MN 130 Messengers of the Gods

Medium Discourses Collection 130 – Majjhima Nikāya 130

MN 130 Messengers of the Gods – Devadūtasutta

1.1

So I have heard.

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

1.2

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

1.3

There the Buddha addressed the bhikkhū,

Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:

1.4

“Bhikkhū!”

“bhikkhavo”ti.

1.5

“Venerable sir,” they replied.

“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.

1.6

The Buddha said this:

Bhagavā etadavoca:

2.1

“Bhikkhū, suppose there were two houses with doors. A person with good eyesight standing in between them would see people entering and leaving a house and wandering to and fro.

“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, dve agārā sadvārā, tattha cakkhumā puriso majjhe ṭhito passeyya manusse gehaṁ pavisantepi nikkhamantepi anucaṅkamantepi anuvicarantepi;

2.2

In the same way, with clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, I see sentient beings passing away and being reborn—inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, in a good place or a bad place. I understand how sentient beings are reborn according to their deeds: ‘These dear beings did good things by way of body, speech, and mind. They never spoke ill of the noble ones; they had right view; and they chose to act out of that right view. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm, or among humans. These dear beings did bad things by way of body, speech, and mind. They spoke ill of the noble ones; they had wrong view; and they chose to act out of that wrong view. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the ghost realm, the animal realm, or in a lower realm, a bad destination, a world of misery, hell.’

evameva kho ahaṁ, bhikkhave, dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena satte passāmi cavamāne upapajjamāne hīne paṇīte suvaṇṇe dubbaṇṇe, sugate duggate yathākammūpage satte pajānāmi: ‘ime vata bhonto sattā kāyasucaritena samannāgatā vacīsucaritena samannāgatā manosucaritena samannāgatā ariyānaṁ anupavādakā sammādiṭṭhikā sammādiṭṭhikammasamādānā; te kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapannā. Ime vā pana bhonto sattā kāyasucaritena samannāgatā vacīsucaritena samannāgatā manosucaritena samannāgatā ariyānaṁ anupavādakā sammādiṭṭhikā sammādiṭṭhikammasamādānā; te kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā manussesu upapannā. Ime vata bhonto sattā kāyaduccaritena samannāgatā vacīduccaritena samannāgatā manoduccaritena samannāgatā ariyānaṁ upavādakā micchādiṭṭhikā micchādiṭṭhikammasamādānā; te kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā pettivisayaṁ upapannā. Ime vā pana bhonto sattā kāyaduccaritena samannāgatā vacīduccaritena samannāgatā manoduccaritena samannāgatā ariyānaṁ upavādakā micchādiṭṭhikā micchādiṭṭhikammasamādānā; te kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā tiracchānayoniṁ upapannā. Ime vā pana bhonto sattā kāyaduccaritena samannāgatā vacīduccaritena samannāgatā manoduccaritena samannāgatā ariyānaṁ upavādakā micchādiṭṭhikā micchādiṭṭhikammasamādānā; te kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapannā’ti.

3.1

Then the wardens of hell take them by the arms and present them to King Yama, saying,

Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, nirayapālā nānābāhāsu gahetvā yamassa rañño dassenti:

3.2

‘Your Majesty, this person did not pay due respect to their mother and father, ascetics and brahmins, or honor the elders in the family.

‘ayaṁ, deva, puriso amatteyyo apetteyyo asāmañño abrāhmañño, na kule jeṭṭhāpacāyī.

3.3

May Your Majesty punish them!’

Imassa devo daṇḍaṁ paṇetū’ti.

3.4

Then King Yama pursues, presses, and grills them about the first messenger of the gods.

Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, yamo rājā paṭhamaṁ devadūtaṁ samanuyuñjati samanugāhati samanubhāsati:

3.5

‘Mister, did you not see the first messenger of the gods that appeared among human beings?’

‘ambho purisa, na tvaṁ addasa manussesu paṭhamaṁ devadūtaṁ pātubhūtan’ti?

3.6

He says,

So evamāha:

3.7

‘I saw nothing, sir.’

‘nāddasaṁ, bhante’ti.

4.1

Then King Yama says,

Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, yamo rājā evamāha:

4.2

‘Mister, did you not see among human beings a little baby collapsed in their own urine and feces?’

‘ambho purisa, na tvaṁ addasa manussesu daharaṁ kumāraṁ mandaṁ uttānaseyyakaṁ sake muttakarīse palipannaṁ semānan’ti?

