[269] 10. "Bhikkhus, overcome by three bad qualities (asaddhamma), his mind (citta) overpowered, Devadatta is bound for the plane of misery (apāya), bound for hell (niraya), there to remain for an eon (kappa), incurable. What are the three? Overcome by evil desire (pāpicchatā), bhikkhus, his mind overpowered, Devadatta is bound for the plane of misery, bound for hell, there to remain for an eon, incurable. Overcome by bad friendship (pāpamittatā), bhikkhus, his mind overpowered, Devadatta is bound for the plane of misery, bound for hell, there to remain for an eon, incurable. And while there was still something further to be done, he came to a stop midway on account of a trifling attainment of distinction. Overcome, bhikkhus, by these three bad qualities, his mind overpowered, Devadatta is bound for the plane of misery, bound for hell, there to remain for an eon, incurable."
Let no one of evil desires
ever arise in the world;
and by this too may you know
the destination of those of evil desires.
He was known as "a wise man,"
esteemed as "one of developed self";
Devadatta stood as though blazing with fame —
so have I heard.
He, pursuing heedlessness,
assailed that Tathāgata
and reached Avīci hell,
four-gated, terrifying.
For whoever plots against one uncorrupted,
against a person who does no evil deed,
that very evil touches him —
the one of corrupted mind, contemptuous.
Whoever should think to defile the ocean
with a pot of poison
could not defile it thereby,
for vast indeed is the ocean.
Even so, whoever injures with abuse
the Tathāgata — rightly gone, of peaceful mind —
against him that abuse
takes no hold.
The wise man should make such a one his friend
and should keep his company —
a bhikkhu following whose path (magga)
would attain the destruction of suffering (dukkha).
This meaning too was spoken by the Blessed One; thus I have heard.
The Tenth.
The Fourth Chapter.
Its summary (uddāna):
Vitakka (thought), Sakkāra (honor), Sadda (sound), Cavamāna (passing away), Loka (world), Asubha (the foul),
Dhamma, Andhakāra (darkness), Mala (stain) — with Devadatta these are ten.
Itivuttaka: the Fifth Chapter of the Section of the Threes (Tikanipāta).
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.