1.1Evaṁ me sutaṁ—So I have heard.1.2ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.1.3Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā kumārakā antarā ca sāvatthiṁ antarā ca jetavanaṁ ahiṁ daṇḍena hananti.Now at that time, between Sāvatthī and the Jeta Grove, several boys were hitting a snake with a stick.1.4Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms.1.5Addasā kho bhagavā sambahule kumārake antarā ca sāvatthiṁ antarā ca jetavanaṁ ahiṁ daṇḍena hanante.He saw the boys hitting the snake.

2.1Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:

3.1“Sukhakāmāni bhūtāni,∥“Creatures love happiness,3.2yo daṇḍena vihiṁsati;so if you harm them with a stick3.3Attano sukhamesāno,in search of your own happiness,3.4pecca so na labhate sukhaṁ.after death you’ll find no happiness.

4.1Sukhakāmāni bhūtāni,∥Creatures love happiness,4.2yo daṇḍena na hiṁsati;so if you don’t harm them with a stick4.3Attano sukhamesāno,in search of your own happiness,4.4pecca so labhate sukhan”ti.after death you will find happiness.”

4.5Tatiyaṁ.