A Collection of Buddhist Wisdom Verses - Ancient Buddhist Texts

8: Words
Jā 476 Javanahaṁsajātakaṁ
Deeds not Words Measure a Friend
A King of the geese is invited by the King of men
to stay with him, but he declines with these words.
152. Suvijānaṁ sigālānaṁ sakuntānañ-ca vassitaṁ,
Manussavassitaṁ Rāja dubbijānataraṁ tato.
The cry of jackals and of birds
Can be easily understood,
But the cry and speech of humans
Is much harder to understand.
153. Api ce maññati poso: Ñāti mitto sakhā ti vā,
Yo pubbe sumano hutvā, pacchā sampajjate diso.
Although a person thinks: He is
My relative and my comrade,
He who made him happy before
In the future becomes his foe.
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