A Collection of Buddhist Wisdom Verses - Ancient Buddhist Texts

14: Blame
Dhp 227-8 Atula-upāsakavatthu
Blameworthy
The lay-disciple Atula goes to see Revata, who
speaks not, Sāriputta, who speaks at length, and
Ānanda who speaks moderately; but he is upset
with them all. Finally he goes to the Buddha who
explains it thus.
255. Porāṇam-etaṁ, Atula, netaṁ ajjatanām-iva:
Nindanti tuṇhim-āsīnaṁ, nindanti bahubhāṇinaṁ,
Mitabhāṇim-pi nindanti, natthi loke anindito.
This is ancient wisdom, my friend,
This is not something that is new:
They blame the one who is silent,
The one who talks a lot, and the
One who talks in moderation,
There is no one who is not blamed.
256. Na cāhu na ca bhavissati, na cetarahi vijjati
Ekantaṁ nindito poso, ekantaṁ vā pasaṁsito.
There was not and there will not be,
And at present there is not found
Someone totally blameworthy,
Or one totally praiseworthy.
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