4.3

He says,

So evamāha:

4.4

‘I saw that, sir.’

‘addasaṁ, bhante’ti.

4.5

Then King Yama says,

Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, yamo rājā evamāha:

4.6

‘Mister, did it not occur to you—being sensible and mature—

‘ambho purisa, tassa te viññussa sato mahallakassa na etadahosi—

4.7

“I, too, am liable to be born. I’m not exempt from rebirth. I’d better do good by way of body, speech, and mind”?’

ahampi khomhi jātidhammo, jātiṁ anatīto. Handāhaṁ kalyāṇaṁ karomi kāyena vācāya manasā’ti?

4.8

He says,

So evamāha:

4.9

‘I couldn’t, sir. I was negligent.’

‘nāsakkhissaṁ, bhante, pamādassaṁ, bhante’ti.

4.10

Then King Yama says,

Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, yamo rājā evamāha:

4.11

‘Mister, because you were negligent, you didn’t do good by way of body, speech, and mind.

‘ambho purisa, pamādavatāya na kalyāṇamakāsi kāyena vācāya manasā.

4.12

Well, they’ll definitely punish you to fit your negligence.

Taggha tvaṁ, ambho purisa, tathā karissanti yathā taṁ pamattaṁ.

4.13

That bad deed wasn’t done by your mother, father, brother, or sister. It wasn’t done by friends and colleagues, by relatives and kin, by ascetics and brahmins, or by the deities. That bad deed was done by you alone, and you alone will experience the result.’

Taṁ kho pana te etaṁ pāpakammaṁ neva mātarā kataṁ na pitarā kataṁ na bhātarā kataṁ na bhaginiyā kataṁ na mittāmaccehi kataṁ na ñātisālohitehi kataṁ na samaṇabrāhmaṇehi kataṁ na devatāhi kataṁ, tayāvetaṁ pāpakammaṁ kataṁ, tvaññevetassa vipākaṁ paṭisaṁvedissasī’ti.

5.1

Then King Yama grills them about the second messenger of the gods.

Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, yamo rājā paṭhamaṁ devadūtaṁ samanuyuñjitvā samanugāhitvā samanubhāsitvā dutiyaṁ devadūtaṁ samanuyuñjati samanugāhati samanubhāsati:

5.2

‘Mister, did you not see the second messenger of the gods that appeared among human beings?’

‘ambho purisa, na tvaṁ addasa manussesu dutiyaṁ devadūtaṁ pātubhūtan’ti?

5.3

He says,

So evamāha:

5.4

‘I saw nothing, sir.’

‘nāddasaṁ, bhante’ti.

5.5

Then King Yama says,

Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, yamo rājā evamāha:

5.6

‘Mister, did you not see among human beings an elderly woman or a man—eighty, ninety, or a hundred years old—bent double, crooked, leaning on a staff, trembling as they walk, ailing, past their prime, with teeth broken, hair grey and scanty or bald, skin wrinkled, and limbs blotchy?’

‘ambho purisa, na tvaṁ addasa manussesu itthiṁ vā purisaṁ vā (…) jiṇṇaṁ gopānasivaṅkaṁ bhoggaṁ daṇḍaparāyanaṁ pavedhamānaṁ gacchantaṁ āturaṁ gatayobbanaṁ khaṇḍadantaṁ palitakesaṁ vilūnaṁ khalitasiraṁ valinaṁ tilakāhatagattan’ti?

5.7

He says,

So evamāha:

5.8

‘I saw that, sir.’

‘addasaṁ, bhante’ti.

5.9

Then King Yama says,

Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, yamo rājā evamāha:

5.10

‘Mister, did it not occur to you—being sensible and mature—

‘ambho purisa, tassa te viññussa sato mahallakassa na etadahosi—

5.11

“I, too, am liable to grow old. I’m not exempt from old age. I’d better do good by way of body, speech, and mind”?’

ahampi khomhi jarādhammo, jaraṁ anatīto. Handāhaṁ kalyāṇaṁ karomi kāyena vācāya manasā’ti?

5.12

He says,

So evamāha:

5.13

‘I couldn’t, sir. I was negligent.’

‘nāsakkhissaṁ, bhante, pamādassaṁ, bhante’ti.

5.14

Then King Yama says,

Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, yamo rājā evamāha:

5.15

‘Mister, because you were negligent, you didn’t do good by way of body, speech, and mind.

‘ambho purisa, pamādavatāya na kalyāṇamakāsi kāyena vācāya manasā.

