Nirayavagga - The State of Woe (verses 306-319)

By: +David Herron; Date: Mon Jan 04 2021 13:13:44 GMT-0800 (Pacific Standard Time)

The liar goes to a woeful state, and also he who, having done (wrong), says, ``I did not.'' Both after death become equal, men of base actions in the other world.

Those who put on the yellow robes, who do evil and who are uncontrolled in their passions, they will go to hell because of their evil.

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.

Four misfortunes befall a heedless man who commits adultery: acquisition of demerit, disturbed sleep, thirdly blame, and fourthly a state of woe.

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.

Just as Kusa grass, wrongly grasped, cuts the hands, even so the monkhood wrongly handled drags one to a woeful state.

Any loose act, any corrupt practice, a life of dubious holiness - none of these is of much fruit.

If aught should be done, let one do it. Let one promote it steadily, for slack asceticism scatters dust all the more.

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.

Like a border city, guarded within and without, so guard yourself. Do not let slip this opportunity, for they who let slip the opportunity grieve when born in a woeful state.

Those who feel shame when they ought not to, and do not feel shame when they ought to, such men due to their wrong views go to woeful states.

Those who are afraid when there should be no fear, and are not afraid when there should be fear, such men, due to their wrong views go to woeful states.

Those who see faults in the faultless, and perceive no wrong in that which is wrong, such men, due to their wrong views go to woeful states.

Those who know wrong as wrong and right as right, such men, due to their right views go to a blissful state.