It’s like a mule, which becomes pregnant to its own ruin and downfall. In the same way, possessions, honor, and popularity came to Devadatta for his own ruin and downfall. So grim are possessions, honor, and popularity. That’s how you should train.”

That is what the Buddha said. Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

“The banana plant is destroyed by its own fruit, as are the bamboo and the reed. Honor destroys a reprobate, as pregnancy destroys a mule.”

Linked Discourses 17.36 Chapter Four Five Hundred Carts

Near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground. Now at that time Prince Ajātasattu was going with five hundred carts at daybreak and dusk to attend on Devadatta, presenting him with an offering of five hundred servings of food. Then several mendicants went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him, “Sir, Prince Ajātasattu is going with five hundred carts at daybreak and dusk to attend on Devadatta, presenting him with an offering of five hundred servings of food.” “Mendicants, don’t envy Devadatta’s possessions, honor, and popularity. As long as Prince Ajātasattu goes with five hundred carts at daybreak and dusk to attend on Devadatta, presenting him with an offering of five hundred servings of food, Devadatta can expect decline, not growth, in skillful qualities.