EthicsSīlasutta

“Mendicants, there are these five drawbacks for an unethical person because of their failure in ethics.“Pañcime, bhikkhave, ādīnavā dussīlassa sīlavipattiyā. What five?Katame pañca?

Firstly, an unethical person loses great wealth on account of negligence.Idha, bhikkhave, dussīlo sīlavipanno pamādādhikaraṇaṁ mahatiṁ bhogajāniṁ nigacchati. This is the first drawback.Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo ādīnavo dussīlassa sīlavipattiyā.

Furthermore, an unethical person gets a bad reputation.Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, dussīlassa sīlavipannassa pāpako kittisaddo abbhuggacchati. This is the second drawback.Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo ādīnavo dussīlassa sīlavipattiyā.

Furthermore, an unethical person enters any kind of assembly unconfident and embarrassed, whether it’s an assembly of aristocrats, brahmins, householders, or ascetics.Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, dussīlo sīlavipanno yaññadeva parisaṁ upasaṅkamati—yadi khattiyaparisaṁ, yadi brāhmaṇaparisaṁ, yadi gahapatiparisaṁ, yadi samaṇaparisaṁ—avisārado upasaṅkamati maṅkubhūto. This is the third drawback.Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyo ādīnavo dussīlassa sīlavipattiyā.

Furthermore, an unethical person feels lost when they die.Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, dussīlo sīlavipanno sammūḷho kālaṁ karoti. This is the fourth drawback.Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, catuttho ādīnavo dussīlassa sīlavipattiyā.

Furthermore, an unethical person, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, dussīlo sīlavipanno kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjati. This is the fifth drawback.Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcamo ādīnavo dussīlassa sīlavipattiyā. These are the five drawbacks for an unethical person because of their failure in ethics.Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca ādīnavā dussīlassa sīlavipattiyā.

There are these five benefits for an ethical person because of their accomplishment in ethics.Pañcime, bhikkhave, ānisaṁsā sīlavato sīlasampadāya. What five?Katame pañca? Firstly, an ethical person gains great wealth on account of diligence.Idha, bhikkhave, sīlavā sīlasampanno appamādādhikaraṇaṁ mahantaṁ bhogakkhandhaṁ adhigacchati. This is the first benefit.Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo ānisaṁso sīlavato sīlasampadāya.

Furthermore, an ethical person gets a good reputation.Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sīlavato sīlasampannassa kalyāṇo kittisaddo abbhuggacchati. This is the second benefit.Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo ānisaṁso sīlavato sīlasampadāya.

Furthermore, an ethical person enters any kind of assembly bold and self-assured, whether it’s an assembly of aristocrats, brahmins, householders, or ascetics.Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sīlavā sīlasampanno yaññadeva parisaṁ upasaṅkamati—yadi khattiyaparisaṁ, yadi brāhmaṇaparisaṁ, yadi gahapatiparisaṁ, yadi samaṇaparisaṁ—visārado upasaṅkamati amaṅkubhūto. This is the third benefit.Ayaṁ bhikkhave, tatiyo ānisaṁso sīlavato sīlasampadāya.

Furthermore, an ethical person dies not feeling lost.Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sīlavā sīlasampanno asammūḷho kālaṁ karoti. This is the fourth benefit.Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, catuttho ānisaṁso sīlavato sīlasampadāya.

Furthermore, when an ethical person’s body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sīlavā sīlasampanno kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjati. This is the fifth benefit.Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcamo ānisaṁso sīlavato sīlasampadāya.

These are the five benefits for an ethical person because of their accomplishment in ethics.”Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca ānisaṁsā sīlavato sīlasampadāyā”ti.