Mahākammavibhaṅgasutta

Majjhima Nikāya 136

Mahākammavibhaṅgasutta

The Longer Analysis of Deeds · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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thatTaṁ of whatkissa is the cause?hetu?
otherwiseAññathā indeedhi, Ānanda,ānanda, thus·gonetathāgatassa great·deed·analysismahākammavibhaṅge knowledgeñāṇaṁ ishoti.

Because the Realized One’s knowledge of the great analysis of deeds is otherwise.

in that case, ĀnandaTatrānanda, which + thisyvāyaṁ asceticsamaṇo orvā brahminbrāhmaṇo orvā thus + saysevamāha:
there is‘atthi it seemskira, sirbho, goodkalyāṇāni deedskammāni, there isatthi of good conductsucaritassa resultvipāko’ti this + for themidamassa I grantanujānāmi;
which + andyampi heso thus + saysevamāha:
I‘amāhaṁ individualpuggalaṁ see + hereaddasaṁ—idha living-being + killingpāṇātipātā back·abstainedpaṭivirataṁ not-given + takingadinnādānā back·abstainedpaṭivirataṁ ……pe… right viewsammādiṭṭhiṁ, of the bodykāyassa after breakupbhedā afterparaṁ deathmaraṇā I sawpassāmi in a good destinationsugatiṁ heavenlysaggaṁ worldlokaṁ rebornupapannan’ti this + for themidampissa I grantanujānāmi;
which + butyañca indeedkho heso thus + saysevamāha:
whoever‘yo it seemskira, sirbho, living-being + killingpāṇātipātā back·abstainedpaṭivirato not-given + takingadinnādānā back·abstainedpaṭivirato ……pe… right viewsammādiṭṭhi, everysabbo oneso of the bodykāyassa after breakupbhedā afterparaṁ deathmaraṇā in a good destinationsugatiṁ heavenlysaggaṁ worldlokaṁ is rebornupapajjatī’ti this + for themidamassa I do not grantnānujānāmi;
which + andyampi heso thus + saysevamāha:
those who‘ye thusevaṁ knowjānanti theyte rightlysammā knowjānanti; those whoye otherwiseaññathā knowjānanti, wronglymicchā theirtesaṁ knowledgeñāṇan’ti this + for themidampissa I do not grantnānujānāmi;

In this case, when an ascetic or brahmin says this: ‘It seems that there is such a thing as good deeds, and the result of good conduct,’ I grant them that. And when they say: ‘I have seen an individual here who refrained from killing living creatures … and had right view. And I saw that they were reborn in a heavenly realm,’ I also grant them that. But when they say: ‘It seems that everyone who refrains from killing living creatures … and has right view is reborn in a heavenly realm,’ I don’t grant them that. …

whatever tooyampi heso whatever indeedyadeva for himtassa by himselfsāmaṁ knownñātaṁ by himselfsāmaṁ seendiṭṭhaṁ by himselfsāmaṁ understoodviditaṁ that indeedtadeva theretattha with firmnessthāmasā with graspingparāmāsā having settled uponabhinivissa he declares:voharati: this indeed‘idameva truth,saccaṁ, anything else is worthlessmoghamaññan’ti this too for himidampissa I do not approve.nānujānāmi.
thatTaṁ of whatkissa cause?hetu?
otherwiseAññathā indeed,hi, Ānanda,ānanda, of the Realized Onetathāgatassa in the great analysis of deedsmahākammavibhaṅge knowledgeñāṇaṁ is.hoti.