5.16

Well, they’ll definitely punish you to fit your negligence.

Taggha tvaṁ, ambho purisa, tathā karissanti yathā taṁ pamattaṁ.

5.17

6.1

Then King Yama grills them about the third messenger of the gods.

Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, yamo rājā dutiyaṁ devadūtaṁ samanuyuñjitvā samanugāhitvā samanubhāsitvā tatiyaṁ devadūtaṁ samanuyuñjati samanugāhati samanubhāsati:

6.2

‘Mister, did you not see the third messenger of the gods that appeared among human beings?’

‘ambho purisa, na tvaṁ addasa manussesu tatiyaṁ devadūtaṁ pātubhūtan’ti?

6.3

He says,

So evamāha:

6.4

‘I saw nothing, sir.’

‘nāddasaṁ, bhante’ti.

6.5

Then King Yama says,

Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, yamo rājā evamāha:

6.6

‘Mister, did you not see among human beings a woman or a man, sick, suffering, gravely ill, collapsed in their own urine and feces, being picked up by some and put down by others?’

‘ambho purisa, na tvaṁ addasa manussesu itthiṁ vā purisaṁ vā ābādhikaṁ dukkhitaṁ bāḷhagilānaṁ sake muttakarīse palipannaṁ semānaṁ aññehi vuṭṭhāpiyamānaṁ aññehi saṁvesiyamānan’ti?

6.7

He says,

So evamāha:

6.8

‘I saw that, sir.’

‘addasaṁ, bhante’ti.

6.9

Then King Yama says,

Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, yamo rājā evamāha:

6.10

‘Mister, did it not occur to you—being sensible and mature—

‘ambho purisa, tassa te viññussa sato mahallakassa na etadahosi—

6.11

“I, too, am liable to become sick. I’m not exempt from sickness. I’d better do good by way of body, speech, and mind”?’

ahampi khomhi byādhidhammo, byādhiṁ anatīto.

6.12

He says,

Handāhaṁ kalyāṇaṁ karomi kāyena vācāya manasā’ti? So evamāha:

6.13

‘I couldn’t, sir. I was negligent.’

‘nāsakkhissaṁ, bhante, pamādassaṁ, bhante’ti.

6.14

Then King Yama says,

Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, yamo rājā evamāha:

6.15

‘Mister, because you were negligent, you didn’t do good by way of body, speech, and mind.

‘ambho purisa, pamādavatāya na kalyāṇamakāsi kāyena vācāya manasā.

6.16

Well, they’ll definitely punish you to fit your negligence.

Taggha tvaṁ, ambho purisa, tathā karissanti yathā taṁ pamattaṁ.

6.17

7.1

Then King Yama grills them about the fourth messenger of the gods.

Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, yamo rājā tatiyaṁ devadūtaṁ samanuyuñjitvā samanugāhitvā samanubhāsitvā catutthaṁ devadūtaṁ samanuyuñjati samanugāhati samanubhāsati:

7.2

‘Mister, did you not see the fourth messenger of the gods that appeared among human beings?’

‘ambho purisa, na tvaṁ addasa manussesu catutthaṁ devadūtaṁ pātubhūtan’ti?

7.3

He says,

So evamāha:

7.4

‘I saw nothing, sir.’

‘nāddasaṁ, bhante’ti.

7.5

Then King Yama says,

Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, yamo rājā evamāha:

7.6

‘Mister, did you not see among human beings when the rulers arrested a bandit, a criminal, and subjected them to various punishments—

‘ambho purisa, na tvaṁ addasa manussesu rājāno coraṁ āgucāriṁ gahetvā vividhā kammakāraṇā kārente—

7.7

whipping, caning, and clubbing; cutting off hands or feet, or both; cutting off ears or nose, or both; the ‘porridge pot’, the ‘shell-shave’, the ‘demon’s mouth’, the ‘garland of fire’, the ‘burning hand’, the ‘grass blades’, the ‘bark dress’, the ‘antelope’, the ‘meat hook’, the ‘coins’, the ‘caustic pickle’, the ‘twisting bar’, the ‘straw mat’; being splashed with hot oil, being fed to the dogs, being impaled alive, and being beheaded?’

kasāhipi tāḷente vettehipi tāḷente addhadaṇḍakehipi tāḷente hatthampi chindante pādampi chindante hatthapādampi chindante kaṇṇampi chindante nāsampi chindante kaṇṇanāsampi chindante bilaṅgathālikampi karonte saṅkhamuṇḍikampi karonte rāhumukhampi karonte jotimālikampi karonte hatthapajjotikampi karonte erakavattikampi karonte cīrakavāsikampi karonte eṇeyyakampi karonte baḷisamaṁsikampi karonte kahāpaṇikampi karonte khārāpatacchikampi karonte palighaparivattikampi karonte palālapīṭhakampi karonte tattenapi telena osiñcante sunakhehipi khādāpente jīvantampi sūle uttāsente asināpi sīsaṁ chindante’ti?

