1. Bālavagga 1. Fools “Yāni kānici, bhikkhave, bhayāni uppajjanti sabbāni tāni bālato uppajjanti, no paṇḍitato. “Whatever dangers there are, all come from the foolish, not from the astute. Ye keci upaddavā uppajjanti sabbe te bālato uppajjanti, no paṇḍitato. Whatever perils there are, all come from the foolish, not from the astute. Ye keci upasaggā uppajjanti sabbe te bālato uppajjanti, no paṇḍitato. Whatever hazards there are, all come from the foolish, not from the astute. evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, yāni kānici bhayāni uppajjanti sabbāni tāni bālato uppajjanti, no paṇḍitato. In the same way, whatever dangers there are, all come from the foolish, not from the astute. Ye keci upaddavā uppajjanti sabbe te bālato uppajjanti, no paṇḍitato. Whatever perils there are, all come from the foolish, not from the astute. Ye keci upasaggā uppajjanti sabbe te bālato uppajjanti, no paṇḍitato. Whatever hazards there are, all come from the foolish, not from the astute.
1. Bālavagga 1. Fools “Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, bālassa bālalakkhaṇāni bālanimittāni bālāpadānāni. “There are these three characteristics, signs, and manifestations of a fool. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi bālassa bālalakkhaṇāni bālanimittāni bālāpadānāni. These are the three characteristics, signs, and manifestations of a fool.
Accayo maṁ, bhante, accagamā yathābālaṁ yathāmūḷhaṁ yathāakusalaṁ yassa me bhagavati sikkhāpadapaṭisaṁyuttāya dhammiyā kathāya bhikkhū sandassente samādapente samuttejente sampahaṁsente ahudeva akkhanti ahu appaccayo: “I have made a mistake, sir. It was foolish, stupid, and unskillful of me to become impatient and bitter when the Buddha was educating, encouraging, firing up, and inspiring the mendicants with a Dhamma talk about the training rules, and to think, “Taggha taṁ, kassapa, accayo accagamā yathābālaṁ yathāmūḷhaṁ yathāakusalaṁ, yassa te mayi sikkhāpadapaṭisaṁyuttāya dhammiyā kathāya bhikkhū sandassente samādapente samuttejente sampahaṁsente ahudeva akkhanti ahu appaccayo: “Indeed, Kassapa, you made a mistake. Taggha taṁ → taggha tvaṁ (bj, pts1ed) "
“accayo maṁ, bhante, accagamā, yathābālaṁ yathāmūḷhaṁ yathāakusalaṁ, yāhaṁ evamakāsiṁ. “I have made a mistake, sir. It was foolish, stupid, and unskillful of me to act in that way. “Taggha taṁ, bhagini, accayo accagamā, yathābālaṁ yathāmūḷhaṁ yathāakusalaṁ, yā tvaṁ evamakāsi. “Indeed, sister, you made a mistake. It was foolish, stupid, and unskillful of you to act in that way. Taggha taṁ → taggha tvaṁ (pts1ed, mr) "
“accayo maṁ, bhante, accagamā yathābālaṁ yathāmūḷhaṁ yathāakusalaṁ, yo ahaṁ āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ asatā tucchā musā abhūtena abbhācikkhiṁ. “I have made a mistake, sir. It was foolish, stupid, and unskillful of me to speak ill of Venerable Sāriputta with a false, hollow, lying, untruthful claim. “Taggha taṁ, bhikkhu, accayo accagamā yathābālaṁ yathāmūḷhaṁ yathāakusalaṁ, yo tvaṁ sāriputtaṁ asatā tucchā musā abhūtena abbhācikkhi. “Indeed, monk, you made a mistake. It was foolish, stupid, and unskillful of you to act in that way. taṁ → tvaṁ (si, pts1ed)
Accayo maṁ, bhante, accagamā yathābālaṁ yathāmūḷhaṁ yathāakusalaṁ, yohaṁ pitaraṁ dhammikaṁ dhammarājānaṁ issariyakāraṇā jīvitā voropesiṁ. I have made a mistake, sir. It was foolish, stupid, and unskillful of me to take the life of my father, a just and principled king, for the sake of authority. “Taggha tvaṁ, mahārāja, accayo accagamā yathābālaṁ yathāmūḷhaṁ yathāakusalaṁ, yaṁ tvaṁ pitaraṁ dhammikaṁ dhammarājānaṁ jīvitā voropesi. “Indeed, great king, you made a mistake. It was foolish, stupid, and unskillful of you to take the life of your father, a just and principled king, for the sake of sovereignty.
