[411] "Venerable sir, could it be that one who causes schism in the Saṅgha (saṅghabhedaka) is destined to a state of misery (apāya), destined to hell (niraya), abiding there for an eon (kappa), incurable?"
"It could be, Upāli, that one who causes schism in the Saṅgha is destined to a state of misery, destined to hell, abiding there for an eon, incurable."
"But could it be,¹ venerable sir, that one who causes schism in the Saṅgha is not destined to a state of misery, not destined to hell, not abiding there for an eon, not incurable?"
"It could be, Upāli, that one who causes schism in the Saṅgha is not destined to a state of misery, not destined to hell, not abiding there for an eon, not incurable."
"But which one who causes schism in the Saṅgha, venerable sir, is destined to a state of misery, destined to hell, abiding there for an eon, incurable?"
"Here, Upāli, a bhikkhu declares what is not dhamma to be dhamma. Holding the view regarding that [matter] that it is not dhamma, and holding the view regarding the schism that it is not dhamma, misrepresenting his view, misrepresenting his belief, misrepresenting his preference, misrepresenting his intention, he makes proclamation and has ballots (salākā) taken, saying: 'This is the Dhamma, this is the Vinaya, this is the Teacher's instruction; take this, approve this.' This one too, Upāli, who causes schism in the Saṅgha is destined to a state of misery, destined to hell, abiding there for an eon, incurable.
"Furthermore, Upāli, a bhikkhu declares what is not dhamma to be dhamma. Holding the view regarding that that it is not dhamma, and holding the view regarding the schism that it is dhamma, misrepresenting his view, misrepresenting his belief, misrepresenting his preference, misrepresenting his intention, he makes proclamation and has ballots taken, saying: 'This is the Dhamma, this is the Vinaya, this is the Teacher's instruction; take this, approve this.' This one too, Upāli, who causes schism in the Saṅgha is destined to a state of misery, destined to hell, abiding there for an eon, incurable.
"Furthermore, Upāli, a bhikkhu declares what is not dhamma to be dhamma. Holding the view regarding that that it is not dhamma, and being doubtful regarding the schism, misrepresenting his view, misrepresenting his belief, misrepresenting his preference, misrepresenting his intention, he makes proclamation and has ballots taken, saying: 'This is the Dhamma, this is the Vinaya, this is the Teacher's instruction; take this, approve this.' This one too, Upāli, who causes schism in the Saṅgha is destined to a state of misery, destined to hell, abiding there for an eon, incurable.
"Furthermore, Upāli, a bhikkhu declares what is not dhamma to be dhamma. Holding the view regarding that that it is dhamma, and holding the view regarding the schism that it is not dhamma … ; holding the view regarding that that it is dhamma, and being doubtful regarding the schism … ; being doubtful regarding that, and holding the view regarding the schism that it is not dhamma; being doubtful regarding that, and holding the view regarding the schism that it is dhamma; being doubtful regarding that, and being doubtful regarding the schism — misrepresenting his view, misrepresenting his belief, misrepresenting his preference, misrepresenting his intention, he makes proclamation and has ballots taken, saying: 'This is the Dhamma, this is the Vinaya, this is the Teacher's instruction; take this, approve this.' This one too, Upāli, who causes schism in the Saṅgha is destined to a state of misery, destined to hell, abiding there for an eon, incurable.
"Furthermore, Upāli, a bhikkhu declares dhamma to be not dhamma … ; declares what is not vinaya to be vinaya; declares vinaya to be not vinaya; declares what was not spoken and uttered by the Tathāgata to have been spoken and uttered by the Tathāgata; declares what was spoken and uttered by the Tathāgata not to have been spoken and uttered by the Tathāgata; declares what was not practiced by the Tathāgata to have been practiced by the Tathāgata; declares what was practiced by the Tathāgata not to have been practiced by the Tathāgata; declares what was not laid down by the Tathāgata to have been laid down by the Tathāgata; declares what was laid down by the Tathāgata not to have been laid down by the Tathāgata; declares what is no offense to be an offense (āpatti); declares an offense to be no offense; declares a light offense to be a heavy offense; declares a heavy offense to be a light offense; declares an offense with remainder to be an offense without remainder; declares an offense without remainder to be an offense with remainder; declares a gross offense to be an offense that is not gross; declares an offense that is not gross to be a gross offense. Holding the view regarding that that it is not dhamma and the view regarding the schism that it is not dhamma; holding the view regarding that that it is not dhamma and the view regarding the schism that it is dhamma; holding the view regarding that that it is not dhamma and being doubtful regarding the schism; holding the view regarding that that it is dhamma and the view regarding the schism that it is not dhamma; holding the view regarding that that it is dhamma and being doubtful regarding the schism; being doubtful regarding that and holding the view regarding the schism that it is not dhamma; being doubtful regarding that and holding the view regarding the schism that it is dhamma; being doubtful regarding that and being doubtful regarding the schism — misrepresenting his view, misrepresenting his belief, misrepresenting his preference, misrepresenting his intention, he makes proclamation and has ballots taken, saying: 'This is the Dhamma, this is the Vinaya, this is the Teacher's instruction; take this, approve this.' This one too, