南傳法句經 第九 惡品（116～128偈）
〈简〉
法增比丘譯
（Dhammavaro Bhikkhu）
116、
應急速行善，
竭止心作惡*，
延緩行善者，
心喜於邪惡。
*（貪raga，瞋dosa，癡moha）。
117、
若人已作惡，
不應數重犯，
莫喜於作惡，
積惡乃痛苦。
118、
若人已行善，
應當數重作，
歡喜於行善，
積善乃安樂。
（117，118兩偈合誦）
119、
惡業未成熟，
惡人自慶幸，
惡果成熟時，
惡人方知苦。
120、
善業未成熟，
善人自埋怨，
善果成熟時，
善人方知福。
（119，120兩偈合誦）
121、
莫輕視小惡，
云我無殃報，
小水漸滴落，
亦能盈水瓶，
愚人積小惡，
乃至罪滿貫。
122、
莫輕視小善，
云我無福報，
小水漸滴落，
亦能盈水瓶，
賢人積小善，
乃至福滿堂。
（121，122兩偈合誦）
123、
伴少而貨多，
商人避險道，
愛命避毒藥，
避惡當亦然。
124、
設若手無傷，
手可持毒藥，
無傷毒不患，
不作惡無殃。
125、
若害善良者，
清淨無穢者，
惡業歸愚人，
如逆風揚塵。
126、
有識生胎中，
作惡墮地獄，
行善昇天界，
漏盡得涅槃。
127、
非隱於虛空，
海洋洞穴中，
欲避惡果者，
世間無避處。
128、
非隱於虛空，
海洋洞穴中。
欲避死魔者，
世間無避處。
（127，128兩偈合誦）
Papavagga: Evil
translated from the Pali by
Thanissaro Bhikkhu
116
Be quick in doing what's admirable. Restrain your mind from what's evil. When you're slow in making merit, evil delights the mind.
117-118
If a person does evil, he shouldn't do it again & again, shouldn't develop a penchant for it. To accumulate evil brings pain.
If a person makes merit, he should do it again & again, should develop a penchant for it. To accumulate merit brings ease.
119-120
Even the evil meet with good fortune as long as their evil has yet to mature. But when it's matured that's when they meet with evil.
Even the good meet with bad fortune as long as their good has yet to mature. But when it's matured that's when they meet with good fortune.
121-122
Don't underestimate evil ('It won't amount to much'). A water jar fills, even with water falling in drops. With evil — even if bit by bit, habitually — the fool fills himself full. Don't underestimate merit ('It won't amount to much'). A water jar fills, even with water falling in drops. With merit — even if bit by bit, habitually — the enlightened one fills himself full.
123
Like a merchant with a small but well-laden caravan — a dangerous road, like a person who loves life — a poison, one should avoid — evil deeds.
124
If there's no wound on the hand, that hand can hold poison. Poison won't penetrate where there's no wound. There's no evil for those who don't do it.
125
Whoever harasses an innocent man, a man pure, without blemish: the evil comes right back to the fool like fine dust thrown against the wind.
126
Some are born in the human womb, evildoers in hell, those on the good course go to heaven, while those without effluent: totally unbound.
127-128
Not up in the air, nor in the middle of the sea, nor going into a cleft in the mountains — nowhere on earth — is a spot to be found where you could stay & escape your evil deed.
Not up in the air, nor in the middle of the sea, nor going into a cleft in the mountains — nowhere on earth — is a spot to be found where you could stay & not succumb to death.