7.8

He says,

So evamāha:

7.9

‘I saw that, sir.’

‘addasaṁ, bhante’ti.

7.10

Then King Yama says,

Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, yamo rājā evamāha:

7.11

‘Mister, did it not occur to you—being sensible and mature—

‘ambho purisa, tassa te viññussa sato mahallakassa na etadahosi—

7.12

that if someone who does bad deeds receives such punishment in the present life, what must happen to them in the next; I’d better do good by way of body, speech, and mind”?’

ye kira, bho, pāpakāni kammāni karonti te diṭṭheva dhamme evarūpā vividhā kammakāraṇā karīyanti, kimaṅgaṁ pana parattha. Handāhaṁ kalyāṇaṁ karomi kāyena vācāya manasā’ti?

7.13

He says,

So evamāha:

7.14

‘I couldn’t, sir. I was negligent.’

‘nāsakkhissaṁ, bhante, pamādassaṁ, bhante’ti.

7.15

Then King Yama says,

Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, yamo rājā evamāha:

7.16

‘Mister, because you were negligent, you didn’t do good by way of body, speech, and mind.

‘ambho purisa, pamādavatāya na kalyāṇamakāsi kāyena vācāya manasā.

7.17

Well, they’ll definitely punish you to fit your negligence.

Taggha tvaṁ, ambho purisa, tathā karissanti yathā taṁ pamattaṁ.

7.18

8.1

Then King Yama grills them about the fifth messenger of the gods.

Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, yamo rājā catutthaṁ devadūtaṁ samanuyuñjitvā samanugāhitvā samanubhāsitvā pañcamaṁ devadūtaṁ samanuyuñjati samanugāhati samanubhāsati:

8.2

‘Mister, did you not see the fifth messenger of the gods that appeared among human beings?’

‘ambho purisa, na tvaṁ addasa manussesu pañcamaṁ devadūtaṁ pātubhūtan’ti?

8.3

He says,

So evamāha:

8.4

‘I saw nothing, sir.’

‘nāddasaṁ, bhante’ti.

8.5

Then King Yama says,

Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, yamo rājā evamāha:

8.6

‘Mister, did you not see among human beings a woman or a man, dead for one, two, or three days, bloated, livid, and festering?’

‘ambho purisa, na tvaṁ addasa manussesu itthiṁ vā purisaṁ vā ekāhamataṁ vā dvīhamataṁ vā tīhamataṁ vā uddhumātakaṁ vinīlakaṁ vipubbakajātan’ti?

8.7

He says,

So evamāha:

8.8

‘I saw that, sir.’

‘addasaṁ, bhante’ti.

8.9

Then King Yama says,

Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, yamo rājā evamāha:

8.10

‘Mister, did it not occur to you—being sensible and mature—

‘ambho purisa, tassa te viññussa sato mahallakassa na etadahosi—

8.11

“I, too, am liable to die. I’m not exempt from death. I’d better do good by way of body, speech, and mind”?’

ahampi khomhi maraṇadhammo, maraṇaṁ anatīto. Handāhaṁ kalyāṇaṁ karomi kāyena vācāya manasā’ti?

8.12

He says,

So evamāha:

8.13

‘I couldn’t, sir. I was negligent.’

‘nāsakkhissaṁ, bhante, pamādassaṁ, bhante’ti.

8.14

Then King Yama says,

Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, yamo rājā evamāha:

8.15

‘Mister, because you were negligent, you didn’t do good by way of body, speech, and mind.

‘ambho purisa, pamādavatāya na kalyāṇamakāsi kāyena vācāya manasā.

8.16

Well, they’ll definitely punish you to fit your negligence.

Taggha tvaṁ, ambho purisa, tathā karissanti yathā taṁ pamattaṁ.

8.17

9.1

Then, after grilling them about the fifth messenger of the gods, King Yama falls silent.

Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, yamo rājā pañcamaṁ devadūtaṁ samanuyuñjitvā samanugāhitvā samanubhāsitvā tuṇhī hoti.

