[597]
For when a person is born,
an axe (kudhārī) is born in his mouth,
with which the fool cuts himself,
speaking ill-spoken words.
He who praises one deserving blame,
or blames one deserving praise,
gathers with his mouth an unlucky throw (kali);
through that unlucky throw he finds no happiness.
Trifling is this unlucky throw —
the loss of one's wealth at dice,
even of all one has, together with oneself;
this indeed is the greater unlucky throw:
that one should corrupt his mind against the fortunate ones (sugata).
For a hundred thousand nirabbudas,
and thirty-six besides, and five abbudas,
the reviler of the noble ones goes to hell,
having directed evil speech and mind against them.
The tenth: the Second Kokālika Sutta (Dutiyakokālikasutta).
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.