22. Akkosakavagga

Aṅguttara Nikāya 5.213

Numbered Discourses 5.213

22. Akkosakavagga

22. Abuse

Sīlasutta

Ethics

“Pañcime, bhikkhave, ādīnavā dussīlassa sīlavipattiyā.

“Mendicants, there are these five drawbacks for an unethical person because of their failure in ethics.

Katame pañca?

What five?

Idha, bhikkhave, dussīlo sīlavipanno pamādādhikaraṇaṁ mahatiṁ bhogajāniṁ nigacchati.

Firstly, an unethical person loses great wealth on account of negligence.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo ādīnavo dussīlassa sīlavipattiyā.

This is the first drawback.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, dussīlassa sīlavipannassa pāpako kittisaddo abbhuggacchati.

Furthermore, an unethical person gets a bad reputation.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo ādīnavo dussīlassa sīlavipattiyā.

This is the second drawback.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, dussīlo sīlavipanno yaññadeva parisaṁ upasaṅkamati—yadi khattiyaparisaṁ, yadi brāhmaṇaparisaṁ, yadi gahapatiparisaṁ, yadi samaṇaparisaṁ—avisārado upasaṅkamati maṅkubhūto.

Furthermore, an unethical person enters any kind of assembly timid and embarrassed, whether it’s an assembly of aristocrats, brahmins, householders, or ascetics.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyo ādīnavo dussīlassa sīlavipattiyā.

This is the third drawback.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, dussīlo sīlavipanno sammūḷho kālaṁ karoti.

Furthermore, an unethical person feels lost when they die.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, catuttho ādīnavo dussīlassa sīlavipattiyā.

This is the fourth drawback.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, dussīlo sīlavipanno kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjati.

Furthermore, an unethical person, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcamo ādīnavo dussīlassa sīlavipattiyā.

This is the fifth drawback.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca ādīnavā dussīlassa sīlavipattiyā.

These are the five drawbacks for an unethical person because of their failure in ethics.

Pañcime, bhikkhave, ānisaṁsā sīlavato sīlasampadāya.

There are these five benefits for an ethical person because of their accomplishment in ethics.

Katame pañca?

What five?

Idha, bhikkhave, sīlavā sīlasampanno appamādādhikaraṇaṁ mahantaṁ bhogakkhandhaṁ adhigacchati.

Firstly, an ethical person gains great wealth on account of diligence.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo ānisaṁso sīlavato sīlasampadāya.

This is the first benefit.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sīlavato sīlasampannassa kalyāṇo kittisaddo abbhuggacchati.

Furthermore, an ethical person gets a good reputation.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo ānisaṁso sīlavato sīlasampadāya.

This is the second benefit.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sīlavā sīlasampanno yaññadeva parisaṁ upasaṅkamati—yadi khattiyaparisaṁ, yadi brāhmaṇaparisaṁ, yadi gahapatiparisaṁ, yadi samaṇaparisaṁ—visārado upasaṅkamati amaṅkubhūto.

Furthermore, an ethical person enters any kind of assembly bold and self-assured, whether it’s an assembly of aristocrats, brahmins, householders, or ascetics.

Ayaṁ bhikkhave, tatiyo ānisaṁso sīlavato sīlasampadāya.

This is the third benefit.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sīlavā sīlasampanno asammūḷho kālaṁ karoti.

Furthermore, an ethical person dies not feeling lost.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, catuttho ānisaṁso sīlavato sīlasampadāya.

This is the fourth benefit.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sīlavā sīlasampanno kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjati.

Furthermore, when an ethical person’s body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcamo ānisaṁso sīlavato sīlasampadāya.

This is the fifth benefit.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca ānisaṁsā sīlavato sīlasampadāyā”ti.

These are the five benefits for an ethical person because of their accomplishment in ethics.”

Tatiyaṁ.