He accrues wickedness and is reborn in a bad place,Apuññalābho ca gatī ca pāpikā, all so a frightened couple <j>may snatch a moment’s pleasure,Bhītassa bhītāya ratī ca thokikā; for which rulers impose a heavy punishment.Rājā ca daṇḍaṁ garukaṁ paṇeti, That’s why a man should not <j>sleep with another’s wife.Tasmā naro paradāraṁ na seve.
- Minor CollectionKhuddakanikāya
- Sayings of the Dhamma 306–319Dhammapada
22. HellNirayavagga
A liar goes to hell,Abhūtavādī nirayaṁ upeti, as does one who denies what they did.Yo vāpi katvā na karomi cāha; Both are equal in the hereafter,Ubhopi te pecca samā bhavanti, those men of base deeds.Nihīnakammā manujā parattha.
Many who wear a scrap of ocher clothKāsāvakaṇṭhā bahavo, are unrestrained and wicked.pāpadhammā asaññatā; Being wicked, they are reborn in hellPāpā pāpehi kammehi, due to their bad deeds.nirayaṁ te upapajjare.
It’d be better for the immoral and unrestrainedSeyyo ayoguḷo bhutto, to eat an iron ball,tatto aggisikhūpamo; scorching, like a burning flame,Yañce bhuñjeyya dussīlo, than to eat the nation’s alms.raṭṭhapiṇḍamasaññato.
Four things befall a heedless manCattāri ṭhānāni naro pamatto, who sleeps with another’s wife:Āpajjati paradārūpasevī; wickedness, poor sleep,Apuññalābhaṁ na nikāmaseyyaṁ, ill-repute, and rebirth in hell.Nindaṁ tatīyaṁ nirayaṁ catutthaṁ.
When kusa grass is wrongly graspedKuso yathā duggahito, it only cuts the hand.hatthamevānukantati; So too, the ascetic life, when wrongly taken,Sāmaññaṁ dupparāmaṭṭhaṁ, drags you to hell.nirayāyupakaḍḍhati.
Any lax act,Yaṁ kiñci sithilaṁ kammaṁ, any corrupt observance,saṅkiliṭṭhañca yaṁ vataṁ; or suspicious spiritual life,Saṅkassaraṁ brahmacariyaṁ, is not very fruitful.na taṁ hoti mahapphalaṁ.
If one is to do what should be done,Kayirā ce kayirāthenaṁ, one should staunchly strive.daḷhamenaṁ parakkame; For the life gone forth when laxly ledSithilo hi paribbājo, just stirs up dust all the more.bhiyyo ākirate rajaṁ.
A bad deed is better left undone,Akataṁ dukkaṭaṁ seyyo, for it will plague you later on.pacchā tappati dukkaṭaṁ; A good deed is better done,Katañca sukataṁ seyyo, one that does not plague you.yaṁ katvā nānutappati.
As a frontier cityNagaraṁ yathā paccantaṁ, is guarded inside and out,guttaṁ santarabāhiraṁ; so you should ward yourselves—Evaṁ gopetha attānaṁ, don’t let the moment pass you by.khaṇo vo mā upaccagā; For if you miss your momentKhaṇātītā hi socanti, you’ll grieve when sent to hell.nirayamhi samappitā.
Unashamed of what is shameful,Alajjitāye lajjanti, ashamed of what is not shameful;lajjitāye na lajjare; beings who uphold wrong viewMicchādiṭṭhisamādānā, go to a bad place.sattā gacchanti duggatiṁ.
Seeing danger where there is none,Abhaye bhayadassino, and blind to the actual danger,bhaye cābhayadassino; beings who uphold wrong viewMicchādiṭṭhisamādānā, go to a bad place.sattā gacchanti duggatiṁ.
Seeing fault where there is none,Avajje vajjamatino, and blind to the actual fault,vajje cāvajjadassino; beings who uphold wrong viewMicchādiṭṭhisamādānā, go to a bad place.sattā gacchanti duggatiṁ.
Knowing a fault as a faultVajjañca vajjato ñatvā, and the faultless as faultless,avajjañca avajjato; beings who uphold right viewSammādiṭṭhisamādānā, go to a good place.sattā gacchanti suggatiṁ.