Verse 129: All are afraid of the stick, all fear death. Putting oneself in another’s place, one should not beat or kill others.

The Story of a Group of Six Bhikkhus

While residing at the Javana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (129) of this book, with reference to a group of six bhikkhus (chabbaggi) who picked a quarrel with another group comprising seventeen bhikkhus.

Once seventeen bhikkhus were cleaning up a building in the Jetavana monastery-complex with the intention of occupying it, when another group comprising six bhikkhus arrived on the scene. The group of six said to the first group, “We are senior to you, so you had better give way to us; we will take this place.” The group of seventeen did not give in, so the chabbaggis beat up the other group who cried out in pain. The Buddha learning about this reprimanded them and laid down the disciplinary rule forbidding bhikkhus to beat others.

Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:

Verse 129: All are afraid of the stick, all fear death. Putting oneself in another’s place, one should not beat or kill others.

Dhammapada Verse 129
Chabbaggiya Bhikkhu Vatthu

Sabbe tasanti dandassa
sabbe bhayanti maccuno
attanam upamam katva
na haneyya na ghataye.

Source: Tipitaka