[268] 9. "Bhikkhus, there are these three inner stains, inner foes, inner enemies, inner murderers, inner adversaries. Which three? Greed (lobha), bhikkhus, is an inner stain, an inner foe, an inner enemy, an inner murderer, an inner adversary. Hatred (dosa), bhikkhus, is an inner stain, an inner foe, an inner enemy, an inner murderer, an inner adversary. Delusion (moha), bhikkhus, is an inner stain, an inner foe, an inner enemy, an inner murderer, an inner adversary. These, bhikkhus, are the three inner stains, inner foes, inner enemies, inner murderers, inner adversaries."
Greed is a producer of harm;
greed is an agitator of the mind (citta).
The danger born from within —
that, people do not comprehend.
One who is greedy does not know the good;
one who is greedy does not see the Dhamma;
blinding darkness then prevails,
when greed overpowers a man.
But he who, having abandoned greed,
is not greedy at what incites greed —
greed falls away from him,
as a drop of water from a lotus leaf.¹
Hatred is a producer of harm;
hatred is an agitator of the mind.
The danger born from within —
that, people do not comprehend.
One who hates does not know the good;
one who hates does not see the Dhamma;
blinding darkness then prevails,
when hatred overpowers a man.
But he who, having abandoned hatred,
is not hateful at what incites hatred —
hatred falls away from him,
as a ripe palm-fruit from its stalk.
Delusion is a producer of harm;
delusion is an agitator of the mind.
The danger born from within —
that, people do not comprehend.
One who is deluded does not know the good;
one who is deluded does not see the Dhamma;
blinding darkness then prevails,
when delusion overpowers a man.
But he who, having abandoned delusion,
is not deluded at what incites delusion —
he dispels all delusion,
as the rising sun the darkness.
The Ninth.
¹ Po., M.: udabindūva.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.