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Majjhima Nikāya 130

Devadūtasutta

Messengers of the Gods · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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of that oneTassa with swiftsīghena with speedjavena of one runningdhāvato outer-skin·evenchavimpi burnsḍayhati, inner-skin·evencammampi burnsḍayhati, flesh·evenmaṁsampi burnsḍayhati, sinew·evennhārumpi burnsḍayhati, bone·evenaṭṭhīnipi together·forth·smokesampadhūpāyanti, the escapeubbhataṁ such·justtādisameva ishoti.
whenYato andca indeedkho heso, monksbhikkhave, much·together·arrivedbahusampatto ishoti, thenatha thattaṁ the gatedvāraṁ is slammed shutpidhīyati.
heSo theretattha painfuldukkhā sharptibbā severekharā acutekaṭukā feelingsvedanā experiencesvedeti, notna andca as long astāva deathkālaṁ makeskaroti untilyāva notna thattaṁ bad·deedpāpakammaṁ eliminate·bebyantīhoti.

And as they run, their outer skin, inner skin, flesh, and sinews burn and even their bones smoke. Such is their escape; but when they’ve managed to make it most of the way, the gate is slammed shut. And there they suffer painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings—but they don’t die until that bad deed is eliminated.

there isHoti indeedkho thatso, monksbhikkhave, timesamayo whenyaṁ sometimeskadāci occasionallykarahaci longdīghassa of timeaddhuno with the passingaccayena of thattassa great·hellmahānirayassa easternpuratthimaṁ gatedvāraṁ is openedapāpurīyati.
theySo theretattha with swiftsīghena speedjavena rundhāvati.
of thatTassa with swiftsīghena speedjavena runningdhāvato outer skin·toochavimpi burnsḍayhati, inner skin·toocammampi burnsḍayhati, flesh·toomaṁsampi burnsḍayhati, sinew·toonhārumpi burnsḍayhati, bone·tooaṭṭhīnipi together·forth·smokesampadhūpāyanti, escapeubbhataṁ such like·justtādisameva ishoti.
theySo through thattena doordvārena make it outnikkhamati.

There comes a time when, after a very long period has passed, the eastern gate of the Great Hell is opened. So they run there as fast as they can. And as they run, their outer skin, inner skin, flesh, and sinews burn and even their bones smoke. Such is their escape; and they make it out that door.

of thatTassa indeedkho andpana, monksbhikkhave, great·hellmahānirayassa immediately adjacentsamanantarā adjacent·indeedsahitameva vastmahanto dung hellgūthanirayo.
theySo theretattha fallpatati.
in thatTasmiṁ indeedkho andpana, monksbhikkhave, in the dung hellgūthaniraye needle·mouthsūcimukhā creaturespāṇā outer skinchaviṁ bore throughchindanti, outer skinchaviṁ having cutchetvā inner skincammaṁ bore throughchindanti, inner skincammaṁ having cutchetvā fleshmaṁsaṁ bore throughchindanti, fleshmaṁsaṁ having cutchetvā sinewsnhāruṁ bore throughchindanti, sinewsnhāruṁ having cutchetvā bonesaṭṭhiṁ bore throughchindanti, bonesaṭṭhiṁ having cutchetvā bone·marrowaṭṭhimiñjaṁ devourkhādanti.
theySo theretattha painfuldukkhā sharptibbā severekharā acutekaṭukā feelingsvedanā experiencesvedeti, notna andca yettāva deathkālaṁ doeskaroti untilyāva notna thattaṁ bad·deedpāpakammaṁ is eliminatedbyantīhoti.

Immediately adjacent to the Great Hell is the vast Dung Hell. And that’s where they fall. In that Dung Hell there are needle-mouthed creatures that bore through the outer skin, the inner skin, the flesh, sinews, and bones, until they reach the marrow and devour it. And there they suffer painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings—but they don’t die until that bad deed is eliminated.

of thatTassa indeedkho thenpana, monksbhikkhave, dung·hellgūthanirayassa immediately adjacentsamanantarā together + justsahitameva vastmahanto chaff·hellkukkulanirayo.
heSo theretattha fallspatati.
heSo theretattha painfuldukkhā sharptibbā severekharā acutekaṭukā feelingsvedanā he feelsvedeti, notna butca yettāva deathkālaṁ doeskaroti untilyāva notna thattaṁ bad·deedpāpakammaṁ eliminate·isbyantīhoti.

