Brahmaṇa Sutta (1) — Causes Leading to Downfall or to Heaven
(Aṅguttara Nikāya, Tens)
[197] At one time a brahmin approached the Blessed One, exchanged courteous greetings, and sat to one side. He asked:
“Master Gotama, what is the cause and condition by which certain beings in this world, when the body breaks, are reborn in states of loss, evil destinies, downfall, hell (apāya, duggati, vinipāta, niraya)?”
The Blessed One replied:
“Brahmin, because of acting unrighteously (adhamma-carita) and acting inconsistently (asāmisa-carita), some beings in this world, when they die, are reborn in states of loss, in evil destinies, in downfall, in hell.”
The brahmin asked again:
“And what is the cause and condition by which certain beings in this world, when they die, are reborn in a good destination, heavenly world (sugati loka, devaloka)?”
The Blessed One replied:
“Brahmin, because of acting righteously (dhamma-carita) and acting consistently (sāmisa-carita), some beings in this world, when they die, are reborn in a good destination, the heavenly world.”
The brahmin said:
“I do not yet fully understand the meaning of Master Gotama’s brief statement in detail. May Master Gotama please teach the Dhamma so that I may understand fully.”
The Blessed One said:
“Then listen carefully, Brahmin; I shall speak.”
The brahmin assented.
I. The Ten Unwholesome Courses of Action → Lead to Downfall
Unrighteous and inconsistent bodily conduct (kāya-adhamma-carita): three kinds
- Killing living beings (pāṇātipāta)
- Taking what is not given (adinnādāna)
- Sexual misconduct (kāmesu micchācāra)
Unrighteous and inconsistent verbal conduct (vācā-adhamma-carita): four kinds
- False speech (musāvāda)
- Divisive speech (pisuṇāvācā)
- Harsh speech (pharusāvācā)
- Idle chatter (samphappalāpa)
Unrighteous and inconsistent mental conduct (mano-adhamma-carita): three kinds
- Covetousness (abhijjhā)
- Ill will (byāpāda)
- Wrong view (micchādiṭṭhi)
“Brahmin, because of such unrighteous and inconsistent conduct of body, speech, and mind, certain beings in this world, when they die, go to states of loss, to evil destinies, to downfall, to hell.”
II. The Ten Wholesome Courses of Action → Lead to Heaven
Righteous and consistent bodily conduct (kāya-dhamma-carita): three kinds
- Abstaining from killing
- Abstaining from taking what is not given
- Abstaining from sexual misconduct
Righteous and consistent verbal conduct (vācā-dhamma-carita): four kinds
- Abstaining from false speech
- Abstaining from divisive speech
- Abstaining from harsh speech
- Abstaining from idle chatter
Righteous and consistent mental conduct (mano-dhamma-carita): three kinds
- Non-covetousness
- Non-ill will
- Right view (sammādiṭṭhi)
“Brahmin, because of such righteous and consistent conduct of body, speech, and mind, certain beings in this world, when they die, are reborn in a good destination, a heavenly world.”
The Brahmin’s Declaration
The brahmin said:
“Excellent, Master Gotama! Just as one might set upright what was overturned, reveal what was hidden, show the way to one who was lost, or hold a lamp in the dark so that those with eyes might see—so too has Master Gotama made the Dhamma clear in many ways.
I go for refuge to Master Gotama, to the Dhamma, and to the Saṅgha. May Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower (upāsaka) who has taken refuge for life.”
End of the Brahmaṇa Sutta (1).
At one time, a certain brahmin approached the Blessed One, exchanged greetings with him, and sat to one side. Sitting there, he said to the Blessed One:
“Master Gotama, what is the cause and condition by which certain beings in this world, when the body breaks up after death, appear in states of deprivation, in a bad destination, in a realm of misery, in hell?”
The Blessed One said:
“Brahmin, because of misconduct and lack of integrity, certain beings in this world, when the body breaks up after death, appear in states of deprivation, in a bad destination, in a realm of misery, in hell.”
The brahmin asked:
“Master Gotama, what is the cause and condition by which certain beings in this world, when the body breaks up after death, appear in a good destination, in a heavenly world?”
The Blessed One said:
“Brahmin, because of good conduct and integrity, certain beings in this world, when the body breaks up after death, appear in a good destination, in a heavenly world.”
Then the brahmin said:
“Master Gotama, I do not yet fully understand the meaning of this in brief. Please explain so that I may understand it in detail.”
The Blessed One said:
“Then listen, brahmin, attend carefully; I will speak.”
“Yes, Master Gotama,” the brahmin replied.
Misconduct and Lack of Integrity (10 Unwholesome Courses of Action)
The Blessed One said:
“Brahmin, misconduct and lack of integrity in body, speech, and mind are of ten kinds:
Three Bodily Misconducts
- Killing living beings
- Taking what is not given
- Sexual misconduct
Four Verbal Misconducts
- False speech
- Malicious speech
- Harsh speech
- Idle chatter
Three Mental Misconducts
- Covetousness
- Ill will
- Wrong view
Because of such misconduct and lack of integrity, brahmin, certain beings in this world, when the body breaks up after death, appear in states of deprivation, in a bad destination, in a realm of misery, in hell.”
Good Conduct and Integrity (10 Wholesome Courses of Action)
“Brahmin, good conduct and integrity in body, speech, and mind are of ten kinds:
Three Bodily Good Conducts
- Abstaining from killing living beings
- Abstaining from taking what is not given
- Abstaining from sexual misconduct
Four Verbal Good Conducts
- Abstaining from false speech
- Abstaining from malicious speech
- Abstaining from harsh speech
- Abstaining from idle chatter
Three Mental Good Conducts
- Non-covetousness
- Goodwill
- Right view
Because of such good conduct and integrity, brahmin, certain beings in this world, when the body breaks up after death, appear in a good destination, in a heavenly world.”
The brahmin then said:
“Excellent, Master Gotama! Just as one might set upright what was overturned, or reveal what was hidden, or show the path to one who is lost, or bring a lamp into the darkness so that those with eyes may see — so too has Master Gotama made the Dhamma clear in many ways.”
“From today onward, let Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”
End of the Brahmana Sutta
Short Pāli Glossary (Concise)
apāya / duggati / vinipāta / niraya — states of misery, downfall, hell adhamma-carita — unrighteous conduct dhamma-carita — righteous conduct kāya-vācā-mano — body, speech, mind pāṇātipāta — killing living beings adinnādāna — stealing kāmesu micchācāra — sexual misconduct musāvāda — false speech abhijjhā — covetousness byāpāda — ill will, hatred micchādiṭṭhi — wrong view sammādiṭṭhi — right view sugati / devaloka — good destination, heavenly world upāsaka — lay disciple