So I have heard. Evaṁ me sutaṁ—At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Now at that time, between Sāvatthī and the Jeta Grove, several boys were tormenting some fish. Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā kumārakā antarā ca sāvatthiṁ antarā ca jetavanaṁ macchake bādhenti.

Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms. Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi. He saw the boys tormenting the fish. Addasā kho bhagavā te sambahule kumārake antarā ca sāvatthiṁ antarā ca jetavanaṁ macchake bādhente. He went to them and said, Disvāna yena te kumārakā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā te kumārake etadavoca: “Boys, do you fear pain? Do you dislike pain?” “bhāyatha vo, tumhe kumārakā, dukkhassa, appiyaṁ vo dukkhan”ti? “Yes, sir,” they replied. “We dislike pain.” “Evaṁ, bhante, bhāyāma mayaṁ, bhante, dukkhassa, appiyaṁ no dukkhan”ti.

Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment: Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

“If you fear pain, “Sace bhāyatha dukkhassa, if you dislike pain, sace vo dukkhamappiyaṁ; don’t do bad deeds Mākattha pāpakaṁ kammaṁ, either openly or in secret. āvi vā yadi vā raho.

If you should do a bad deed, Sace ca pāpakaṁ kammaṁ, now or in the future, karissatha karotha vā; you won’t be freed from suffering, Na vo dukkhā pamutyatthi, though you fly away and flee.” upeccapi palāyatan”ti.

Catutthaṁ.