Immediately adjacent to the Dung Hell is the vast Hell of Burning Chaff. And that’s where they fall. And there they suffer painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings—but they don’t die until that bad deed is eliminated.

of thatTassa indeedkho furthermorepana, monksbhikkhave, chaff·hellkukkulanirayassa immediately adjacentsamanantarā adjacent + justsahitameva vastmahantaṁ silk-cotton·forestsimbalivanaṁ upwardsuddhaṁ league + highyojanamuggataṁ of sixteen-inch thornssoḷasaṅgulakaṇṭakaṁ on·burnādittaṁ together·blazesampajjalitaṁ with·glow·becomesajotibhūtaṁ.
thereTattha up·make climbāropentipi down·make climboropentipi.
theySo theretattha painfuldukkhā sharptibbā severekharā acutekaṭukā feelingsvedanā experiencevedeti, notna andca yettāva deathkālaṁ makekaroti untilyāva notna thattaṁ bad·deedpāpakammaṁ is eliminatedbyantīhoti.

Immediately adjacent to the Hell of Burning Chaff is the vast Red Silk-Cotton Forest. It’s a league high, full of sixteen-inch thorns, burning, blazing, and glowing. And there they make them climb up and down. And there they suffer painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings—but they don’t die until that bad deed is eliminated.

of thatTassa indeedkho butpana, monksbhikkhave, silk-cotton·forestsimbalivanassa together·adjacentsamanantarā adjacent·justsahitameva vastmahantaṁ sword·leaf·forestasipattavanaṁ.
theySo theretattha into·enterpavisati.
itsTassa blown by the windvāteritāni leavespattāni fallenpatitāni hand·andhatthampi cutchindanti, foot·andpādampi cutchindanti, hand·foot·andhatthapādampi cutchindanti, ear·andkaṇṇampi cutchindanti, nose·andnāsampi cutchindanti, ear·nose·andkaṇṇanāsampi cutchindanti.
theySo theretattha painfuldukkhā sharptibbā severekharā acutekaṭukā feelingsvedanā they feelvedeti, notna butca yettāva deathkālaṁ they makekaroti as long asyāva notna thattaṁ bad·deedpāpakammaṁ is eliminatedbyantīhoti.

Immediately adjacent to the Red Silk-Cotton Forest is the vast Sword-Leaf Forest. They enter that. There the fallen leaves blown by the wind cut their hands, feet, both hands and feet; they cut their ears, nose, both ears and nose. And there they suffer painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings—but they don’t die until that bad deed is eliminated.

of thatTassa indeedkho andpana, monksbhikkhave, sword·leaf·forestasipattavanassa together·adjacentsamanantarā continuous + itselfsahitameva vastmahatī acid-waterkhārodakā rivernadī.
heSo theretattha fallspatati.
heSo theretattha down·stream + tooanusotampi is sweptvuyhati, up·stream + toopaṭisotampi is sweptvuyhati, down·stream·up·stream + tooanusotapaṭisotampi is sweptvuyhati.
heSo theretattha painfuldukkhā sharptibbā severekharā acutekaṭukā feelingsvedanā he feelsvedeti, notna andca as long astāva deathkālaṁ he makeskaroti untilyāva notna thattaṁ bad·deedpāpakammaṁ is eliminatedbyantīhoti.

