delay taking up what is righteous,
Their minds take delight in the doing of wickedness.
|
117 |
Should a lass some evil wreak,
She should not that slip repeat,
Nor should set her heart upon it:
Hoarding evil’s vitriolic. |
118 |
If a deed is philanthropic,
She should set her heart upon it,
Ever trying to do it more:
It’s blissful having merit stored. |
119 |
A villain sees good luck, perhaps,
Until the yield of evil’s hatched.
Come the evil deed’s maturity,
Then the villain meets with villainy. |
120 |
The good have grievous luck, perhaps,
Until the yield of good is hatched;
But when their goodness comes to fullness,
Then the good discover goodness. |
121 |
Don’t underate iniquity
And think “Its fruits won’t come to me!”
Water falling drop by drop
Will fill an earthen waterpot.
And, likewise, fools by small degrees
Pervade themselves with villainy. |
122 |
Don’t underate philanthropy
And think “Its fruits won’t come to me!”
Water falling drop by drop
Will fill an earthen waterpot.
So the wise will bit by bit
Pervade themselves with benefit. |
123 |
With precious goods but escort frail
A trader shuns a risky trail.
And not desiring suicide
A man would keep from cyanide.
With just the same solicitude
A man should shy from turpitude. |
124 |
If his palm has no abrasion
Then a man can handle poison.
One whose hand from wounds is free,
Poison can’t cause injury:
One who’s free of wrong intention
Will not suffer retribution. |
125 |
Whoever harms a person who is harmless,
A man of conduct pure, whose mind is stainless,
Back onto that fool
Will be that evil blown,
Like dusty soil rebounds,
If into wind it’s thrown. |
126 |
Some in wombs remanifest;
The wicked rise in hell’s abyss;
The good proceed to paradise;
The taintless find supreme release. |
127 |
Neither stratospheric space,
Nor the depths of ocean waste,
Nor the clefts on mountain-sides
Can a sanctuary provide
Where a man could hope to be
From results of evil, free. |
128 |
Neither stratospheric space,
Nor the depths of ocean waste,
Nor the clefts on mountain-sides
Can a sanctuary provide
Where a man could hope to be
From assault of death be free. |
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Go to the next chapter |
