English translation
3.5.6 Laying Aside Violence Toward All Living Beings *
Thus has been heard by me.
At one time the Bhagavā was staying at Savatthi, in Anathapindika’s park in Jeta’s grove. At that time a number a boys between Savatthi and Jeta’s grove were killing a snake with a stick.
In the forenoon the Bhagavā after having dressed in his robe and taking his bowl and robe entered Savatthi for alms. There the Bhagavā saw this number of boys between Savatthi and Jeta’s grove killing that snake with a stick.
Having realised the significance of this, the Bhagavā uttered, at that occasion, the following exclamation:
Beings desiring their own happiness
by beating beings with a stick;
Themselves seeking happiness for themselves,
they will not attain happiness thereafter.
Beings desiring their own happiness and
do not beat beings with a stick;
Themselves seeking happiness for themselves,
they will attain happiness thereafter.
* Daṇḍasuttaṃ: Daṇḍa + suttaṃ: stick + sutta.