Buddhism · Sutta Pitaka · Numbered Discourses (Aṅguttara)

AN 5.213

Ethics · Sīlasutta

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“Mendicants, there are these five drawbacks for an unethical person because of their failure in ethics. What five? Firstly, an unethical person loses great wealth on account of negligence. This is the first drawback.

“Pañcime, bhikkhave, ādīnavā dussīlassa sīlavipattiyā. Katame pañca? Idha, bhikkhave, dussīlo sīlavipanno pamādādhikaraṇaṁ mahatiṁ bhogajāniṁ nigacchati. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo ādīnavo dussīlassa sīlavipattiyā.

Furthermore, an unethical person gets a bad reputation. This is the second drawback.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, dussīlassa sīlavipannassa pāpako kittisaddo abbhuggacchati. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo ādīnavo dussīlassa sīlavipattiyā.

Furthermore, an unethical person enters any kind of assembly unconfident and embarrassed, whether it’s an assembly of aristocrats, brahmins, householders, or ascetics. This is the third drawback.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, dussīlo sīlavipanno yaññadeva parisaṁ upasaṅkamati—yadi khattiyaparisaṁ, yadi brāhmaṇaparisaṁ, yadi gahapatiparisaṁ, yadi samaṇaparisaṁ—avisārado upasaṅkamati maṅkubhūto. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyo ādīnavo dussīlassa sīlavipattiyā.

Furthermore, an unethical person feels lost when they die. This is the fourth drawback.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, dussīlo sīlavipanno sammūḷho kālaṁ karoti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, catuttho ādīnavo dussīlassa sīlavipattiyā.

Furthermore, an unethical person, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. This is the fifth drawback. These are the five drawbacks for an unethical person because of their failure in ethics.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, dussīlo sīlavipanno kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjati. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcamo ādīnavo dussīlassa sīlavipattiyā. Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca ādīnavā dussīlassa sīlavipattiyā.

There are these five benefits for an ethical person because of their accomplishment in ethics. What five? Firstly, an ethical person gains great wealth on account of diligence. This is the first benefit.

Pañcime, bhikkhave, ānisaṁsā sīlavato sīlasampadāya. Katame pañca? Idha, bhikkhave, sīlavā sīlasampanno appamādādhikaraṇaṁ mahantaṁ bhogakkhandhaṁ adhigacchati. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo ānisaṁso sīlavato sīlasampadāya.

Furthermore, an ethical person gets a good reputation. This is the second benefit.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sīlavato sīlasampannassa kalyāṇo kittisaddo abbhuggacchati. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo ānisaṁso sīlavato sīlasampadāya.

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

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sīlavā sīlasampanno yaññadeva parisaṁ upasaṅkamati—yadi khattiyaparisaṁ, yadi brāhmaṇaparisaṁ, yadi gahapatiparisaṁ, yadi samaṇaparisaṁ—visārado upasaṅkamati amaṅkubhūto. Ayaṁ bhikkhave, tatiyo ānisaṁso sīlavato sīlasampadāya.

Furthermore, an ethical person dies not feeling lost. This is the fourth benefit.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sīlavā sīlasampanno asammūḷho kālaṁ karoti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, catuttho ānisaṁso sīlavato sīlasampadāya.

Furthermore, when an ethical person’s body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm. This is the fifth benefit. These are the five benefits for an ethical person because of their accomplishment in ethics.”

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sīlavā sīlasampanno kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjati. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcamo ānisaṁso sīlavato sīlasampadāya. Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca ānisaṁsā sīlavato sīlasampadāyā”ti. Tatiyaṁ.