30. The Hells (T210.30)

The liar approaches hell,
[Also] he who having done something says he hasn’t.
Both these offenders here after will suffer alike,
Having dragged themselves there with such actions.

Those who donning the robes;
Commit evil, and are unrestrained;
Such base evil doers,
At death will fall into hells.

If one, being immoral, acccepts offerings,
Would he not be harming himself?
At death he will swallow red-hot iron balls,
And be burnt by flaring charcoals.

Four things beset the heedless man
Who is fond of committing adultery:
[First] bad sleep, [second] demerit,
Third ill-repute, and fourth sensual indulgence.

There being demerit, he will have bad rebirth.
The fearful [man] and fearful [woman] enjoy but little.
The king imposes heavy punishment on them.
And at death they go to hell.

Just as in the uprooting of wild grasses;
If not grabbed properly, they cut the hand.
In ethical training, if there be no proper restraint,
One is picked for hell through one’s own making.

In the ordinary man’s faring, if there be slackness,
It cannot lead to the removal of hardship.
In the spiritual faring, if there be faults,
It will never yield great blessing.

Always do what you ought to do,
Persevere and make your practice strong.
Separate yourself from the heretics;
Don’t be influenced and tainted.

If one does what ought not be done,
One will later be poisoned with depression.
If one does good one will always be well,
And wherever one is, one has no remorse.

He who with regard to an evil deed,
Intends to do or has already done;
Cannot be freed from the ensuing suffering:
Evil retribution nearing, he finds no escape.

He who gives false evidence to get bribes;
He who himself having behaved improperly,
Malign the good ones out of hatred;
He who treats the learened unjustly;
—Such people, bound by their evil,
Throw themselves into pits.

Like a guarded border city;
Firm within and without.
So guard your own mind,
[Let] no evil thought arise.
Lapses in action beget grief;
And will lead you to hell.

Those unashamed of what is shameful,
And ashamed of what is not shameful;
—Such beings, disposed towards false views;
Go to hell at death.

Those unafraid of the fearful,
And afraid of what is not fearful;
—Such beings, disposed towards false views;
Go to hell at death.

Those who don’t shun what should be shunned,
And don’t approach what should be approached;
—Such beings, addicted to false views,
Go to hell at death.

Those who approach what should be approached,
And leave what should be left behind
—Such beings, always keeping to right views,
Go to good destinies at death.

Translated from the Chinese by Bhikkhu Kuala Lumpur Dhammajoti

From his book The Chinese Version of Dharmapada, Translated with introduction and annotations.

Published here with the kind permission of the author.

Prepared for SuttaCentral by Ayya Vimala.