[289] 18. On one occasion the Blessed One was wandering on tour among the Kosalans together with a large Saṅgha of bhikkhus. While travelling along the highroad, the Blessed One saw in a certain place a fish-dealer, a fisherman, killing fish and selling them. Having seen him, he stepped off the road and sat down on a seat prepared at the foot of a certain tree. Having sat down, the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, do you see that fish-dealer, that fisherman, killing fish and selling them?"
"Yes, venerable sir."
"What do you think, bhikkhus? Have you ever seen or heard of a fish-dealer, a fisherman, who, killing fish and selling them, by that action (kamma), by that livelihood, went about on an elephant, or on horseback, or in a chariot, or in a vehicle, or enjoyed wealth, or lived amid a great mass of wealth?"
"No indeed, venerable sir."
"Good, bhikkhus. I too, bhikkhus, have neither seen nor heard of a fish-dealer, a fisherman, who, killing fish and selling them, by that action, by that livelihood, went about on an elephant, or on horseback, or in a chariot, or in a vehicle, or enjoyed wealth, or lived amid a great mass of wealth. For what reason? Because, bhikkhus, he looks on with an evil mind at those fish that are to be slain, brought up for slaughter. Therefore he does not go about on an elephant, nor on horseback, nor in a chariot, nor in a vehicle, nor does he enjoy wealth, nor live amid a great mass of wealth.
"What do you think, bhikkhus? Have you ever seen or heard of a cattle-butcher who, killing cattle and selling them, by that action, by that livelihood, went about on an elephant, or on horseback, or in a chariot, or in a vehicle, or enjoyed wealth, or lived amid a great mass of wealth?"
"No indeed, venerable sir."
"Good, bhikkhus. I too, bhikkhus, have neither seen nor heard of a cattle-butcher who, killing cattle and selling them, by that action, by that livelihood, went about on an elephant, or on horseback, or in a chariot, or in a vehicle, or enjoyed wealth, or lived amid a great mass of wealth. For what reason? Because, bhikkhus, he looks on with an evil mind at those cattle that are to be slain, brought up for slaughter. Therefore he does not go about on an elephant, nor on horseback, nor in a chariot, nor in a vehicle, nor does he enjoy wealth, nor live amid a great mass of wealth.
"What do you think, bhikkhus? Have you ever seen or heard of a sheep-butcher … a pig-butcher, a fowler, a deer-hunter who, killing deer and selling them, by that action, by that livelihood, went about on an elephant, or on horseback, or in a chariot, or in a vehicle, or enjoyed wealth, or lived amid a great mass of wealth?"
"No indeed, venerable sir."
"Good, bhikkhus. I too, bhikkhus, have neither seen nor heard of a deer-hunter who, killing deer and selling them, by that action, by that livelihood, went about on an elephant, or on horseback, or in a chariot, or in a vehicle, or enjoyed wealth, or lived amid a great mass of wealth. For what reason? Because, bhikkhus, he looks on with an evil mind at those deer that are to be slain, brought up for slaughter. Therefore he does not go about on an elephant, nor on horseback, nor in a chariot, nor in a vehicle, nor does he enjoy wealth, nor live amid a great mass of wealth.
"For indeed, bhikkhus, when one looks on with an evil mind at animal creatures that are to be slain, brought up for slaughter, therefore he does not go about on an elephant, nor on horseback, nor in a chariot, nor in a vehicle, nor does he enjoy wealth, nor live amid a great mass of wealth — what then can be said of one who looks on with an evil mind at a human being condemned, brought up for slaughter? That indeed, bhikkhus, leads to his harm and suffering (dukkha) for a long time; with the breakup of the body, after death, he is reborn in a state of loss, a bad destination, the nether world, hell."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.