He who, while seeking his own happiness, harms with a stick beings who desire happiness, will not find happiness after passing away.

UD 2.3  Daṇḍa sutta - On stick

Evaṁ me sutaṁ ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā kumārakā antarā ca sāvatthiṁ antarā ca jetavanaṁ ahiṁ daṇḍena hananti. Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi. Addasā kho bhagavā sambahule kumārake antarā ca sāvatthiṁ antarā ca jetavanaṁ ahiṁ daṇḍena hanante.

Thus have I heard—At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthi, in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s park. During that time, several young boys between Sāvatthi and Jeta’s Grove were hitting a snake with sticks. Then, early in the morning, the Blessed One dressed, took his alms bowl and outer robe, and entered Sāvatthi for alms. The Blessed One saw those boys between Sāvatthi and the Jeta’s Grove hitting the snakes with sticks.

Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

Then, understanding the significance of this, the Blessed One at that time expressed this inspired utterance:

“Sukhakāmāni bhūtāni,
yo daṇḍena vihiṁsati;
Attano sukhamesāno,
pecca so na labhate sukhaṁ.

“He who, while seeking his own happiness,
Harms with a stick beings who desire happiness,
Will not find happiness after passing away.

Sukhakāmāni bhūtāni,
yo daṇḍena na hiṁsati;
Attano sukhamesāno,
pecca so labhate sukhan”ti.

He who, while seeking his own happiness,
Does not harm with a stick beings who desire happiness,
Will find happiness after passing away.”

Last updated on October 11, 2025