10.1

Then the wardens of hell punish them with the five-fold crucifixion.

Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, nirayapālā pañcavidhabandhanaṁ nāma kammakāraṇaṁ karonti—

10.2

They drive red-hot stakes through the hands and feet, and another in the middle of the chest.

tattaṁ ayokhilaṁ hatthe gamenti, tattaṁ ayokhilaṁ dutiye hatthe gamenti, tattaṁ ayokhilaṁ pāde gamenti, tattaṁ ayokhilaṁ dutiye pāde gamenti, tattaṁ ayokhilaṁ majjheurasmiṁ gamenti.

10.3

And there they suffer painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings—but they don’t die until that bad deed is eliminated.

So tattha dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā vedanā vedeti, na ca tāva kālaṁ karoti yāva na taṁ pāpakammaṁ byantīhoti.

11.1

Then the wardens of hell throw them down and hack them with axes. …

Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, nirayapālā saṁvesetvā kuṭhārīhi tacchanti …pe…

12.1

They hang them upside-down and hack them with hatchets. …

tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, nirayapālā uddhampādaṁ adhosiraṁ gahetvā vāsīhi tacchanti …pe…

13.1

They harness them to a chariot, and drive them back and forth across burning ground, blazing and glowing. …

tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, nirayapālā rathe yojetvā ādittāya pathaviyā sampajjalitāya sajotibhūtāya sārentipi, paccāsārentipi …pe…

14.1

They make them climb up and down a huge mountain of burning coals, blazing and glowing. …

tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, nirayapālā mahantaṁ aṅgārapabbataṁ ādittaṁ sampajjalitaṁ sajotibhūtaṁ āropentipi oropentipi …pe…

15.1

Then the wardens of hell turn them upside down and throw them in a red-hot copper pot, burning, blazing, and glowing.

tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, nirayapālā uddhampādaṁ adhosiraṁ gahetvā tattāya lohakumbhiyā pakkhipanti ādittāya sampajjalitāya sajotibhūtāya.

15.2

So tattha pheṇuddehakaṁ paccati.

15.3

There they’re seared in boiling scum, and they’re swept up and down and round and round.

So tattha pheṇuddehakaṁ paccamāno sakimpi uddhaṁ gacchati, sakimpi adho gacchati, sakimpi tiriyaṁ gacchati.

15.4

And there they suffer painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings—but they don’t die until that bad deed is eliminated.

So tattha dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā vedanā vedeti, na ca tāva kālaṁ karoti yāva na taṁ pāpakammaṁ byantīhoti.

16.1

Then the wardens of hell toss them into the Great Hell.

Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, nirayapālā mahāniraye pakkhipanti.

16.2

Now, about that Great Hell:

So kho pana, bhikkhave, mahānirayo—

16.3

‘Four are its corners, four its doors,

Catukkaṇṇo catudvāro,

16.4

neatly divided in equal parts.

vibhatto bhāgaso mito;

16.5

Surrounded by an iron wall,

Ayopākārapariyanto,

16.6

of iron is its roof.

ayasā paṭikujjito.

16.7

The ground is even made of iron,

Tassa ayomayā bhūmi,

16.8

it burns with fierce fire.

jalitā tejasāyutā;

16.9

The heat forever radiates

Samantā yojanasataṁ,

16.10

a hundred leagues around.’

pharitvā tiṭṭhati sabbadā.

17.1

Now in the Great Hell, flames surge out of the walls and crash into the opposite wall: from east to west, from west to east, from north to south, from south to north, from bottom to top, from top to bottom.

Tassa kho pana, bhikkhave, mahānirayassa puratthimāya bhittiyā acci uṭṭhahitvā pacchimāya bhittiyā paṭihaññati, pacchimāya bhittiyā acci uṭṭhahitvā puratthimāya bhittiyā paṭihaññati, uttarāya bhittiyā acci uṭṭhahitvā dakkhiṇāya bhittiyā paṭihaññati, dakkhiṇāya bhittiyā acci uṭṭhahitvā uttarāya bhittiyā paṭihaññati, heṭṭhā acci uṭṭhahitvā upari paṭihaññati, uparito acci uṭṭhahitvā heṭṭhā paṭihaññati.

17.2

And there they suffer painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings—but they don’t die until that bad deed is eliminated.

So tattha dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā vedanā vedeti, na ca tāva kālaṁ karoti yāva na taṁ pāpakammaṁ byantīhoti.

