Bound for Loss (ITI48)

So It Was Said 48

The Book of the Twos

Chapter Two

Bound for Loss

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Mendicants, these two are bound for a place of loss, bound for hell, if they don’t give up this fault.

What two?

Someone who is unchaste, but claims to be chaste; and someone who makes a groundless accusation of unchastity against a person whose chastity is pure.

These are the two who are bound for a place of loss, bound for hell, if they don’t give up this fault.”

The Buddha spoke this matter.

On this it is said:

“A liar goes to hell,

as does one who denies what they did.

Both are equal in the hereafter,

those men of base deeds.

Many who wear a scrap of ocher cloth¹

are unrestrained and wicked.

Being wicked, they are reborn in hell

due to their bad deeds.

It’d be better for the immoral and unrestrained

to eat an iron ball,

scorching, like a burning flame,

than to eat the nation’s alms.”

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.