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60. Long is the night for one awake,
Long is a league to one exhausted,
Long is samsara to the childish ones.
Who know not dhamma true.
61. If while moving [through life], once were not to meet
Someone better or like unto oneself,
Then one should move firmly by oneself;
There is no companionship in the childish.
62. A childish person becomes anxious,
Thinking, “Sons are mine! Wealth is mine!”
Not even a self is there [to call] one’s own.
Whence sons? Whence wealth?
63. A childish one who knows his childishness
If, for that reason, even like a wise person.
But a childish one who thinks himself wise
Is truly called a childish one.
64. Even though, throughout his life,
A childish one attends on a wise person,
He does not [thereby] perceive dhamma,
As a ladle, the flavour of the dish.
65. Even though, for a brief moment,
An intelligent one attends on a wise person.
He quickly perceives dhamma,
As the tongue, the flavour of the dish.
66. Childish ones, of little intelligence,
Go about with a self that is truly an enemy;
Performing the deed that is bad,
Which is of bitter fruit.
67. That deed done is not good,
Having done which, one regrets,
The consequence of which one receives,
Crying with tear-stained face.
68. But that deed done is good,
Having done which, one does not regret;
The consequence of which one receives,
With pleasure and with joy.
69. The childish one thinks it is like honey
While the bad [he has done] is not yet matured.
But when the bad [he has done] is matured,
Then the childish one comes by suffering.
70. Month by month a childish one
Might eat food with a kusa grass blade.
He is not worth a sixteenth part
Of those who have understood dhamma.
71. For a bad act done does not coagulate
Like freshly extracted milk.
Burning, it follows the childish one,
Like fire concealed in ashes.
72. Only for his detriment
Does knowledge arise for the childish one.
It ruins his good fortune,
Causing his [very] head to fall.
73. He would desire unreal glory
And pre-eminence among bhikkhus,
Authority, too, concerning dwellings,
And offerings in other families.
74. “Let both householders and those who have gone forth
Think that it is my work alone;
In whatever is to be done or not done,
Let them be dependent on me alone!”
Such is the thought of the childish one;
Desire and pride increase.
75. The means of acquisition is one.
And another the way leading to Nibbana.
Having recognised this as so,
Let a bhikkhu who is a disciple of the Buddha
Not delight in [receiving] esteem;
Let him cherish disengagement.