18.1

There comes a time when, after a very long period has passed, the eastern gate of the Great Hell is opened.

Hoti kho so, bhikkhave, samayo yaṁ kadāci karahaci dīghassa addhuno accayena tassa mahānirayassa puratthimaṁ dvāraṁ apāpurīyati.

18.2

So they run there as fast as they can.

So tattha sīghena javena dhāvati.

18.3

And as they run, their outer skin, inner skin, flesh, and sinews burn and even their bones smoke. Such is their escape;

Tassa sīghena javena dhāvato chavimpi ḍayhati, cammampi ḍayhati, maṁsampi ḍayhati, nhārumpi ḍayhati, aṭṭhīnipi sampadhūpāyanti, ubbhataṁ tādisameva hoti.

18.4

but when they’ve managed to make it most of the way, the gate is slammed shut.

Yato ca kho so, bhikkhave, bahusampatto hoti, atha taṁ dvāraṁ pidhīyati.

18.5

And there they suffer painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings—but they don’t die until that bad deed is eliminated.

So tattha dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā vedanā vedeti, na ca tāva kālaṁ karoti yāva na taṁ pāpakammaṁ byantīhoti.

18.6

There comes a time when, after a very long period has passed, the western gate …

Hoti kho so, bhikkhave, samayo yaṁ kadāci karahaci dīghassa addhuno accayena tassa mahānirayassa pacchimaṁ dvāraṁ apāpurīyati …pe…

18.7

northern gate …

uttaraṁ dvāraṁ apāpurīyati …pe…

18.8

southern gate of the Great hell is opened.

dakkhiṇaṁ dvāraṁ apāpurīyati.

18.9

So they run there as fast as they can.

So tattha sīghena javena dhāvati.

18.10

And as they run, their outer skin, inner skin, flesh, and sinews burn and even their bones smoke. Such is their escape;

Tassa sīghena javena dhāvato chavimpi ḍayhati, cammampi ḍayhati, maṁsampi ḍayhati, nhārumpi ḍayhati, aṭṭhīnipi sampadhūpāyanti, ubbhataṁ tādisameva hoti.

18.11

but when they’ve managed to make it most of the way, the gate is slammed shut.

Yato ca kho so, bhikkhave, bahusampatto hoti, atha taṁ dvāraṁ pidhīyati.

18.12

And there they suffer painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings—but they don’t die until that bad deed is eliminated.

So tattha dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā vedanā vedeti, na ca tāva kālaṁ karoti yāva na taṁ pāpakammaṁ byantīhoti.

19.1

There comes a time when, after a very long period has passed, the eastern gate of the Great Hell is opened.

Hoti kho so, bhikkhave, samayo yaṁ kadāci karahaci dīghassa addhuno accayena tassa mahānirayassa puratthimaṁ dvāraṁ apāpurīyati.

19.2

So they run there as fast as they can.

So tattha sīghena javena dhāvati.

19.3

And as they run, their outer skin, inner skin, flesh, and sinews burn and even their bones smoke. Such is their escape;

Tassa sīghena javena dhāvato chavimpi ḍayhati, cammampi ḍayhati, maṁsampi ḍayhati, nhārumpi ḍayhati, aṭṭhīnipi sampadhūpāyanti, ubbhataṁ tādisameva hoti.

19.4

and they make it out that door.

So tena dvārena nikkhamati.

20.1

Immediately adjacent to the Great Hell is the vast Dung Hell.

Tassa kho pana, bhikkhave, mahānirayassa samanantarā sahitameva mahanto gūthanirayo.

20.2

And that’s where they fall.

So tattha patati.

20.3

In that Dung Hell there are needle-mouthed creatures that bore through the outer skin, the inner skin, the flesh, sinews, and bones, until they reach the marrow and devour it.

Tasmiṁ kho pana, bhikkhave, gūthaniraye sūcimukhā pāṇā chaviṁ chindanti, chaviṁ chetvā cammaṁ chindanti, cammaṁ chetvā maṁsaṁ chindanti, maṁsaṁ chetvā nhāruṁ chindanti, nhāruṁ chetvā aṭṭhiṁ chindanti, aṭṭhiṁ chetvā aṭṭhimiñjaṁ khādanti.

20.4

And there they suffer painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings—but they don’t die until that bad deed is eliminated.

So tattha dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā vedanā vedeti, na ca tāva kālaṁ karoti yāva na taṁ pāpakammaṁ byantīhoti.

