Buddha

116 “Irritable and hostile,
wicked and offensive,
a man deficient in view, deceitful:
know him as a lowlife.

117 He harms living creatures
born of womb or of egg,
and has no kindness for creatures:
know him as a lowlife.

118 He destroys and devastates
villages and towns,
a notorious oppressor:
know him as a lowlife.

119 Whether in village or wilderness,
he steals what belongs to others,
taking what has not been given:
know him as a lowlife.

120 Having fallen into debt,
when pressed to pay up he flees, saying
‘I don’t owe you anything!’:
know him as a lowlife.

121 Wanting some item or other,
he attacks a person in the street
and takes it:
know him as a lowlife.

122 For his own sake or the sake of another,
or for the sake of wealth, a man
tells a lie when asked to bear witness:
know him as a lowlife.

123 He is spied among the partners
of relatives and friends,
by force or seduction:
know him as a lowlife.

124 Though able, he does not look after
his mother and father
when elderly, past their prime:
know him as a lowlife.

125 He hits or verbally abuses
his mother or father,
brother, sister, or mother-in-law:
know him as a lowlife.

126 When asked about the good,
he teaches what is bad,
giving secretive advice:
know him as a lowlife.

127 Having done a bad deed, he wishes,
‘May no-one find me out!’
His deeds are underhand:
know him as a lowlife.

128 When visiting another family
he eats their delicious food,
but does not return the honor:
know him as a lowlife.

129 He deceives with lies
ascetics and brahmins
and other nomads:
know him as a lowlife.

130 When time comes to offer a meal
to brahmins or ascetics,
he abuses them and does not give:
know him as a lowlife.

131 He talks about what never happened,
being wrapped up in delusion,
chasing after some item or other:
know him as a lowlife.

132 He extols himself
and disparages others,
brought down by his pride:
know him as a lowlife.

133 He’s a bully and a miser,
of wicked desires, stingy, and devious,
shameless, imprudent:
know him as a lowlife.

134 He insults the Buddha
or his disciple,
whether lay or renunciate:
know him as a lowlife.

135 He claims to be a perfected one,
when he really is no such thing.
In the world with its Brahmās,
that crook is truly the lowest lowlife.
These who are called lowlifes
I have explained to you.

136 You’re not a lowlife by birth,
nor by birth are you a brahmin.
You’re a lowlife by your deeds,
by deeds you’re a brahmin.

137 And also you should know
according to this example.
Sopaka the outcaste’s son
became renowned as Mātaṅga.

138 Mātaṅga achieved the highest fame
so very hard to find.
Lots of aristocrats and brahmins
came to serve him.

139 He ascended the stainless highway
that leads to the heavens;
having discarded sensual desire,
he was reborn in a Brahmā realm.
His birth did not prevent him
from rebirth in the Brahmā realm.

140 Those born in a brahmin family
who recite as kinsmen of the hymns,
are often discovered
in the midst of wicked deeds.

141 Blameworthy in the present life,
and in the next, a bad destination.
Their birth does not prevent them
from blame or bad destiny.

142 You’re not a lowlife by birth,
nor by birth are you a brahmin.
You’re a lowlife by your deeds,
by deeds you’re a brahmin.”

 

116"Kodhano upanāhī ca,
pāpamakkhī ca yo naro;
Vipannadiṭṭhi māyāvī,
taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

117 Ekajaṁ vā dvijaṁ vāpi,
yodha pāṇaṁ vihiṁsati;
Yassa pāṇe dayā natthi,
taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

118 Yo hanti parirundhati,
gāmāni nigamāni ca;
Niggāhako samaññāto,
taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

119 Gāme vā yadi vā raññe,
yaṁ paresaṁ mamāyitaṁ;
Theyyā adinnamādeti,
taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

120 Yo have iṇamādāya,
cujjamāno palāyati;
Na hi te iṇamatthīti,
taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

121 Yo ve kiñcikkhakamyatā,
panthasmiṁ vajantaṁ janaṁ;
Hantvā kiñcikkhamādeti,
taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

122 Attahetu parahetu,
dhanahetu ca yo naro;
Sakkhipuṭṭho musā brūti,
taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

123 Yo ñātīnaṁ sakhīnaṁ vā,
dāresu paṭidissati;
Sāhasā sampiyena vā,
taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

124 Yo mātaraṁ pitaraṁ vā,
jiṇṇakaṁ gatayobbanaṁ;
Pahu santo na bharati,
taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

125 Yo mātaraṁ pitaraṁ vā,
Bhātaraṁ bhaginiṁ sasuṁ;
Hanti roseti vācāya,
Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

126 Yo atthaṁ pucchito santo,
Anatthamanusāsati;
Paṭicchannena manteti,
Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

127 Yo katvā pāpakaṁ kammaṁ,
Mā maṁ jaññāti icchati;
Yo paṭicchannakammanto,
Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

128 Yo ve parakulaṁ gantvā,
Bhutvāna sucibhojanaṁ;
Āgataṁ nappaṭipūjeti,
Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

129 Yo brāhmaṇaṁ samaṇaṁ vā,
Aññaṁ vāpi vanibbakaṁ;
Musāvādena vañceti,
Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

130 Yo brāhmaṇaṁ samaṇaṁ vā,
Bhattakāle upaṭṭhite;
Roseti vācā na ca deti,
Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

131 Asataṁ yodha pabrūti,
Mohena paliguṇṭhito;
Kiñcikkhaṁ nijigīsāno,
Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

132 Yo cattānaṁ samukkaṁse,
Pare ca mavajānāti;
Nihīno sena mānena,
Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

133 Rosako kadariyo ca,
Pāpiccho maccharī saṭho;
Ahiriko anottappī,
Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

134 Yo buddhaṁ paribhāsati,
Atha vā tassa sāvakaṁ;
Paribbājaṁ gahaṭṭhaṁ vā,
Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

135 Yo ve anarahaṁ santo,
Arahaṁ paṭijānāti;
Coro sabrahmake loke,
Eso kho vasalādhamo;
Ete kho vasalā vuttā,
Mayā yete pakāsitā.

136 Na jaccā vasalo hoti,
Na jaccā hoti brāhmaṇo;
Kammunā vasalo hoti,
Kammunā hoti brāhmaṇo.

137 Tadamināpi jānātha,
Yathāmedaṁ nidassanaṁ;
Caṇḍālaputto sopāko,
Mātaṅgo iti vissuto.

138 So yasaṁ paramaṁ patto,
Mātaṅgo yaṁ sudullabhaṁ;
Āgacchuṁ tassupaṭṭhānaṁ,
Khattiyā brāhmaṇā bahū.

139 Devayānaṁ abhiruyha,
Virajaṁ so mahāpathaṁ;
Kāmarāgaṁ virājetvā,
Brahmalokūpago ahu;
Na naṁ jāti nivāresi,
Brahmalokūpapattiyā.

140 Ajjhāyakakule jātā,
Brāhmaṇā mantabandhavā;
Te ca pāpesu kammesu,
Abhiṇhamupadissare.

141 Diṭṭheva dhamme gārayhā,
Samparāye ca duggati;
Na ne jāti nivāreti,
Duggatyā garahāya vā.

142 Na jaccā vasalo hoti,
Na jaccā hoti brāhmaṇo;
Kammunā vasalo hoti,
Kammunā hoti brāhmaṇo"ti.