[247] The common crowd raised a clamor all as one; not a single one thought himself a fool.
Though the Saṅgha was splitting apart, they considered nothing else beyond it.
Bereft of mindfulness, yet fancying themselves wise, speakers whose range is mere talk,
they stretch their mouths as wide as they wish; by what they are led on, they do not know.
"He abused me, he struck me, he defeated me, he robbed me" —
for those who harbor such thoughts, enmity (vera) never subsides.
"He abused me, he struck me, he defeated me, he robbed me" —
for those who do not harbor such thoughts, enmity subsides.
For never here are enmities stilled by enmity;
by non-enmity are they stilled — this is an eternal law (esa dhammo sanantano).
Others do not understand that here we are perishing;
but those who understand this — through them, quarrels subside.
Even those who break bones, who take life, who carry off cattle, horses, and wealth,
who plunder the realm — even for them there is concord.
Why should there not be for you?
If one should find a prudent companion to walk with,
one wise and of good conduct,
then, overcoming all perils,
one should walk with him, glad at heart and mindful.
But if one should not find a prudent companion to walk with,
one wise and of good conduct,
then, like a king abandoning the realm he has conquered,
one should walk alone, like the elephant Mātaṅga in the forest.
Better is the walking of one alone; there is no companionship with a fool.
One should walk alone and do no evil deeds,
with few concerns, like the elephant Mātaṅga in the forest.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.