Punishment

129. All men tremble at punishment, all men fear death; remember that you are like unto them, and do not kill, nor cause slaughter.

129. All people tremble at punishment. All people fear death. Remember that you are like them, and do not kill or cause others to be killed.

130. All men tremble at punishment, all men love life; remember that thou art like unto them, and do not kill, nor cause slaughter.

130. All people tremble at punishment. All people love life. Remember that you are like them, and do not kill or cause others to be killed.

131. He who seeking his own happiness punishes or kills beings who also long for happiness, will not find happiness after death.

131. Anyone who seeks happiness by punishing or killing beings who also want happiness will not find happiness after death.

132. He who seeking his own happiness does not punish or kill beings who also long for happiness, will find happiness after death.

132. Anyone who seeks happiness without punishing or killing other beings, who also long for happiness, will find happiness after death.

133. Do not speak harshly to anybody; those who are spoken to will answer thee in the same way. Angry speech is painful, blows for blows will touch thee.

133. Do not speak harshly to anyone. Those you speak harshly to will answer you in the same way. Angry words are painful. Blow for blow, you will be struck in return.

134. If, like a shattered metal plate (gong), thou utter not, then thou hast reached Nirvana; contention is not known to thee.

134. If you remain silent like a shattered metal plate (gong), then you have reached Nirvana and know no conflict.

135. As a cowherd with his staff drives his cows into the stable, so do Age and Death drive the life of men.

135. Just as a cowherd uses his staff to drive his cows into the stable, Age and Death drive human lives.

136. A fool does not know when he commits his evil deeds: but the wicked man burns by his own deeds, as if burnt by fire.

136. A fool does not realize he is doing evil. But the wicked man burns because of his own deeds, as if burned by fire.

137. He who inflicts pain on innocent and harmless persons, will soon come to one of these ten states:

137. Whoever causes pain to innocent, harmless people will soon experience one of these ten states:

138. He will have cruel suffering, loss, injury of the body, heavy affliction, or loss of mind,

138. He will face terrible suffering, loss, bodily injury, severe hardship, or loss of sanity,

139. Or a misfortune coming from the king, or a fearful accusation, or loss of relations, or destruction of treasures,

139. Or misfortune caused by the king, or a frightening accusation, or loss of relatives, or destruction of wealth,

140. Or lightning-fire will burn his houses; and when his body is destroyed, the fool will go to hell.

140. Or lightning will set his houses on fire. And when his body is destroyed, the fool will go to hell.

141. Not nakedness, not platted hair, not dirt, not fasting, or lying on the earth, not rubbing with dust, not sitting motionless, can purify a mortal who has not overcome desires.

141. Going naked, wearing braided hair, being dirty, fasting, or lying on the ground cannot purify someone who has not overcome desires. Neither can rubbing the body with dust or sitting motionless.

142. He who, though dressed in fine apparel, exercises tranquillity, is quiet, subdued, restrained, chaste, and has ceased to find fault with all other beings, he indeed is a Brahmana, an ascetic (sramana), a friar (bhikshu).

142. Consider a man who, though dressed in fine clothes, practices calm. He is quiet, disciplined, restrained, chaste, and no longer finds fault with all other beings. Such a man is truly a Brahmana, an ascetic (sramana), a monk (bhikshu).

143. Is there in this world any man so restrained by humility that he does not mind reproof, as a well-trained horse the whip?

143. Is there any man in this world so humble and self-controlled that he accepts correction as a well-trained horse accepts the whip?

144. Like a well-trained horse when touched by the whip, be ye active and lively, and by faith, by virtue, by energy, by meditation, by discernment of the law you will overcome this great pain (of reproof), perfect in knowledge and in behaviour, and never forgetful.

144. Like a well-trained horse touched by the whip, be active and alert. Through faith, virtue, effort, meditation, and understanding of the law, you will overcome this great pain (of correction). You will be perfect in knowledge and conduct, and always mindful.

145. Well-makers lead the water (wherever they like); fletchers bend the arrow; carpenters bend a log of wood; good people fashion themselves.

145. Well-makers direct water wherever they want. Arrow-makers bend arrows. Carpenters bend wood. Good people shape themselves.