1Then a certain brahmin went up to the Buddha and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha:

“What is the cause, Master Gotama, what is the reason why some sentient beings, when their body breaks up, after death, are reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell?”

“Unprincipled and immoral conduct is the reason why some sentient beings, when their body breaks up, after death, are reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.”

2“But what is the cause, Master Gotama, what is the reason why some sentient beings, when their body breaks up, after death, are reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm?”

“Principled and moral conduct is the reason why some sentient beings, when their body breaks up, after death, are reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.”

3“I don’t understand the detailed meaning of what Master Gotama has said in brief. Please, Master Gotama, teach me this matter so I can understand the detailed meaning.”

“Well then, brahmin, listen and pay close attention, I will speak.”

“Yes, sir,” the brahmin replied. The Buddha said this:

4“Brahmin, unprincipled and immoral conduct is threefold by way of body, fourfold by way of speech, and threefold by way of mind.

5And how is unprincipled and immoral conduct threefold by way of body? … That’s how unprincipled and immoral conduct is threefold by way of body.

6And how is unprincipled and immoral conduct fourfold by way of speech? … That’s how unprincipled and immoral conduct is fourfold by way of speech.

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7And how is unprincipled and immoral conduct threefold by way of mind? … That’s how unprincipled and immoral conduct is threefold by way of mind. That’s how unprincipled and immoral conduct is the reason why some sentient beings, when their body breaks up, after death, are reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.

8Principled and moral conduct is threefold by way of body, fourfold by way of speech, and threefold by way of mind.

9And how is principled and moral conduct threefold by way of body? … That’s how principled and moral conduct is threefold by way of body.

10And how is principled and moral conduct fourfold by way of speech? … That’s how principled and moral conduct is fourfold by way of speech.

11And how is principled and moral conduct threefold by way of mind? … That’s how principled and moral conduct is threefold by way of mind. That’s how principled and moral conduct is the reason why some sentient beings, when their body breaks up, after death, are reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.”

12“Excellent, Master Gotama! Excellent! … From this day forth, may Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”

1Atha kho aññataro brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: 

"Ko nu kho, bho gotama, hetu ko paccayo yena midhekacce sattā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjantī"ti?

"Adhammacariyāvisamacariyāhetu kho, brāhmaṇa, evamidhekacce sattā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjantī"ti.

2"Ko pana, bho gotama, hetu ko paccayo yena midhekacce sattā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjantī"ti?

"Dhammacariyāsamacariyāhetu kho, brāhmaṇa, evamidhekacce sattā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjantī"ti.

3"Na kho ahaṁ imassa bhoto gotamassa saṅkhittena bhāsitassa vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmi. Sādhu me bhavaṁ gotamo tathā dhammaṁ desetu yathāhaṁ imassa bhoto gotamassa saṅkhittena bhāsitassa vitthārena atthaṁ ājāneyyan"ti.

"Tena hi, brāhmaṇa, suṇāhi, sādhukaṁ manasi karohi; bhāsissāmī"ti.

"Evaṁ, bho"ti kho so brāhmaṇo bhagavato paccassosi. Bhagavā etadavoca: 

4"Tividhā kho, brāhmaṇa, kāyena adhammacariyāvisamacariyā hoti; catubbidhā vācāya adhammacariyāvisamacariyā hoti; tividhā manasā adhammacariyāvisamacariyā hoti.

5Kathañca, brāhmaṇa, tividhā kāyena adhammacariyāvisamacariyā hoti … pe … evaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, tividhā kāyena adhammacariyā visamacariyā hoti.

6Kathañca, brāhmaṇa, catubbidhā vācāya adhammacariyāvisamacariyā hoti … pe … evaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, catubbidhā vācāya adhammacariyāvisamacariyā hoti.

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7Kathañca, brāhmaṇa, tividhā manasā adhammacariyāvisamacariyā hoti … pe … evaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, tividhā manasā adhammacariyāvisamacariyā hoti. Evaṁ adhammacariyāvisamacariyāhetu kho, brāhmaṇa, evamidhekacce sattā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjanti.

8Tividhā, brāhmaṇa, kāyena dhammacariyāsamacariyā hoti; catubbidhā vācāya dhammacariyāsamacariyā hoti; tividhā manasā dhammacariyāsamacariyā hoti.

9Kathañca, brāhmaṇa, tividhā kāyena dhammacariyāsamacariyā hoti … pe … evaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, tividhā kāyena dhammacariyāsamacariyā hoti.

10Kathañca, brāhmaṇa, catubbidhā vācāya dhammacariyāsamacariyā hoti … pe … evaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, catubbidhā vācāya dhammacariyāsamacariyā hoti.

11Kathañca, brāhmaṇa, tividhā manasā dhammacariyāsamacariyā hoti … pe … evaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, tividhā manasā dhammacariyāsamacariyā hoti. Evaṁ dhammacariyāsamacariyāhetu kho, brāhmaṇa, evamidhekacce sattā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjantī"ti.

12"Abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama, abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama … pe … upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan"ti.

Dasamaṁ.

Karajakāyavaggo paṭhamo.