[868] Therein, what is evil desire (pāpicchatā)?
Here someone, being without faith, wishes: "Let people know me as one who has faith"; being immoral, he wishes: "Let people know me as virtuous"; being of little learning, he wishes: "Let people know me as one of great learning"; delighting in company, he wishes: "Let people know me as one who is secluded"; being lazy, he wishes: "Let people know me as one of aroused energy (vīriya)"; being of muddled mindfulness (sati), he wishes: "Let people know me as one with mindfulness established"; being unconcentrated, he wishes: "Let people know me as one who is concentrated"; being of poor wisdom, he wishes: "Let people know me as wise"; not being one whose taints (āsava) are destroyed, he wishes: "Let people know me as one whose taints are destroyed." Any wish of such a kind — wishing, evil desire, lust, infatuation, … infatuation of the mind (citta) — this is called evil desire.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.