Chapter 9

Be quick to do what is (morally) beautiful. Restrain the mind from evil. He who is sluggish in doing good, his mind delights in evil.

Should a man (once) do evil, let him not make a habit of it; let him not set his heart on it. Painful is the heaping up of evil.

Should a man (once) do good, let him make a habit of it; let him set his heart on it. Happy is the heaping up of good.

As long as it bears no fruit, so long the evildoer sees the evil (he has done) as good. When it bears fruit (in the form of suffering) he recognizes it as evil.

As long as it bears no fruit, so long the good man sees (the good he has done) as evil. When it bears fruit (in the form of happiness), then he recognizes it as good.

Do not underestimate evil, (thinking) ‘It will not approach me.’ A water-pot becomes full by the (constant) falling of drops of water. (Similarly) the spiritually immature person little by little fills himself with evil.

Do not underestimate good, (thinking) ‘It will not approach me.’ A water-pot becomes full by the (constant) falling of drops of water. (Similarly) the wise man little by little fills himself with good.

As a merchant (travelling) with a small caravan and much wealth avoids a dangerous road, or as one desirous of life shuns poison, so should one keep clear of evil.

If one has no wound in one’s hand one may (safely) handle poison. The unwounded hand is not affected by poison. (Similarly) no evil befalls him who does no wrong.

Whoever offends against an innocent man, one who is pure and faultless, to that spiritually immature person the evil (he has committed) comes back like fine dust thrown against the wind.

Some (beings) arise (by way of conception) in the womb. Evildoers are born in a state of woe. Those who do good go to heaven. Those who are free from defilements become utterly ‘Cool’.

Not in the sky, nor in the midst of the sea, nor yet in the clefts of the mountains, nowhere in the world (in fact) is there any place to be found where, having entered, one can abide free from (the consequences of) one’s evil deeds.

Not in the sky, nor in the midst of the sea, nor yet in the clefts of mountains, nowhere in the world (in fact) is there any place to be found where, having entered, one will not be overcome by death.