KN.DHP306-319 — The Chapter on Hell

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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 Many Disciples and Others

Many who wear the saffron robe,

Are of evil nature, uncontrolled;

With evil deeds, they go to hell.

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 the Consequences of Misconduct and Wrong Views

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.

Those who are shameless feel shame,

And those who are shameful do not feel shame;

Holding wrong views,

Beings go to a bad destination.

The Story of Khemaka and the Disobedient Disciple

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 Disciple on the Banks of the Vaggumudā and the Nigaṇṭhas

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.

Just as a poorly grasped kusa grass

Cuts the hand,

So a poorly practiced monastic life

Drags one to hell.

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.

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