IX.PAPAVAGGA. EVIL

116. Make haste in doing good ; check your mind from evil; for the mind of him who is slow in doing merit delights in evil.

117. Should a person commit evil, he should not do it again and again; he should not find pleasure therein: painful is the accumulation of evil.

118. Should a person perform merit, he should do it again and again; he should find pleasure therein: blissful is the accumulation of merit.

119. Even an evil-doer sees good so long as evil ripens not; but when it bears fruit, then he sees the evil results.

120. Even a good person sees evil so long as good ripens not; but when it bears fruit, then the good one sees the good results.

121. Despise not evil, saying, "It will not come nigh unto me"; by falling of drops even a water-jar is filled; likewise the fool, gathering little by little, fills himself with evil.

122. Despise not merit, saying, "It will not come nigh unto me"; even by the falling of drops a water-jar is filled; likewise the wise man, gathering little by little, fills himself with good.

123. Just as a merchant, with a small escort and great wealth, avoids a perilous way, just as one desiring to live avoids poison, even so should one shun evil things.

124. If no wound there be in the hand, one may carry poison in it; poison does not affect one who has no wound; there is no ill for him who does no wrong.

125. Whoever offends a harmless person, one pure and guiltless, upon that very fool the evil recoils like fine dust thrown against the wind.

126. Some are born in a womb ; evil-doers in hell ; the pious go to Heaven ; Undefiled Ones pass away into Nibbãna.

127. Not in the sky, nor in mid-ocean, nor on entering a mountain cave, is found that place on earth, where abiding one may escape from (the consequences of) an evil deed.

128. Not in the sky, nor in mid-ocean, nor on entering a mountain cave, is found that place on earth where abiding one will not be overcome by death.