A Collection of Buddhist Wisdom Verses - Ancient Buddhist Texts

28: Heedful
545. Coro pi kammanā hoti, yodhājīvo pi kammanā,
Yājako kammanā hoti, Rājāpi hoti kammanā.
A robber is known through his deeds,
A mercenery through his deeds,
A begger is known through his deeds,
And a King is known through his deeds.
546. Evam-etaṁ yathābhūtaṁ, kammaṁ passanti Paṇḍitā,
Paṭiccasamuppādadasā, kammavipākakovidā.
Seeing this as it really is,
The Wise look at the deed, they see
Conditioned origination,
Who are skilled in deeds and results.
547. Kammanā vattate loko, kammanā vattate pajā,
Kammanibandhanā sattā, rathassāṇīva yāyato.
The world is kept turning by deeds,
By deeds people are kept turning,
Beings, bound by their deeds, roll on
Like chariots on their linchpins.
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