Because the Realized One’s knowledge of the great analysis of deeds is otherwise.

there, ĀnandaTatrānanda, which + thisyvāyaṁ asceticsamaṇo orvā brahminbrāhmaṇo orvā says thusevamāha:
there is not‘natthi it seemskira, sirbho, goodkalyāṇāni deedskammāni, there is notnatthi of good conductsucaritassa resultvipāko’ti this + for themidamassa I do not grantnānujānāmi;
what + andyañca indeedkho heso says thusevamāha:
I‘amāhaṁ an individualpuggalaṁ I saw—hereaddasaṁ—idha from killing living creaturespāṇātipātā refraining·delighted inpaṭivirataṁ from taking what is not givenadinnādānā refraining·delighted inpaṭivirataṁ ……pe… possessing right viewsammādiṭṭhiṁ, of the bodykāyassa from the breaking upbhedā afterparaṁ from deathmaraṇā I seepassāmi a place of lossapāyaṁ a bad destinationduggatiṁ a downfallvinipātaṁ hellnirayaṁ rebornupapannan’ti this + for themidamassa I grantanujānāmi;
what + andyañca indeedkho heso says thusevamāha:
who‘yo it seemskira, sirbho, from killing living creaturespāṇātipātā refraining·delighted inpaṭivirato from taking what is not givenadinnādānā refraining·delighted inpaṭivirato ……pe… possessing right viewsammādiṭṭhi, everysabbo heso of the bodykāyassa from the breaking upbhedā afterparaṁ from deathmaraṇā a place of lossapāyaṁ a bad destinationduggatiṁ a downfallvinipātaṁ hellnirayaṁ is rebornupapajjatī’ti this + for themidamassa I do not grantnānujānāmi;
what + andyañca indeedkho heso says thusevamāha: those who‘ye thusevaṁ knowjānanti thosete rightlysammā knowjānanti;
those whoye otherwiseaññathā knowjānanti, wrongmicchā theirtesaṁ notionñāṇan’ti this + also + for themidampissa I do not grantnānujānāmi;

In this case, when an ascetic or brahmin says this: ‘It seems that there is no such thing as good deeds, and the result of good conduct,’ I don’t grant them that. But when they say: ‘I have seen an individual here who refrained from killing living creatures … and had right view. And after death, they were reborn in hell,’ I grant them that. But when they say: ‘It seems that everyone who refrains from killing living creatures … and has right view is reborn in hell,’ I don’t grant them that. But when they say: ‘Those whose notion is this have the right notion. Those whose notion is otherwise have a wrong notion,’ I also don’t grant them that.

which·andyampi theyso which·sameyadeva of thattassa for themselvessāmaṁ knownñātaṁ for themselvessāmaṁ seendiṭṭhaṁ for themselvessāmaṁ understoodviditaṁ that·sametadeva theretattha obstinatelythāmasā by graspingparāmāsā onto·down·stickabhinivissa they declarevoharati: this is the only‘idameva truthsaccaṁ, anything else is futilemoghamaññan’ti this·andidampissa I do not grantnānujānāmi.
thatTaṁ of whatkissa is the causehetu?
otherwiseAññathā becausehi, Ānandaānanda, thus·gonetathāgatassa great·deed·analysismahākammavibhaṅge knowledgeñāṇaṁ ishoti.

And when they obstinately stick to what they have known, seen, and understood for themselves, insisting that: ‘This is the only truth, anything else is futile,’ I also don’t grant them that. Why is that? Because the Realized One’s knowledge of the great analysis of deeds is otherwise.

there, Ānanda,Tatrānanda, which + thisyvāyaṁ personpuggalo hereidha living being·killpāṇātipātī not given·takingadinnādāyī …pe……pe… wrong·viewmicchādiṭṭhi, of the bodykāyassa by breaking upbhedā afterparaṁ deathmaraṇā to a place of lossapāyaṁ bad·placeduggatiṁ to ruinvinipātaṁ to hellnirayaṁ is rebornupapajjati,
previouslypubbe or for himvāssa thattaṁ donekataṁ ishoti bad kammapāpakammaṁ to be experienced as painfuldukkhavedanīyaṁ, afterwardspacchā or for himvāssa thattaṁ donekataṁ ishoti bad kammapāpakammaṁ to be experienced as painfuldukkhavedanīyaṁ, death·timemaraṇakāle or for himvāssa ishoti wrong·viewmicchādiṭṭhi undertakensamattā acceptedsamādinnā.
because of thatTena heso of the bodykāyassa by breaking upbhedā afterparaṁ deathmaraṇā to a place of lossapāyaṁ bad·placeduggatiṁ to ruinvinipātaṁ to hellnirayaṁ is rebornupapajjati.
which + andYañca indeedkho heso hereidha living being·killpāṇātipātī ishoti not given·takingadinnādāyī ishoti …pe……pe… wrong·viewmicchādiṭṭhi ishoti of thattassa seen + verydiṭṭheva in the dhammadhamme resultvipākaṁ against·together·feelspaṭisaṁvedeti up·bornupapajja orvā in anotherapare orvā in a subsequent periodpariyāye.

