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Dhammapada 306–319

Nirayavagga

22. Hell · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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Abhūtavādī nirayaṁ upeti,
Yo vāpi katvā na karomi cāha;
Ubhopi te pecca samā bhavanti,
Nihīnakammā manujā parattha.

A liar goes to hell, as does one who denies what they did. Both are equal in the hereafter, those men of base deeds.

Kāsāvakaṇṭhā bahavo,
pāpadhammā asaññatā;
Pāpā pāpehi kammehi,
nirayaṁ te upapajjare.

Many who wear a scrap of ocher cloth are unrestrained and wicked. Being wicked, they are reborn in hell due to their bad deeds.

Seyyo ayoguḷo bhutto,
tatto aggisikhūpamo;
Yañce bhuñjeyya dussīlo,
raṭṭhapiṇḍamasaññato.

It’d be better for the immoral and unrestrained to eat an iron ball, scorching, like a burning flame, than to eat the nation’s alms.

Cattāri ṭhānāni naro pamatto,
Āpajjati paradārūpasevī;
Apuññalābhaṁ na nikāmaseyyaṁ,
Nindaṁ tatīyaṁ nirayaṁ catutthaṁ.

Four things befall a heedless man who sleeps with another’s wife: wickedness, poor sleep, ill-repute, and rebirth in hell.

Apuññalābho ca gatī ca pāpikā,
Bhītassa bhītāya ratī ca thokikā;
Rājā ca daṇḍaṁ garukaṁ paṇeti,
Tasmā naro paradāraṁ na seve.

He accrues wickedness and is reborn in a bad place, all so a frightened couple may snatch a moment’s pleasure, for which rulers impose a heavy punishment. That’s why a man should not sleep with another’s wife.

Kuso yathā duggahito,
hatthamevānukantati;
Sāmaññaṁ dupparāmaṭṭhaṁ,
nirayāyupakaḍḍhati.

When kusa grass is wrongly grasped it only cuts the hand. So too, the ascetic life, when wrongly taken, drags you to hell.

Yaṁ kiñci sithilaṁ kammaṁ,
saṅkiliṭṭhañca yaṁ vataṁ;
Saṅkassaraṁ brahmacariyaṁ,
na taṁ hoti mahapphalaṁ.

Any lax act, any corrupt observance, or suspicious spiritual life, is not very fruitful.

Kayirā ce kayirāthenaṁ,
daḷhamenaṁ parakkame;
Sithilo hi paribbājo,
bhiyyo ākirate rajaṁ.

If one is to do what should be done, one should staunchly strive. For the life gone forth when laxly led just stirs up dust all the more.

Akataṁ dukkaṭaṁ seyyo,
pacchā tappati dukkaṭaṁ;
Katañca sukataṁ seyyo,
yaṁ katvā nānutappati.

A bad deed is better left undone, for it will plague you later on. A good deed is better done, one that does not plague you.

Nagaraṁ yathā paccantaṁ,
guttaṁ santarabāhiraṁ;
Evaṁ gopetha attānaṁ,
khaṇo vo mā upaccagā;
Khaṇātītā hi socanti,
nirayamhi samappitā.

As a frontier city is guarded inside and out, so you should ward yourselves— don’t let the moment pass you by. For if you miss your moment you’ll grieve when sent to hell.

Alajjitāye lajjanti,
lajjitāye na lajjare;
Micchādiṭṭhisamādānā,
sattā gacchanti duggatiṁ.

Unashamed of what is shameful, ashamed of what is not shameful; beings who uphold wrong view go to a bad place.

Abhaye bhayadassino,
bhaye cābhayadassino;
Micchādiṭṭhisamādānā,
sattā gacchanti duggatiṁ.

Seeing danger where there is none, and blind to the actual danger, beings who uphold wrong view go to a bad place.

Avajje vajjamatino,
vajje cāvajjadassino;
Micchādiṭṭhisamādānā,
sattā gacchanti duggatiṁ.

Seeing fault where there is none, and blind to the actual fault, beings who uphold wrong view go to a bad place.

Vajjañca vajjato ñatvā,
avajjañca avajjato;
Sammādiṭṭhisamādānā,
sattā gacchanti suggatiṁ.
Nirayavaggo dvāvīsatimo.

Knowing a fault as a fault and the faultless as faultless, beings who uphold right view go to a good place.

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