A Collection of Buddhist Wisdom Verses - Ancient Buddhist Texts

27: Advice
Jā 472 Mahāpadumajātakaṁ
Enquiring before Punishment
The King goes to quell a disturbance at the
borders leaving the Bodhisatta to rule in his
absence. The Queen, his step-mother, tries and
fails to seduce him. When the King returns she
makes false allegations and the Bodhisatta is
taken out for execution.
527. Na diṭṭhā parato dosaṁ aṇuṁthūlāni sabbaso,
Issaro na paṇaye daṇḍaṁ, sāmaṁ appaṭivekkhiya.
When not seeing another's faults,
Whether they are small or are great,
The Lord should not give punishment,
Without first investigating.
528. Yo ca appaṭivekkhitvā, daṇḍaṁ kubbati Khattiyo,
Sakaṇṭakaṁ so gilati jaccandho va samakkhikaṁ.
That King who punishes others,
Without first investigating,
Is like a blind man who swallows
Both his food, thorns and flies alike.
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