KN.DHP306-319 — The Chapter on Hell
The Story of Sundarī the Wanderer
The one who speaks falsely goes to hell,
And also the one who, having done, says, I did not do it.
Both of them, after death, become equal,
Men of low deeds in the hereafter.
The Story of the Consequences of Misconduct
Many who wear the saffron robe,
Are of evil nature, uncontrolled;
With evil deeds, they go to hell.
The Story of the Disciple on the Banks of the Vaggumudā
Better to swallow a red-hot iron ball,
Like a flame of fire,
Than for an immoral, unrestrained person
To eat the alms of the land.
The Story of Khemaka, the Merchant's Son
A heedless man who indulges with another's wife
Falls into four states:
He gains no merit, has restless sleep,
Thirdly, he is blamed, and fourthly, he goes to hell.
He gains no merit, and his destiny is bad,
His pleasure is brief, and he is afraid of the fearful;
The king imposes a heavy punishment,
Therefore, a man should not indulge with another's wife.
The Story of the Disobedient Disciple
Just as a poorly grasped kusa grass
Cuts the hand,
So a poorly practiced monastic life
Drags one to hell.
Whatever work is slack,
And whatever vow is impure,
A life of celibacy that is doubtful
Does not bear great fruit.
If one should do something,
One should do it with firm effort;
For a slack wanderer
Scatters more dust.
The Story of the Jealous Woman
Better is an uncommitted wrong,
For later one regrets a committed wrong;
Better is a good deed done,
Which, having done, one does not regret.
The Story of Many Disciples
Just as a frontier city
Is guarded within and without,
So should you guard yourselves,
Lest the moment pass you by;
For those who have let the moment pass
Grieve, having fallen into hell.
The Story of the Nigaṇṭhas
Those who are shameless feel shame,
And those who are shameful do not feel shame;
Holding wrong views,
Beings go to a bad destination.
Seeing fear in the fearless,
And fearlessness in the fearful,
Holding wrong views,
Beings go to a bad destination.
The Story of the Followers of Other Teachers
Seeing fault in the faultless,
And seeing no fault in the faulty,
Holding wrong views,
Beings go to a bad destination.
Knowing fault as fault,
And the faultless as faultless,
Holding right views,
Beings go to a good destination.