[197] Then a certain brahmin approached the Blessed One; having approached, he exchanged greetings with the Blessed One, and when the courteous and memorable talk was concluded, he sat down at one side. Sitting at one side, that brahmin said this to the Blessed One: "What now, Master Gotama, is the cause, what is the condition, whereby some beings here, on the breakup of the body, after death, are reborn in a state of loss (apāya), a bad destination, the downfall, hell (niraya)?"
"It is by reason of unrighteous conduct and unbalanced conduct (adhammacariyā-visamacariyā), brahmin, that some beings here, on the breakup of the body, after death, are reborn in a state of loss, a bad destination, the downfall, hell."
"But what, Master Gotama, is the cause, what is the condition, whereby some beings here, on the breakup of the body, after death, are reborn in a good destination, a heavenly world?"
"It is by reason of righteous conduct and balanced conduct (dhammacariyā-samacariyā), brahmin, that some beings here, on the breakup of the body, after death, are reborn in a good destination, a heavenly world."
"I do not understand in detail the meaning of what Master Gotama has spoken in brief. It would be good if Master Gotama would teach me the Dhamma in such a way that I might understand in detail the meaning of what Master Gotama has spoken in brief."
"Then, brahmin, listen and attend carefully; I will speak."
"Yes, sir," that brahmin replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this: "Unrighteous conduct and unbalanced conduct by body, brahmin, is threefold; unrighteous conduct and unbalanced conduct by speech is fourfold; unrighteous conduct and unbalanced conduct by mind is threefold.
"And how, brahmin, is unrighteous conduct and unbalanced conduct by body threefold? … It is in this way, brahmin, that unrighteous conduct and unbalanced conduct by body is threefold.
"And how, brahmin, is unrighteous conduct and unbalanced conduct by speech fourfold? … It is in this way, brahmin, that unrighteous conduct and unbalanced conduct by speech is fourfold.
"And how, brahmin, is unrighteous conduct and unbalanced conduct by mind threefold? … It is in this way, brahmin, that unrighteous conduct and unbalanced conduct by mind is threefold. Thus it is by reason of unrighteous conduct and unbalanced conduct, brahmin, that some beings here, on the breakup of the body, after death, are reborn in a state of loss, a bad destination, the downfall, hell.
"Righteous conduct and balanced conduct by body, brahmin, is threefold; righteous conduct and balanced conduct by speech is fourfold; righteous conduct and balanced conduct by mind is threefold. And how, brahmin, is righteous conduct and balanced conduct by body threefold? … It is in this way, brahmin, that righteous conduct and balanced conduct by body is threefold. And how, brahmin, is righteous conduct and balanced conduct by speech fourfold? … It is in this way, brahmin, that righteous conduct and balanced conduct by speech is fourfold. And how, brahmin, is righteous conduct and balanced conduct by mind threefold? … It is in this way, brahmin, that righteous conduct and balanced conduct by mind is threefold. Thus it is by reason of righteous conduct and balanced conduct, brahmin, that some beings here, on the breakup of the body, after death, are reborn in a good destination, a heavenly world."
"Excellent, Master Gotama! … Let Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower (upāsaka) who from this day forth has gone for refuge for as long as life lasts."
The First Chapter, the first.
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The Second Chapter, the second.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.