“accayo maṁ, bhante, accagamā yathābālaṁ yathāmūḷhaṁ yathāakusalaṁ, yvāhaṁ evaṁ bhagavantaṁ avacāsiṁ. “I have made a mistake, sir. It was foolish, stupid, and unskillful of me to speak in that way. “Taggha tvaṁ, nigrodha, accayo accagamā yathābālaṁ yathāmūḷhaṁ yathāakusalaṁ, yo maṁ tvaṁ evaṁ avacāsi. “Indeed, Nigrodha, you made a mistake. It was foolish, stupid, and unskillful of you to speak in that way. tvaṁ → taṁ (bj, sya-all, pts1ed)
Tena kho pana samayena nigaṇṭho nāṭaputto mahatiyā gihiparisāya saddhiṁ nisinno hoti bālakiniyā parisāya upālipamukhāya. Now at that time the Jain Ñātika was sitting together with a large assembly of laypeople of Bālaka headed by Upāli.
“accayo maṁ, bhante, accagamā yathābālaṁ yathāmūḷhaṁ yathāakusalaṁ, yohaṁ bhagavatā sikkhāpade paññāpiyamāne bhikkhusaṅghe sikkhaṁ samādiyamāne anussāhaṁ pavedesiṁ. “I have made a mistake, sir. It was foolish, stupid, and unskillful of me that, as this rule was being laid down by the Buddha and the Saṅgha was undertaking it, I announced I would not try to keep it. “Taggha tvaṁ, bhaddāli, accayo accagamā yathābālaṁ yathāmūḷhaṁ yathāakusalaṁ, yaṁ tvaṁ mayā sikkhāpade paññāpiyamāne bhikkhusaṅghe sikkhaṁ samādiyamāne anussāhaṁ pavedesi. “Indeed, Bhaddāli, you made a mistake. It was foolish, stupid, and unskillful of you that, as this rule was being laid down by the Buddha and the Saṅgha was undertaking it, you announced you would not try to keep it. “Accayo maṁ, bhante, accagamā yathābālaṁ yathāmūḷhaṁ yathāakusalaṁ, yohaṁ bhagavatā sikkhāpade paññāpiyamāne bhikkhusaṅghe sikkhaṁ samādiyamāne anussāhaṁ pavedesiṁ. “I made a mistake, sir. It was foolish, stupid, and unskillful of me that, as this rule was being laid down by the Buddha and the Saṅgha was undertaking it, I announced I would not try to keep it. “Taggha tvaṁ, bhaddāli, accayo accagamā yathābālaṁ yathāmūḷhaṁ yathāakusalaṁ, yaṁ tvaṁ mayā sikkhāpade paññāpiyamāne bhikkhusaṅghe sikkhaṁ samādiyamāne anussāhaṁ pavedesi. “Indeed, Bhaddāli, you made a mistake. It was foolish, stupid, and unskillful of you that, as this rule was being laid down by the Buddha and the Saṅgha was undertaking it, you announced you would not try to keep it. Accayo maṁ, bhante, accagamā yathābālaṁ yathāmūḷhaṁ yathāakusalaṁ, yohaṁ bhagavatā sikkhāpade paññāpiyamāne bhikkhusaṅghe sikkhaṁ samādiyamāne anussāhaṁ pavedesiṁ. “I made a mistake, sir. … “Taggha tvaṁ, bhaddāli, accayo accagamā yathābālaṁ yathāmūḷhaṁ yathāakusalaṁ, yaṁ tvaṁ mayā sikkhāpade paññāpiyamāne bhikkhusaṅghe sikkhaṁ samādiyamāne anussāhaṁ pavedesi. “Indeed, Bhaddāli, you made a mistake. …
Alaṁ bālassa mohāya, may be enough to beguile a fool, Alaṁ bālassa mohāya, may be enough to beguile a fool, Alaṁ bālassa mohāya, may be enough to beguile a fool,
