Aññatarapurisavatthu

Long is the night for the wakeful; Dīghā jāgarato ratti, long is the league for the weary; dīghaṁ santassa yojanaṁ; long transmigrate the fools Dīgho bālāna saṁsāro, who don’t understand the true teaching. saddhammaṁ avijānataṁ.

Mahākassapasaddhivihārikavatthu

If while wandering you find no partner Carañce nādhigaccheyya, equal or better than yourself, Seyyaṁ sadisamattano; then firmly resolve to wander alone—Ekacariyaṁ daḷhaṁ kayirā, there’s no fellowship with fools. Natthi bāle sahāyatā.

Ānandaseṭṭhivatthu

“Sons are mine, wealth is mine”—Puttā matthi dhanaṁ matthi, thus the fool frets. iti bālo vihaññati; For even your self is not your own, Attā hi attano natthi, let alone your sons or wealth. kuto puttā kuto dhanaṁ.

Gaṇṭhibhedakacoravatthu

The fool who thinks they’re a fool Yo bālo maññati bālyaṁ, is wise at least to that extent. paṇḍito vāpi tena so; But the true fool is said to be one Bālo ca paṇḍitamānī, who imagines that they are wise. sa ve “bālo”ti vuccati.

Udāyittheravatthu

Though a fool attends to the wise Yāvajīvampi ce bālo, even for the rest of their life, paṇḍitaṁ payirupāsati; they still don’t understand the teaching, Na so dhammaṁ vijānāti, like a spoon the taste of the soup. dabbī sūparasaṁ yathā.

Tiṁsapāveyyakabhikkhuvatthu

If a clever person attends to the wise Muhuttamapi ce viññū, even just for an hour or so, paṇḍitaṁ payirupāsati; they swiftly understand the teaching, Khippaṁ dhammaṁ vijānāti, like a tongue the taste of the soup. jivhā sūparasaṁ yathā.

Suppabuddhakuṭṭhivatthu

Fools and simpletons behave Caranti bālā dummedhā, like their own worst enemies, amitteneva attanā; doing wicked deeds Karontā pāpakaṁ kammaṁ, that ripen as bitter fruit. yaṁ hoti kaṭukapphalaṁ.

Kassakavatthu

It’s not good to do a deed Na taṁ kammaṁ kataṁ sādhu, that plagues you later on, yaṁ katvā anutappati; for which you weep and wail, Yassa assumukho rodaṁ, as its effect stays with you. vipākaṁ paṭisevati.

Sumanamālākāravatthu

It is good to do a deed Tañca kammaṁ kataṁ sādhu, that doesn’t plague you later on, yaṁ katvā nānutappati; that gladdens and cheers, Yassa patīto sumano, as its effect stays with you. vipākaṁ paṭisevati.

Uppalavaṇṇattherīvatthu

The fool imagines that evil is sweet, Madhuṁvā maññati bālo, so long as it has not yet ripened. yāva pāpaṁ na paccati; But as soon as that evil ripens, Yadā ca paccati pāpaṁ, they fall into suffering. atha dukkhaṁ nigacchati.

Jambukattheravatthu

Month after month a fool may eat Māse māse kusaggena, food from a grass-blade’s tip; bālo bhuñjeyya bhojanaṁ; but they’ll never be worth a sixteenth part Na so saṅkhātadhammānaṁ, of one who has appraised the teaching. kalaṁ agghati soḷasiṁ.

Ahipetavatthu

For a wicked deed that has been done Na hi pāpaṁ kataṁ kammaṁ, does not curdle quickly like milk. Sajjukhīraṁva muccati; Smoldering, it follows the fool, Ḍahantaṁ bālamanveti, like a fire smothered over with ash. Bhasmacchannova pāvako.

Saṭṭhikūṭapetavatthu

Whatever fame a fool may get, Yāvadeva anatthāya, it only gives rise to harm. ñattaṁ bālassa jāyati; Whatever good features they have it ruins, Hanti bālassa sukkaṁsaṁ, and blows their head into bits. muddhamassa vipātayaṁ.

Cittagahapativatthu

They’d seek the esteem that they lack, Asantaṁ bhāvanamiccheyya, and status among the mendicants; Purekkhārañca bhikkhusu; authority over monasteries, Āvāsesu ca issariyaṁ, and honor among other families. Pūjaṁ parakulesu ca.

“Let both layfolk and renunciants think Mameva kata maññantu, the work was done by me alone. gihī pabbajitā ubho; In anything at all that’s to be done, Mamevātivasā assu, let them fall under my sway alone.” kiccākiccesu kismici; So thinks the fool, Iti bālassa saṅkappo, their greed and pride only growing. icchā māno ca vaḍḍhati.

Vanavāsitissasāmaṇeravatthu

For the means to profit and the path to quenching Aññā hi lābhūpanisā, are two quite different things. aññā nibbānagāminī; A mendicant disciple of the Buddha, Evametaṁ abhiññāya, understanding what this really means, bhikkhu buddhassa sāvako; would never delight in honors, Sakkāraṁ nābhinandeyya, but rather would foster seclusion. vivekamanubrūhaye.

Bālavaggo pañcamo.