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 macchake bādhenti.Now at that time, between Sāvatthī and the Jeta Grove, several boys were tormenting some fish.

2.1Atha 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.2.2Addasā kho bhagavā te sambahule kumārake antarā ca sāvatthiṁ antarā ca jetavanaṁ macchake bādhente.He saw the boys tormenting the fish.2.3Disvāna yena te kumārakā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā te kumārake etadavoca:He went to them and said,2.4“bhāyatha vo, tumhe kumārakā, dukkhassa, appiyaṁ vo dukkhan”ti?“Boys, do you fear pain? Do you dislike pain?”2.5“Evaṁ, bhante, bhāyāma mayaṁ, bhante, dukkhassa, appiyaṁ no dukkhan”ti.“Yes, sir,” they replied. “We dislike pain.”

3.1Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:

4.1“Sace bhāyatha dukkhassa,∥“If you fear pain,4.2sace vo dukkhamappiyaṁ;if you dislike pain,4.3Mākattha pāpakaṁ kammaṁ,don’t do bad deeds4.4āvi vā yadi vā raho.either openly or in secret.

5.1Sace ca pāpakaṁ kammaṁ,∥If you should do a bad deed,5.2karissatha karotha vā;now or in the future,5.3Na vo dukkhā pamutyatthi,you won’t be freed from suffering,5.4upeccapi palāyatan”ti.though you fly away and flee.”

5.5Catutthaṁ.