“Yāni kānici, bhikkhave, bhayāni uppajjanti sabbāni tāni bālato uppajjanti, no paṇḍitato; “Whatever dangers there are, all come from the foolish, not from the astute. ye keci upaddavā uppajjanti sabbe te bālato uppajjanti, no paṇḍitato; Whatever perils there are, all come from the foolish, not from the astute. ye keci upasaggā uppajjanti sabbe te bālato uppajjanti, no paṇḍitato. Whatever hazards there are, all come from the foolish, not from the astute. evameva kho, bhikkhave, yāni kānici bhayāni uppajjanti sabbāni tāni bālato uppajjanti, no paṇḍitato; In the same way, whatever dangers there are, all come from the foolish, not from the astute. ye keci upaddavā uppajjanti sabbe te bālato uppajjanti, no paṇḍitato; Whatever perils there are, all come from the foolish, not from the astute. ye keci upasaggā uppajjanti sabbe te bālato uppajjanti, no paṇḍitato. Whatever hazards there are, all come from the foolish, not from the astute.
Atha kho bhagavā ṭhitakova imā gāthā bhāsitvā yena bālakaloṇakāragāmo tenupasaṅkami. After speaking these verses while standing, the Buddha went to the village of the child salt-miners, Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā bhagu bālakaloṇakāragāme viharati. where Venerable Bhagu was staying at the time.
Bālapaṇḍitasutta The Foolish and the Astute “Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, bālassa bālalakkhaṇāni bālanimittāni bālāpadānāni. “These are the three characteristics, signs, and manifestations of a fool. Tatra, bhikkhave, bālassa evaṁ hoti: Then that fool thinks, Tatra, bhikkhave, bālassa evaṁ hoti: Then that fool thinks, Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bālaṁ pīṭhasamārūḷhaṁ vā mañcasamārūḷhaṁ vā chamāyaṁ vā semānaṁ, yānissa pubbe pāpakāni kammāni katāni kāyena duccaritāni vācāya duccaritāni manasā duccaritāni tānissa tamhi samaye olambanti ajjholambanti abhippalambanti. Furthermore, when a fool is resting on a chair or a bed or on the ground, their past bad deeds—misconduct of body, speech, and mind—settle down upon them, rest down upon them, and lay down upon them. chamāyaṁ → chamāya (bj, pts1ed) evameva kho, bhikkhave, bālaṁ pīṭhasamārūḷhaṁ vā mañcasamārūḷhaṁ vā chamāyaṁ vā semānaṁ, yānissa pubbe pāpakāni kammāni katāni kāyena duccaritāni vācāya duccaritāni manasā duccaritāni tānissa tamhi samaye olambanti ajjholambanti abhippalambanti. In the same way, when a fool is resting on a chair or a bed or on the ground, their past bad deeds—misconduct of body, speech, and mind—settle down upon them, rest down upon them, and lay down upon them. Tatra, bhikkhave, bālassa evaṁ hoti: Then that fool thinks, Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, kevalā paripūrā bālabhūmīti. This is the total fulfillment of the fool’s level. kevalā paripūrā → kevalaparipūrā (bj, pts1ed) Bālapaṇḍitasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ navamaṁ. "
Cakkhunā rūpaṁ disvā uppajjati upekkhā bālassa mūḷhassa puthujjanassa anodhijinassa avipākajinassa anādīnavadassāvino assutavato puthujjanassa. When seeing a sight with the eye, equanimity arises for the unlearned ordinary person—a foolish ordinary person who has not overcome their limitations and the results of deeds, and is blind to the drawbacks. bālassa mūḷhassa → mūḷhassa mandassa (mr) | sā → sāyaṁ (mr) " manasā dhammaṁ viññāya uppajjati upekkhā bālassa mūḷhassa puthujjanassa anodhijinassa avipākajinassa anādīnavadassāvino assutavato puthujjanassa. When knowing an idea with the mind, equanimity arises for the unlearned ordinary person—a foolish ordinary person who has not overcome their limitations and the results of deeds, and is blind to the drawbacks.
