BALA VAGGA
( FOOLS )
1. .Digha Jagarrato ratti
Digham santassa yojanam
Digho balanam samsaro
Saddhammam avijanatham
1
LONG IS SANSARA TO THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW THE DHAMMA
Meaning - Long is the night to the wakeful , long is the league to the weary ; long is
sansara to the foolish who know not the sublime truth.
2. .Caran ce naddhi gachcheiya
Seyyam sadisam attano
Ekacariyam dalham kayira
Natthi bale sahayata
2
AVOID CHAMPIONSHIP WITH THE FOOLISH
Meaning - If as the disciple fares along , he meets no champion who is better or equal
, let him firmly pursue his solitary career. There is no fellowship with the
foolish.
, let him firmly pursue his solitary career. There is no fellowship with the
foolish.
3. .Putta m'atthi dhanam m'atthi '
iti balo vihanati
atta hi attano natthi
kuto putta kuto dhanam
3
ONE IS NOT ONE'S OWN
Meaning - " Sons have I ; wealth have I" : Thus is the fool worried. Verily , he
himself is not his own . Whence sons ? Whence wealth ?
4. . Yo balo mannati balyam himself is not his own . Whence sons ? Whence wealth ?
pandito va"pi tena so
Balo ca panditamani
sa ve balo' ti vuccati
4
WISE IS HE WHO ACKNOWLEDGES HIS FOOLISHNESS
Meaning - The fool who knows that he is a fool is for that very reason a wise man ; the fool who thinks that he is wise is called a fool indeed.
5. . Yavajivam 'pi ce balo
panditam payirupasati
Na so dhammam viajanati
dabbi suparasam yatha
5
A FOOL CANNOT APPRECIATE THE VALUE OF THE DHAMMA
Meaning - Though a fool , through all his life , associates with a wise man , he no more understands the Dhamma than a spoon ( tastes) the flavor of
soup.
6. . Muhuttam Api ce Vinnu
soup.
6. . Muhuttam Api ce Vinnu
Panditam payirupasati
Kihippam Dhammam Vijanathi
jivaha Suprasam Yatha
6
THE WISE CAN APPRECIATE THE VALUE OF THE DHAMMA
Meaning - Though an Intelligent person , associates with a wise man for only a
he quickly understands the Dhamma as the tongue tastes the flavor
of soup.
7 . Caranti Bala Dummedha
he quickly understands the Dhamma as the tongue tastes the flavor
of soup.
7 . Caranti Bala Dummedha
Amitten eva attana
Karonta papakam Kamman
Yam hothi Katukaphalam
7
BITTER IS THE FRUIT OF EVIL A
Meaning - Fools of little wit move about with the very self as their own foe , doing evil
deeds the fruit of which is better .
8. . Na tam Kammam Katam Sadu
deeds the fruit of which is better .
8. . Na tam Kammam Katam Sadu
Yam Katva Anutappati
Yassa Assumukho Rodam
Vipakam Patisevati
8
NOT WELL DONE IS THAT DEED WHICH CAUSES REPENTANCE
Meaning - That deed is not well done when , after having done it, one repents , and
weeping with a tearful face , one reaps the fruit there of .
9. . Tan ca kammam katan Sadu
weeping with a tearful face , one reaps the fruit there of .
9. . Tan ca kammam katan Sadu
Yam Katva Nanutappati
Yassa Patito Sumano
Vipakam Patisevati
9.
WELL DONE IS THAT DEED WHICH CAUSES NO REPENTANCE
Meaning - That deed is Well done when , after having done it , one repents
not , and when with joy and Pleasure , one reaps the Fruit there of.
10. . Madhu Va Mannati Balo
not , and when with joy and Pleasure , one reaps the Fruit there of.
10. . Madhu Va Mannati Balo
Yawa Papam na paccati
Yada ca Paccati Papam
jAtha Balo Dukkham Nigacchati
10.
EVIL DOERS COME TO GRIEF
Meaning - As sweet as honey is an Evil Deed , so thinks the fool so long as it ripens
not; but when it ripens then he comes to grief.
11 . Mase mase Kusaggena
part of them who have comprehended the Truth.
12 . Na Hi Papam Katam Kammam
not; but when it ripens then he comes to grief.
11 . Mase mase Kusaggena
Balo Bhunjetha Bhojanam
Na so Sankahata Dhammanam
Kalam Agghati Solasim
11
REALIZATION IS FAR SUPERIOR TO MERE FASTING
Meaning - Month after month a fool may eat only as much food as can be picked up
on the tip of a Kusa Grass Blade ; , bue he is not worth a sixteenth part of them who have comprehended the Truth.
12 . Na Hi Papam Katam Kammam
Sajju Kihiram Va Muccati
Dhantam Balam Anveti
Bhasmacchanno Va Pavako
12
EVIL TAKES EFFECT AT THE OPPORTUNE MOMENT
Meaning - Verily , an evil deed committed does not immediately bear fruit , just as
milk curdles not at once; smoldering , it follows the fool like fire
covered with ashes.
13 . Yavadeva anatthaya
14 . Asatam Bhavanam Iccheyya
milk curdles not at once; smoldering , it follows the fool like fire
covered with ashes.
13 . Yavadeva anatthaya
Nattam Balassa Jayati i
Hanti Balassa Sukkamsam
Muddham assa Vipatayam
13
KNOWLEDGE AND FAME TEND TO THE RUIN OF FOOLS
Meaning - To his ruin , indeed , the fool gains knowledge and fame; they destroy his bright lot and cleave his head.
14 . Asatam Bhavanam Iccheyya
Purekkharan ca bhikkhusu
Avasesu ca issariyam
Puja parakulesu ca
14
THE IGNORANT SEEK UNDUE FAME
Meaning - The Fool will desire undue reputation , precedence among monks ,
authority in the monasteries, honor among other families.
15 . Mam eva Kata mannantu
authority in the monasteries, honor among other families.
15 . Mam eva Kata mannantu
Ghi pabbajitha Ubho
Mam ev ativasa assu
Kicca kiccesu kismici
Iti balassa sankappo
Iccha mano ca vaddhati
Iti balassa sankappo
Iccha mano ca vaddhati
15
THE IGNORANT SEEK UNDUE FAME
Meaning - Let both laymen and monks think, " by myself was this done; in every
, great or small , let them refer to me " Such is the ambition of the fool ; his
, great or small , let them refer to me " Such is the ambition of the fool ; his
desires and pride increase
16 . Anna hi labhu panisa
16 . Anna hi labhu panisa
Anna Nibbana Gamini
Evam etam Abhinnaya
Bhikkhu Buddhassa Savako
Sakkaram Nabhi Nan Deyya
Vivekam Anu bruhaye
Sakkaram Nabhi Nan Deyya
Vivekam Anu bruhaye
16
THE PATH TO GAIN IS ONE AND TO NIBBANA IS ANOTHER
Meaning - Surely , the path that leads to Worldly Gain is one , and the path that
leads to Nibbana is another ; understanding this , the Bihikku , the
disciple of the Buddha, should not rejoice in worldly favors , but
cultivate detachment.
leads to Nibbana is another ; understanding this , the Bihikku , the
disciple of the Buddha, should not rejoice in worldly favors , but
cultivate detachment.
