A monk lives with the Buddha, but when questioned by visiting monks it is found he does not know even the fundamentals of the teaching. They tell this to the Buddha.
Na so Dhammaṁ vijānāti, dabbī sūparasaṁ yathā.
He (may) not know Dhamma, just as the spoon (doesn't know) the taste of curry.
Two thieves go to listen to the Dhamma. One of them attains path and fruit, the other manages to undo a knot in someone's clothes and steal some pennies.
Bālo ca paṇḍitamānī, sa ve bālo ti vuccati.
The fool who is proud of his wisdom, he is said to be a fool indeed.
A young man learns the art of stone-throwing, but uses it to kill a Paccekabuddha; he is reborn in Avīci hell, and later as a ghost who is constantly having his head crushed by sixty-thousand sledgehammers.
Hanti bālassa sukkaṁsaṁ, muddham-assa vipātayaṁ.
A king (Devadatta) is jealous of his elephant (the Bodhisatta) and tries to have it fall to its death. The elephant leaves for another Kingdom.
Attano ca paresañ-ca hiṁsāya paṭipajjati.
He enters on a path leading to harm for himself and others.
A King wants to enjoy himself at a festival and asks some monkeys to water his saplings. They agree, but not having much water, pull each one up first to measure the water needed. All the trees die.
Hāpeti atthaṁ dummedho, kapi ārāmiko yathā.
The unintelligent one ruins what is good, like the monkey in the park.
Passa Rohiṇikaṁ jammiṁ, Mātaraṁ hantvāna, socati.
Look at that common girl Rohiṇī: having killed her Mother, she grieved.
The Bodhisatta is an ascetic who lives far from the haunts of men, when Sakka offers him a boon, this is part of what he asks for.
Bālen' allāpasallāpaṁ na kare, na ca rocaye.
May I not hold talk with a fool, nor find (any) pleasure (in him).
Vinayaṁ so na jānāti, sādhu tassa adassanaṁ.
He does not know discipline, it is good not to meet with him.
Sakka asks the Bodhisatta who is the truly wise man.
Such a one is endowed with wisdom, they say.
The Buddha explains to Nālaka the things conducive to becoming a sage, one of which is not being talkative.
Aḍḍhakumbhūpamo bālo, rahado pūro va Paṇḍito.
The fool is like a pot half-full, the Wise One is like a full lake.
A King makes fun of his elders so Sakka (the Bodhisatta) makes fun of him to teach him a lesson.
Sabbe sīhassa bhāyanti, natthi kāyasmi' tulyatā.
All respect the lion, although there is nothing the same about their bodies.
So hi tattha mahā hoti, neva bālo sarīravā.
But though he is big in body, a fool is never (respected).
When asked by Sakka what is the highest virtue this was the Bodhisatta's reply.
(All) are connected to the one with wisdom.