Dhamma Verses (Dhammapada, KN 2)

1: The Chapter about the Pairs – 16
No escape from bad deeds
The monk Cakkhupāla determined to fulfil his practice even at
the cost of his eyes and eventually he attained Awakening; the
Buddha explained the deed he did in the past which caused his
loss of sight in the present, and he summarised the teaching
with this verse.
1. Manopubbaṅgamā dhammā, manoseṭṭhā manomayā,
manasā ce paduṭṭhena bhāsati vā karoti vā,
tato naṁ dukkham-anveti cakkaṁ va vahato padaṁ.
Mind precedes thoughts, mind is their chief,
their quality is made by mind,
if with base mind one speaks or acts
through that suffering follows one
like a wheel follows ox’s foot.