Immediately adjacent to the Sword-Leaf Forest is the vast Acid River. And that’s where they fall. There they are swept upstream, swept downstream, and swept both up and down stream. And there they suffer painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings—but they don’t die until that bad deed is eliminated.

himTamenaṁ, monksbhikkhave, hell·wardennirayapālā with a hookbalisena up·holduddharitvā on solid groundthale having placedpatiṭṭhāpetvā they said thusevamāhaṁsu:
hey‘ambho manpurisa, whatkiṁ do you wanticchasī’ti?
heSo says thusevamāha:
I am hungry‘jighacchitosmi, sirbhante’ti.
himTamenaṁ, monksbhikkhave, hell·wardennirayapālā with a hottattena with an iron spikeayosaṅkunā mouthmukhaṁ apart·openvivaritvā burningādittena blazingsampajjalitena glowingsajotibhūtena red-hottattaṁ copper·balllohaguḷaṁ into the mouthmukhe into·throwpakkhipanti on·burningādittaṁ with·intensive·blazingsampajjalitaṁ with·glow·becomesajotibhūtaṁ.
itSo of that onetassa lip·toooṭṭhampi burnsdahati, mouth·toomukhampi burnsdahati, throat·tookaṇṭhampi burnsdahati, stomach·toourampi burnsdahati, intestine·tooantampi intestine·entrail·tooantaguṇampi towards·giveādāya below·partadhobhāgā out·gonikkhamati.
heSo theretattha painfuldukkhā sharptibbā severekharā acutekaṭukā feelingsvedanā he feelsvedeti, notna andca yettāva deathkālaṁ he doeskaroti untilyāva notna thattaṁ bad·deedpāpakammaṁ is eliminatedbyantīhoti.

The wardens of hell pull them out with a hook and place them on solid ground, and say, ‘My man, what do you want?’ They say, ‘I’m hungry, sir.’ The wardens of hell force open their mouth with a hot iron spike—burning, blazing, and glowing—and shove in a red-hot copper ball, burning, blazing, and glowing. It burns their lips, mouth, tongue, throat, and stomach before coming out below dragging their entrails. And there they feel painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings—but they don’t die until that bad deed is eliminated.

himTamenaṁ, monksbhikkhave, hell·wardennirayapālā they saidevamāhaṁsu:
my man‘ambho manpurisa, what?kiṁ do you want?icchasī’ti?
heSo he saidevamāha:
I am thirsty‘pipāsitosmi, sirbhante’ti.
himTamenaṁ, monksbhikkhave, hell·wardennirayapālā with hottattena iron·spikeayosaṅkunā mouthmukhaṁ having forced openvivaritvā burningādittena blazingsampajjalitena glow·beingsajotibhūtena moltentattaṁ copper·metaltambalohaṁ into the mouthmukhe pourāsiñcanti burningādittaṁ blazingsampajjalitaṁ glowingsajotibhūtaṁ.
itTaṁ of himtassa lip·toooṭṭhampi burnsdahati, mouth·toomukhampi burnsdahati, throat·tookaṇṭhampi burnsdahati, chest·toourampi burnsdahati, stomach·tooantampi entrails·cord·tooantaguṇampi takingādāya below·partadhobhāgā comes outnikkhamati.
heSo theretattha painfuldukkhā sharptibbā severekharā acutekaṭukā feelingsvedanā feelsvedeti, notna butca as yettāva deathkālaṁ makeskaroti, untilyāva notna thattaṁ bad·deedpāpakammaṁ is eliminatedbyantīhoti.

The wardens of hell say, ‘My man, what do you want?’ They say, ‘I’m thirsty, sir.’ The wardens of hell force open their mouth with a hot iron spike—burning, blazing, and glowing—and pour in molten copper, burning, blazing, and glowing. It burns their lips, mouth, tongue, throat, and stomach before coming out below dragging their entrails. And there they feel painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings—but they don’t die until that bad deed is eliminated.

themTamenaṁ, monksbhikkhave, hell·wardensnirayapālā againpuna great·hellmahāniraye toss backpakkhipanti.

