Daṇḍa Vagga

All tremble at the rod; all fear death. Putting oneself in the place of others, one should neither kill nor cause another to kill.

All tremble at the rod; to all life is dear. Putting oneself in the place of others, one should neither kill nor cause another to kill.

Whoever torments with a rod beings who desire happiness, while seeking happiness for himself, shall not obtain happiness after death.

Whoever does not torment with a rod beings who desire happiness, while seeking happiness for himself, shall obtain happiness after death.

Do not speak harshly to anyone; those who are spoken to will retort. Angry words are painful; retributive punishment will touch you.

If you keep yourself quiet, like a broken metal gong that echoes no sound, you have already attained Nibbāna; no anger or retaliation exists in you.

Just as a cowherd with a staff drives cows to the pasture, so old age and death drive the life of living beings.

When doing evil deeds, the fool does not understand; the ignorant person is tormented by his own actions, as if scorched by fire.

Whoever inflicts punishment with a rod on the harmless and offends against the innocent, quickly falls into one of ten dire states:

He may experience severe pain, great misfortune, bodily maiming, grievous disease, or loss of mind (madness);

Or trouble from the king, or a dreadful false accusation, or loss of relatives, or the destruction of wealth;

Or else raging fire burns down his houses; and upon the dissolution of the body, that foolish one is reborn in hell.

Neither going naked, nor matted hair, nor mud, nor fasting, nor lying on the bare ground, nor smearing with dust and ashes, nor squatting motionless can purify a mortal who has not overcome doubt.

Even if richly adorned, if one lives in peace, tranquil, tamed, steadfast, living the holy life, laying aside the rod toward all living beings — he is indeed a Brahmana, an ascetic, a monk.

Rare in the world is that person restrained by conscience, who anticipates and avoids reproach as a noble steed avoids the whip.

Like a noble horse stirred by the whip, be ardent and conscientious. By faith, virtue, energy, meditation, investigation of the Dhamma, endowed with knowledge and conduct, ever mindful, you shall put an end to this boundless suffering.

Irrigators lead the waters; fletchers shape the arrow shaft; carpenters shape the wood; those of noble vows tame themselves.