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Chapter 22
Niraya Vagga
Woeful State
1. Abhutavàdã nirayam upeti
yo c'àpi katvà na karomã'ti c'àha
Ubho' pi te pecca samà bhavanti
nihãnakammà manujà parattha. 306.
LIARS SUFFER
1. The speaker of untruth goes to a woeful state, and also he who, having done aught, says, "I did not". Both after death become equal, men of base actions in the other world. 306.
Story
In order to disparage the Buddha a woman was killed by some villains hired by a heretical sect and the corpse was concealed in a rubbish heap near the Buddha's Perfumed Chamber. Later, the murderers confessed their guilt implicating the heretics. Discoursing on the evil of false accusation, the Buddha uttered this verse.
2. Kàsàvakauñhà bahavo
pàpadhammà asaññatà
Pàpà pàpehi kammehi
nirayam te upapajjare. 307.
CORRUPT MONKS SUFFER
2. Many with a yellow robe on their necks are of evil disposition and uncontrolled. Evil-doers on account of their evil deeds are born in a woeful state. 307.
Story
The Venerable Moggallàna saw a skeleton-like Peta all on fire. The Buddha attributed it to his corrupt life as a monk in a past birth.
3. Seyyo ayoguëo bhutto
tatto aggisikhupamo
Yañ ce bhuñjeyya dussãlo
raññhapiudam asaññato. 308.
BE NOT IMMORAL
3. Better to swallow a red-hot iron ball (which would consume one) like a flame of fire, than to be an immoral and uncontrolled person feeding on the alms offered by people. 308.
Story
Rebuking some monks who, for the sake of their stomach, attributed to one another higher spiritual Attainments without possessing them, the Buddha uttered this verse.
4. Cattàri ñhànàni naro pamatto
àpajjati paradàrupasevã
Apuññalàbham na nikàmaseyyam
nindam tatiyam nirayam catuttham. 309.
5. Apuññalàbho ca gatã ca pàpikà
bhãtassa bhãtàya ratã ca thokikà
Ràjà ca daudam garukam paueti
tasmà naro paradàram na seve. 310.
ADULTERY IS EVIL
4. Four misfortunes befall a careless man who commits adultery: acquisition of demerit, disturbed sleep, thirdly blame, and fourthly a state of woe. 309.
5. There is acquisition of demerit as well as evil destiny. Brief is the joy of the frightened man and woman. The King imposes a heavy punishment. Hence no man should frequent another's wife. 310.
Story
A handsome youth committed adultery. Several times he was taken prisoner before the King and was released in deference to his wealthy father. Finally the father took him to the Buddha who advised the youth on the evils of adultery.
6. Kuso yathà duggahito
hattham evànukantati
Sàmaññam dupparàmaññham
nirayàyupakaddhati. 311.
7. Yam kiñci sithilam kammam
saïkiliññhañ ca yam vatam
Saïkassaram brahmacariyam
na tam hoti mahapphalam. 312.
8. Kayirà ce kayiràthenam
daëham enam parakkame
Sithilo hi paribbàjo
bhiyyo àkirate rajam. 313.
CORRUPT LIVES ENTAIL SUFFERING
A LIFE OF DUBIOUS HOLINESS IS NOT COMMENDABLE
WHAT IS PROPER SHOULD BE DONE WITH ONE'S WHOLE MIGHT
6. Just as kusa grass, wrongly grasped, cuts the hand, even so the monkhood wrongly handled drags one to a woeful state. 311.
7. Any loose act, any corrupt practice, a life of dubious
1 holiness - none of these is of much fruit. 312.8. If aught should be done, let one do it. Let one promote it steadily, for slack asceticism scatters dust all the more. 313.
Story
A presumptuous monk deliberately committed a wrong act by pulling out blades of grass. The Buddha, rebuking him, uttered these verses.
9. Akatam dukkatam seyyo
pacchà tapati dukkatam
Katañ ca sukatam seyyo
yam katvà n'ánutappati. 314.
DON'T DO EVEN A SLIGHT WRONG
9. An evil deed is better not done: a misdeed torments one hereafter. Better it is to do a good deed, after doing which one does not grieve. 314.
Story
A jealous woman cruelly punished a maidservant with whom her husband had misconducted himself. When both husband and wife were listening to a sermon from the Buddha the maid-servant came there and related the whole incident. Thereupon the Buddha advised them to do no evil.
10. Nagaram yathà paccantam
guttam santarabàhiram
Evam gopetha attànam
khauo vo mà upaccagà
Khauàtãtà hi socanti
nirayamhi samappità. 315.
GUARD YOURSELF LIKE A FORTIFIED CITY
10. Like a border city, guarded within and without, so guard yourself. Do not let slip this opportunity,
2 for they who let slip the opportunity grieve when born in a woeful state. 315.Story
Some monks who were spending their time in a frontier city led a life of discomfort as the people were busy fortifying their city to guard themselves from bandits. When the monks reported the matter to the Buddha, He advised them to fortify themselves.
11. Alajjitàye lajjanti
lajjitàye na lajjare
Micchàdiññhisamàdànà
sattà gacchanti duggatim. 316.
12. Abhaye ca bhayadassino
bhaye cábhayadassino
Micchàdiññhisamàdànà
sattà gacchanti duggatim. 317.
BE MODEST WHERE MODESTY IS NEEDED
HAVE NO FEAR IN THE NON-FEARSOME
11. Beings who are ashamed of what is not shameful, and are not ashamed of what is shameful, embrace wrong views and go to a woeful state. 316.
12. Beings who see fear in what is not to be feared, and see no fear in the fearsome, embrace false views and go to a woeful state. 317.
Story
Some monks remarked that the Nigauñhas 3 were better than the Acelaka ascetics, as the former, through modesty, covered their pudenda. The Nigauñhas explained why they did so. The Buddha, hearing their discussion, uttered these verses.
13. Avajje vajjadassino
vajje cávajjadassino
Micchàdiññhisamàdànà
sattà gacchanti duggatim. 318.
14. Vajjañ ca vajjatoñatvà
avajjañ ca avajjato
Sammàdiññhisamàdànà
sattà gacchanti suggatim. 319.
SEE NO WRONG IN WHAT IS NOT WRONG
SEE WRONG AS WRONG AND RIGHT AS RIGHT
13. Beings who imagine faults in the faultless,
4 and perceive no wrong in what is wrong, embrace false views and go to a woeful state. 318.14. Beings knowing wrong as wrong and what is right as right, embrace right views and go to a blissful state. 319.
Story
The children of some heretics were advised by their teacher not to salute the bhikkhus and not to visit the monastery. One day as they were playing with the children of the Buddha's followers they felt thirsty. So the son of a lay follower was asked to get some water from the monastery. This child mentioned the matter to the Buddha who advised him to bring all the children to the monastery. After they had quenched their thirst the Buddha preached the Dhamma to them and they became His followers. The parents, hearing of their conversion, were at first displeased. Later, they all came to the Buddha and became His followers. Thereupon the Buddha uttered these verses.
End Notes
1 Saïkassaram = to think or remember with suspicion.
2 The birth of a Buddha, a congenial habitation, a healthy body, the possession of right views, etc.
3 Nigauñha, literally, "free from ties or bonds" is the term applied to Jaina ascetics, who, according to this story, cover their pudenda. Acelaka ascetics wander completely naked.
4 Avajja means right belief and vajja means wrong belief.