The wardens of hell toss them back in the Great Hell.

once upon a timeBhūtapubbaṁ, monksbhikkhave, of Yamayamassa kingrañño this + wasetadahosi:
those who‘ye indeedkira, sirbho, in the worldloke badpāpakāni unwholesomeakusalāni deedskammāni dokaronti theyte suchevarūpā variousvividhā punishmentskammakāraṇā are inflictedkarīyanti.
ohAho indeed Ivatāhaṁ human·statemanussattaṁ may I obtainlabheyyaṁ. a Realized OneTathāgato andca in the worldloke may ariseuppajjeyya a perfected onearahaṁ a fully awakened Buddhasammāsambuddho. and that ITañcāhaṁ the Buddhabhagavantaṁ may pay homage topayirupāseyyaṁ.
heSo andca to meme the Buddhabhagavā Dhammadhammaṁ may teachdeseyya. of thatTassa and Icāhaṁ of the Buddhabhagavato Dhammadhammaṁ may I understandājāneyyan’ti.

Once upon a time, King Yama thought: ‘Those who do such bad deeds in the world receive these many different punishments. Oh, I hope I may be reborn as a human being! And that a Realized One—a perfected one, a fully awakened Buddha—arises in the world! And that I may pay homage to the Buddha! Let that Buddha teach me Dhamma, so that I may understand his teaching!’

thatTaṁ indeedkho now + Ipanāhaṁ, monksbhikkhave, of anothernāññassa ascetic'ssamaṇassa orvā brahmin'sbrāhmaṇassa orvā having heardsutvā I sayvadāmi, butapi andca which·onlyyadeva for myselfsāmaṁ knownñātaṁ for myselfsāmaṁ seendiṭṭhaṁ for myselfsāmaṁ realizedviditaṁ that·only Itadevāhaṁ sayvadāmī”ti.

Now, I don’t say this because I’ve heard it from some other ascetic or brahmin. I only say it because I’ve known, seen, and realized it for myself.”

this·saidIdamavoca the Blessed Onebhagavā.
thisIdaṁ having saidvatvāna the Holy Onesugato then·furtherathāparaṁ this·saidetadavoca the Teacher:satthā:
warned“Coditā by the gods' messengersdevadūtehi,
whoye are negligentpamajjanti sons of Manumāṇavā;
theyTe long·timedīgharattaṁ sorrowsocanti,
wretched·gone to bodyhīnakāyūpagā peoplenarā.
whoYe andca indeedkho by the gods' messengersdevadūtehi,
goodsanto true·personssappurisā hereidha;
warnedCoditā are not negligentnappamajjanti,
noble·teachingariyadhamme everkudācanaṁ.
in graspingUpādāne dangerbhayaṁ having seendisvā,
the origin of birth and deathjātimaraṇasambhave;
not·attachedAnupādā are freedvimuccanti,
with the ending of birth and deathjātimaraṇasaṅkhaye.
theyTe safe·comekhemappattā happysukhino,
quenched in this very lifediṭṭhadhammābhinibbutā;
gone beyond all enmities and fearsSabbaverabhayātītā,
all·sufferingsabbadukkhaṁ they have risen aboveupaccagun”ti.
gods' messengers·discourseDevadūtasuttaṁ is finishedniṭṭhitaṁ the tenthdasamaṁ.
voidness·chapterSuññatavaggo is finishedniṭṭhito the thirdtatiyo.

That is what the Buddha said. Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say: “When warned by the gods’ messengers, those sons of Manu who are negligent sorrow for a long time when they go to that wretched place. When warned by the gods’ messengers, the good and true persons here never neglect the teaching of the Noble One. Seeing the danger in grasping, the origin of birth and death, the unattached are freed with the ending of birth and death. Happy, they’ve come to a safe place, quenched in this very life. They’ve gone beyond all enmities and fears, and risen above all suffering.”

that + this·summaryTassuddānaṁ
twofold + indeedDvidhāva emptinesssuññatā ishoti,
abounding in wonderful thingsAbbhutadhammabākulaṁ;
named AciravatabhūmiAciravatabhūmijanāmo,
Anuruddha and the defilementsAnuruddhupakkilesaṁ;
fool·wise manBālapaṇḍito god·messenger·anddevadūtañca thesete tendasāti.

This is its summary: twofold is emptiness, abounding in wonderful things; named Aciravatabhūmi, Anuruddha and the defilements; the fool and the wise man, and the messengers of the gods — these are the ten.

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