Khemasutta

Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho khemo devaputto bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

Standing to one side, the godling Khema recited these verses in the Buddha’s presence:

“Caranti bālā dummedhā, amitteneva attanā; Karontā pāpakaṁ kammaṁ, yaṁ hoti kaṭukapphalaṁ.

“Fools and simpletons behave like their own worst enemies, doing wicked deeds that ripen as bitter fruit.

Na taṁ kammaṁ kataṁ sādhu, yaṁ katvā anutappati; Yassa assumukho rodaṁ, vipākaṁ paṭisevati.

It’s not good to do a deed that plagues you later on, for which you weep and wail, as its effect stays with you.

Tañca kammaṁ kataṁ sādhu, yaṁ katvā nānutappati; Yassa patīto sumano, vipākaṁ paṭisevati.

It is good to do a deed that doesn’t plague you later on, that gladdens and cheers, as its effect stays with you.”

Paṭikacceva taṁ kayirā, yaṁ jaññā hitamattano; Na sākaṭikacintāya, mantā dhīro parakkame.

“As a precaution, you should do what you know is for your own welfare. A thinker, an attentive one would not proceed thinking like the cart driver.

Yathā sākaṭiko maṭṭhaṁ, samaṁ hitvā mahāpathaṁ; Visamaṁ maggamāruyha, akkhacchinnova jhāyati.

Suppose a cart driver leaves the highway, so even and well compacted. They enter upon a rough road, and fret as soon as their axle is broken.

Evaṁ dhammā apakkamma, adhammamanuvattiya; Mando maccumukhaṁ patto, akkhacchinnova jhāyatī”ti.

So too, a dullard leaves the good to follow what’s against the good. Fallen in the jaws of death, they fret like one whose axle is broken.”