21.1

Immediately adjacent to the Dung Hell is the vast Hell of Hot Coals.

Tassa kho pana, bhikkhave, gūthanirayassa samanantarā sahitameva mahanto kukkulanirayo.

21.2

And that’s where they fall.

So tattha patati.

21.3

And there they suffer painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings—but they don’t die until that bad deed is eliminated.

So tattha dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā vedanā vedeti, na ca tāva kālaṁ karoti yāva na taṁ pāpakammaṁ byantīhoti.

22.1

Immediately adjacent to the Hell of Hot Coals is the vast Hell of the Red Silk-Cotton Wood. It’s a league high, full of sixteen-inch thorns, burning, blazing, and glowing.

Tassa kho pana, bhikkhave, kukkulanirayassa samanantarā sahitameva mahantaṁ simbalivanaṁ uddhaṁ yojanamuggataṁ soḷasaṅgulakaṇṭakaṁ ādittaṁ sampajjalitaṁ sajotibhūtaṁ.

22.2

And there they make them climb up and down.

Tattha āropentipi oropentipi.

22.3

And there they suffer painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings—but they don’t die until that bad deed is eliminated.

So tattha dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā vedanā vedeti, na ca tāva kālaṁ karoti yāva na taṁ pāpakammaṁ byantīhoti.

23.1

Immediately adjacent to the Hell of the Red Silk-Cotton Wood is the vast Hell of the Sword-Leaf Wood.

Tassa kho pana, bhikkhave, simbalivanassa samanantarā sahitameva mahantaṁ asipattavanaṁ.

23.2

They enter that.

So tattha pavisati.

23.3

There the fallen leaves blown by the wind cut their hands, feet, both hands and feet; they cut their ears, nose, both ears and nose.

Tassa vāteritāni pattāni patitāni hatthampi chindanti, pādampi chindanti, hatthapādampi chindanti, kaṇṇampi chindanti, nāsampi chindanti, kaṇṇanāsampi chindanti.

23.4

And there they suffer painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings—but they don’t die until that bad deed is eliminated.

So tattha dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā vedanā vedeti, na ca tāva kālaṁ karoti yāva na taṁ pāpakammaṁ byantīhoti.

24.1

Immediately adjacent to the Hell of the Sword-Leaf Wood is the vast Acid Hell.

Tassa kho pana, bhikkhave, asipattavanassa samanantarā sahitameva mahatī khārodakā nadī.

24.2

And that’s where they fall.

So tattha patati.

24.3

There they are swept upstream, swept downstream, and swept both up and down stream.

So tattha anusotampi vuyhati, paṭisotampi vuyhati, anusotapaṭisotampi vuyhati.

24.4

And there they suffer painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings—but they don’t die until that bad deed is eliminated.

So tattha dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā vedanā vedeti, na ca tāva kālaṁ karoti yāva na taṁ pāpakammaṁ byantīhoti.

25.1

Then the wardens of hell pull them out with a hook and place them on dry land, and say,

Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, nirayapālā balisena uddharitvā thale patiṭṭhāpetvā evamāhaṁsu:

25.2

‘Mister, what do you want?’

‘ambho purisa, kiṁ icchasī’ti?

25.3

They say,

So evamāha:

25.4

‘I’m hungry, sir.’

‘jighacchitosmi, bhante’ti.

25.5

The wardens of hell force open their mouth with a hot iron spike—burning, blazing, glowing—and shove in a red-hot copper ball, burning, blazing, and glowing.

Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, nirayapālā tattena ayosaṅkunā mukhaṁ vivaritvā ādittena sampajjalitena sajotibhūtena tattaṁ lohaguḷaṁ mukhe pakkhipanti ādittaṁ sampajjalitaṁ sajotibhūtaṁ.

25.6

It burns their lips, mouth, tongue, throat, and stomach before coming out below dragging their entrails.

So tassa oṭṭhampi dahati, mukhampi dahati, kaṇṭhampi dahati, urampi dahati, antampi antaguṇampi ādāya adhobhāgā nikkhamati.

25.7

And there they feel painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings—but they don’t die until that bad deed is eliminated.

So tattha dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā vedanā vedeti, na ca tāva kālaṁ karoti yāva na taṁ pāpakammaṁ byantīhoti.

26.1

Then the wardens of hell say,

Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, nirayapālā evamāhaṁsu:

26.2

‘Mister, what do you want?’