“accayo maṁ, bhante, accagamā yathābālaṁ yathāmūḷhaṁ yathāakusalaṁ, yohaṁ bhagavantaṁ āvusovādena samudācaritabbaṁ amaññissaṁ. “I have made a mistake, sir. It was foolish, stupid, and unskillful of me to presume to address the Buddha as ‘reverend’. “Taggha tvaṁ, bhikkhu, accayo accagamā yathābālaṁ yathāmūḷhaṁ yathāakusalaṁ, yaṁ maṁ tvaṁ āvusovādena samudācaritabbaṁ amaññittha. “Indeed, mendicant, you made a mistake. It was foolish, stupid, and unskillful of you to act in that way.
“accayo no, bhante, accagamā yathābālaṁ yathāmūḷhaṁ yathāakusalaṁ, yā mayaṁ bhagavantaṁ āsādetabbaṁ amaññimhā. “We have made a mistake, sir. It was foolish, stupid, and unskillful of us to imagine we could attack the Buddha! yathābālaṁ yathāmūḷhaṁ yathāakusalaṁ → yathābālā yathāmūḷhā yathāakusalā (sya-all, km, pts1ed, pts2ed)
“Kassa hi nāma, bhante, abālassa aduṭṭhassa amūḷhassa avipallatthacittassa āyasmā sāriputto na rucceyya? “Sir, who on earth would not endorse Venerable Sāriputta unless they’re a fool, a hater, delusional, or mentally deranged? Kassa hi nāma, bhante, abālassa aduṭṭhassa amūḷhassa avipallatthacittassa āyasmā sāriputto na rucceyyā”ti? Who on earth would not endorse Venerable Sāriputta unless they’re a fool, a hater, delusional, or mentally deranged?” Kassa hi nāma, ānanda, abālassa aduṭṭhassa amūḷhassa avipallatthacittassa sāriputto na rucceyya? Who on earth would not endorse Venerable Sāriputta unless they’re a fool, a hater, delusional, or mentally deranged?” Kassa hi nāma, ānanda, abālassa aduṭṭhassa amūḷhassa avipallatthacittassa sāriputto na rucceyyā”ti? sn2.29 Kassa hi nāma, bhante, abālassa aduṭṭhassa amūḷhassa avipallatthacittassa āyasmā sāriputto na rucceyya? Who on earth would not endorse Venerable Sāriputta unless they’re a fool, a hater, delusional, or mentally deranged?” Kassa hi nāma, bhante, abālassa aduṭṭhassa amūḷhassa avipallatthacittassa āyasmā sāriputto na rucceyya? sn2.29 Kassa hi nāma, bhante, abālassa aduṭṭhassa amūḷhassa avipallatthacittassa āyasmā sāriputto na rucceyyā”ti? sn2.29
dhīro bālaṁ nisedhaye’ti. a fool with forceful punishment.’ bālassa paṭisedhanaṁ; to put a stop to a fool, yassa bālabalaṁ balaṁ; is really just weakness, they say.
dhīro bālaṁ nisedhaye’ti. a fool with forceful punishment.’ bālassa paṭisedhanaṁ; to put a stop to a fool, yassa bālabalaṁ balaṁ; is really just weakness, they say.
Bālapaṇḍitasutta The Astute and the Foolish Bālapaṇḍitasutta → bālena paṇḍito (pts1ed, pts2ed) “Avijjānīvaraṇassa, bhikkhave, bālassa taṇhāya sampayuttassa evamayaṁ kāyo samudāgato. “Mendicants, for a fool shrouded by ignorance and fettered by craving, this body has been produced. “Yāya ca, bhikkhave, avijjāya nivutassa bālassa yāya ca taṇhāya sampayuttassa ayaṁ kāyo samudāgato, sā ceva avijjā bālassa appahīnā sā ca taṇhā aparikkhīṇā. “For a fool shrouded by ignorance and fettered by craving, this body has been produced. But the fool has not given up that ignorance or finished that craving.