Now, Ānanda, take the case of the individual here who killed living creatures … and had wrong view, and who, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. That bad deed of theirs that is to be experienced as painful was either done previously, or later, or else at the time of death they undertook wrong view. And that’s why, when their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. But anyone here who kills living creatures … and has wrong view experiences the result of that in this very life, or in the next life, or in some subsequent period.

there, Ānanda,Tatrānanda, who + thisyvāyaṁ individualpuggalo hereidha killing living creaturespāṇātipātī taking what is not givenadinnādāyī …pe……pe… wrong·viewmicchādiṭṭhi of the bodykāyassa breaking upbhedā afterparaṁ deathmaraṇā a good destinationsugatiṁ heavenlysaggaṁ worldlokaṁ up·goupapajjati,
previouslypubbe or for themvāssa thattaṁ donekataṁ ishoti good·deedkalyāṇakammaṁ pleasure·to be experiencedsukhavedanīyaṁ, laterpacchā or for themvāssa thattaṁ donekataṁ ishoti good·deedkalyāṇakammaṁ pleasure·to be experiencedsukhavedanīyaṁ, death·timemaraṇakāle or for themvāssa there ishoti right·viewsammādiṭṭhi undertakensamattā undertakensamādinnā.
by thatTena theyso of the bodykāyassa breaking upbhedā afterparaṁ deathmaraṇā a good destinationsugatiṁ heavenlysaggaṁ worldlokaṁ up·goupapajjati.
what + andYañca indeedkho theyso hereidha killing living creaturespāṇātipātī ishoti taking what is not givenadinnādāyī ishoti …pe……pe… wrong·viewmicchādiṭṭhi ishoti of thattassa see + verydiṭṭheva in the dhammadhamme apart·resultvipākaṁ back·together·feelpaṭisaṁvedeti up·goupapajja orvā in the nextapare orvā in some subsequent periodpariyāye.

Now, Ānanda, take the case of the individual here who killed living creatures … and had wrong view, and who is reborn in a heavenly realm. That good deed of theirs that is to be experienced as pleasurable was either done previously, or later, or else at the time of death they undertook right view. And that’s why, when their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm. But anyone here who kills living creatures … and has wrong view experiences the result of that in this very life, or in the next life, or in some subsequent period.

there, ĀnandaTatrānanda, which + thisyvāyaṁ individualpuggalo hereidha living being·killingpāṇātipātā away·abstainedpaṭivirato not given·takingadinnādānā away·abstainedpaṭivirato ……pe… right viewsammādiṭṭhi, of the bodykāyassa breakupbhedā afterparaṁ deathmaraṇā good·destinationsugatiṁ heavenly realmsaggaṁ worldlokaṁ is rebornupapajjati,
previouslypubbe or of theirsvāssa thattaṁ donekataṁ washoti good·deedkalyāṇakammaṁ to be experienced as pleasurablesukhavedanīyaṁ, laterpacchā or of theirsvāssa thattaṁ donekataṁ washoti good·deedkalyāṇakammaṁ to be experienced as pleasurablesukhavedanīyaṁ, death·timemaraṇakāle or of theirsvāssa there ishoti right·viewsammādiṭṭhi together·takensamattā adoptedsamādinnā.
by thatTena theyso of the bodykāyassa breakupbhedā afterparaṁ deathmaraṇā good·destinationsugatiṁ heavenly realmsaggaṁ worldlokaṁ is rebornupapajjati.
what + andYañca indeedkho theyso hereidha living being·killingpāṇātipātā away·abstainedpaṭivirato ishoti not given·takingadinnādānā away·abstainedpaṭivirato ishoti ……pe… right·viewsammādiṭṭhi hashoti, of theirstassa seen + verydiṭṭheva in the Dhammadhamme resultvipākaṁ back·together·feelspaṭisaṁvedeti up·goes toupapajja orvā in a subsequentapare orvā periodpariyāye.

