Daṇḍa sutta: A Stick

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time, between Sāvatthī and the Jeta Grove, several boys were hitting a snake with a stick. Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms. He saw the boys hitting the snake.

Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:

“Creatures love happiness,
so if you harm them with a stick
in search of your own happiness,
after death you’ll find no happiness.

Creatures love happiness,
so if you don’t harm them with a stick
in search of your own happiness,
after death you will find happiness.”