“accayo maṁ, bhante, accagamā yathābālaṁ yathāmūḷhaṁ yathāakusalaṁ, yvāhaṁ evaṁ svākkhāte dhammavinaye dhammatthenako pabbajito. “I have made a mistake, sir. It was foolish, stupid, and unskillful of me to go forth as a thief in such a well-explained teaching and training. “Taggha tvaṁ, susima, accayo accagamā yathābālaṁ yathāmūḷhaṁ yathāakusalaṁ, yo tvaṁ evaṁ svākkhāte dhammavinaye dhammatthenako pabbajito. “Indeed, Susīma, you made a mistake. It was foolish, stupid, and unskillful of you to go forth as a thief in such a well-explained teaching and training.
“accayo no, bhante, accagamā, yathābāle yathāmūḷhe yathāakusale, ye mayaṁ evaṁ svākkhāte dhammavinaye pabbajitā samānā aññamaññaṁ sutena accāvadimha: “We have made a mistake, sir. It was foolish, stupid, and unskillful of us in that after going forth in such a well explained teaching and training we competed in studies to yathābāle yathāmūḷhe yathāakusale → yathā bāle yathā mūḷhe yathā akusale (bj, pts1ed, pts2ed); yathābālaṁ yathāmūḷhaṁ yathāakusalaṁ (?)
Atha kho aññatitthiyā paribbājakā āyasmantaṁ anurādhaṁ navavādena ca bālavādena ca apasādetvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkamiṁsu. Then, after rebuking Venerable Anurādha by calling him “junior” and “foolish”, the wanderers got up from their seats and left. Atha kho maṁ, bhante, te aññatitthiyā paribbājakā navavādena ca bālavādena ca apasādetvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkamiṁsu. sn22.86
Yo, bhikkhave, tathāgatena evaṁ ācikkhiyamāne desiyamāne paññapiyamāne paṭṭhapiyamāne vivariyamāne vibhajiyamāne uttānīkariyamāne na jānāti na passati tamahaṁ, bhikkhave, bālaṁ puthujjanaṁ andhaṁ acakkhukaṁ ajānantaṁ apassantaṁ kinti karomi. This being so, what can I do about a foolish ordinary person, blind and sightless, who does not know or see? Yo, bhikkhave, tathāgatena evaṁ ācikkhiyamāne desiyamāne paññapiyamāne paṭṭhapiyamāne vivariyamāne vibhajiyamāne uttānīkariyamāne na jānāti na passati tamahaṁ, bhikkhave, bālaṁ puthujjanaṁ andhaṁ acakkhukaṁ ajānantaṁ apassantaṁ kinti karomi. This being so, what can I do about a foolish ordinary person, blind and sightless, who does not know or see?
Atha kho te aññatitthiyā paribbājakā āyasmantaṁ anurādhaṁ navavādena ca bālavādena ca apasādetvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkamiṁsu. Then, after rebuking Venerable Anurādha by calling him “junior” and “foolish”, the wanderers got up from their seat and left. Atha kho maṁ, bhante, te aññatitthiyā paribbājakā navavādena ca bālavādena ca apasādetvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkamiṁsu. sn44.2
Tatra, bhikkhave, ye te makkaṭā abālajātikā alolajātikā, te taṁ lepaṁ disvā ārakā parivajjanti. The monkeys who are not foolhardy and reckless see the tar and avoid it from afar. Yo pana so hoti makkaṭo bālajātiko lolajātiko, so taṁ lepaṁ upasaṅkamitvā hatthena gaṇhāti. But a foolish and reckless monkey goes up to the tar and grabs it with a hand.
Taṁ kho panetaṁ, bhikkhave, brāhmaṇānaṁ bālagamanametaṁ mūḷhagamanametaṁ na nibbidāya na virāgāya na nirodhāya na upasamāya na abhiññāya na sambodhāya na nibbānāya saṁvattati. But this practice of the brahmins is a foolish procedure, a stupid procedure. It doesn’t lead to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, or extinguishment. bālagamanametaṁ → bālānaṁ gamanametaṁ (bj) "