Now, Ānanda, take the case of the individual here who refrained from killing living creatures … and had right view, and who is reborn in a heavenly realm. That good deed of theirs that is to be experienced as pleasurable was either done previously, or later, or else at the time of death they undertook right view. And that’s why, when their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm. But anyone here who refrains from killing living creatures … and has right view experiences the result of that in this very life, or in the next life, or in some subsequent period.

there + ĀnandaTatrānanda, who + thisyvāyaṁ individualpuggalo hereidha living being·killingpāṇātipātā against·abstainingpaṭivirato not given·takingadinnādānā against·abstainingpaṭivirato ……pe… right·viewsammādiṭṭhi, of the bodykāyassa with the breaking upbhedā afterparaṁ deathmaraṇā to a place of lossapāyaṁ a bad placeduggatiṁ the underworldvinipātaṁ hellnirayaṁ is rebornupapajjati,
previouslypubbe or for themvāssa thattaṁ donekataṁ washoti bad·deedpāpakammaṁ to be experienced as painfuldukkhavedanīyaṁ, laterpacchā or for themvāssa thattaṁ donekataṁ washoti bad·deedpāpakammaṁ to be experienced as painfuldukkhavedanīyaṁ, death·timemaraṇakāle or for themvāssa there washoti wrong·viewmicchādiṭṭhi undertakensamattā adoptedsamādinnā.
thereforeTena that oneso of the bodykāyassa with the breaking upbhedā afterparaṁ deathmaraṇā to a place of lossapāyaṁ a bad placeduggatiṁ the underworldvinipātaṁ hellnirayaṁ is rebornupapajjati.
which + andYañca indeedkho that oneso hereidha living being·killingpāṇātipātā against·abstainingpaṭivirato ishoti, not given·takingadinnādānā against·abstainingpaṭivirato ishoti ……pe… right·viewsammādiṭṭhi ishoti, of thattassa seen + verydiṭṭheva in the dhammadhamme resultvipākaṁ against·together·feelspaṭisaṁvedeti up·goingupapajja orvā in the nextapare orvā in some subsequent periodpariyāye.

Now, Ānanda, take the case of the individual here who refrained from killing living creatures … and had right view, and who is reborn in hell. That bad deed of theirs that is to be experienced as painful was either done previously, or later, or else at the time of death they undertook wrong view. And that’s why, when their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. But anyone here who refrains from killing living creatures … and has right view experiences the result of that in this very life, or in the next life, or in some subsequent period.

thusIti indeedkho, Ānandaānanda, there isatthi deedkammaṁ not·effectiveabhabbaṁ appearing ineffectiveabhabbābhāsaṁ, there isatthi deedkammaṁ not·effectiveabhabbaṁ appearing effectivebhabbābhāsaṁ, there isatthi deedkammaṁ effective andbhabbañceva and appearing effectivebhabbābhāsañca, there isatthi deedkammaṁ effectivebhabbaṁ appearing ineffective”,abhabbābhāsan”ti.
this·saidIdamavoca the Blessed Onebhagavā.
satisfied·mindAttamano venerableāyasmā Ānandaānando of the Blessed Onebhagavato speechbhāsitaṁ toward·rejoiceabhinandīti.
great·deed·analysis·discourseMahākammavibhaṅgasuttaṁ finishedniṭṭhitaṁ sixthchaṭṭhaṁ.

So, Ānanda, there are deeds that are ineffective and appear ineffective. There are deeds that are ineffective but appear effective. There are deeds that are effective and appear effective. And there are deeds that are effective but appear ineffective.” That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, Venerable Ānanda approved what the Buddha said.

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