Aṅguttara Nikāya 10.220

Numbered Discourses 10.220

21. Karajakāyavagga

21. The Body Born of Deeds

Adhammacariyāsutta

Unprincipled Conduct

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

Then 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:

“ko nu kho, bho gotama, hetu ko paccayo yena m’idhekacce sattā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjantī”ti?

“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?”

“Adhammacariyāvisamacariyāhetu kho, brāhmaṇa, evam’idhekacce sattā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjantī”ti.

“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.”

“Ko pana, bho gotama, hetu ko paccayo yena m’idhekacce sattā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjantī”ti?

“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?”

“Dhammacariyāsamacariyāhetu kho, brāhmaṇa, evam’idhekacce sattā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjantī”ti.

“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.”

“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.

“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.”

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

“Well then, brahmin, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kathañca, brāhmaṇa, tividhā manasā dhammacariyāsamacariyā hoti …pe… evaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, tividhā manasā dhammacariyāsamacariyā hoti. Evaṁ dhammacariyāsamacariyāhetu kho, brāhmaṇa, evam’idhekacce sattā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjantī”ti.

And 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.”

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

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

Dasamaṁ.

Karajakāyavaggo paṭhamo.