‘ambho purisa, kiṁ icchasī’ti?

26.3

They say,

So evamāha:

26.4

‘I’m thirsty, sir.’

‘pipāsitosmi, bhante’ti.

26.5

The wardens of hell force open their mouth with a hot iron spike—burning, blazing, glowing—and pour in molten copper, burning, blazing, and glowing.

Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, nirayapālā tattena ayosaṅkunā mukhaṁ vivaritvā ādittena sampajjalitena sajotibhūtena tattaṁ tambalohaṁ mukhe āsiñcanti ādittaṁ sampajjalitaṁ sajotibhūtaṁ.

26.6

It burns their lips, mouth, tongue, throat, and stomach before coming out below dragging their entrails.

Taṁ tassa oṭṭhampi dahati, mukhampi dahati, kaṇṭhampi dahati, urampi dahati, antampi antaguṇampi ādāya adhobhāgā nikkhamati.

26.7

And there they feel painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings—but they don’t die until that bad deed is eliminated.

So tattha dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā vedanā vedeti, na ca tāva kālaṁ karoti, yāva na taṁ pāpakammaṁ byantīhoti.

27.1

Then the wardens of hell toss them back in the Great Hell.

Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, nirayapālā puna mahāniraye pakkhipanti.

28.1

Once upon a time, King Yama thought:

Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, yamassa rañño etadahosi:

28.2

‘Those who do such bad deeds in the world receive these many different punishments.

‘ye kira, bho, loke pāpakāni akusalāni kammāni karonti te evarūpā vividhā kammakāraṇā karīyanti.

28.3

Oh, I hope I may be reborn as a human being! And that a Realized One—a perfected one, a fully awakened Buddha—arises in the world! And that I may pay homage to the Buddha!

Aho vatāhaṁ manussattaṁ labheyyaṁ. Tathāgato ca loke uppajjeyya arahaṁ sammāsambuddho. Tañcāhaṁ bhagavantaṁ payirupāseyyaṁ.

28.4

Then the Buddha can teach me Dhamma, so that I may understand his teaching.’

So ca me bhagavā dhammaṁ deseyya. Tassa cāhaṁ bhagavato dhammaṁ ājāneyyan’ti.

29.1

Now, I don’t say this because I’ve heard it from some other ascetic or brahmin. I only say it because I’ve known, seen, and realized it for myself.”

Taṁ kho panāhaṁ, bhikkhave, nāññassa samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā sutvā vadāmi, api ca yadeva sāmaṁ ñātaṁ sāmaṁ diṭṭhaṁ sāmaṁ viditaṁ tadevāhaṁ vadāmī”ti.

30.1

That is what the Buddha said.

Idamavoca bhagavā.

30.2

Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

Idaṁ vatvāna sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:

30.3

“Those people who are negligent,

“Coditā devadūtehi,

30.4

when warned by the gods’ messengers:

ye pamajjanti māṇavā;

30.5

a long time they sorrow,

Te dīgharattaṁ socanti,

30.6

when they go to that wretched place.

hīnakāyūpagā narā.

30.7

But those good and peaceful people,

Ye ca kho devadūtehi,

30.8

when warned by the gods’ messengers,

santo sappurisā idha;

30.9

never neglect

Coditā nappamajjanti,

30.10

the teaching of the noble ones.

ariyadhamme kudācanaṁ.

30.11

Seeing the danger in grasping,

Upādāne bhayaṁ disvā,

30.12

the origin of birth and death,

jātimaraṇasambhave;

30.13

the unattached are freed

Anupādā vimuccanti,

30.14

with the ending of birth and death.

jātimaraṇasaṅkhaye.

30.15

Happy, they’ve come to a safe place,

Te khemappattā sukhino,

30.16

extinguished in this very life.

diṭṭhadhammābhinibbutā;

30.17

They’ve gone beyond all threats and perils,

Sabbaverabhayātītā,

30.18

and risen above all suffering.”

sabbadukkhaṁ upaccagun”ti.

30.19

Devadūtasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ dasamaṁ.

30.20

Suññatavaggo niṭṭhito tatiyo.

31.0

Tassuddānaṁ

31.1

Dvidhāva suññatā hoti,

31.2

Abbhutadhammabākulaṁ;

31.3

Aciravatabhūmijanāmo,

31.4

Anuruddhupakkilesaṁ;

31.5

Bālapaṇḍito devadūtañca te dasāti.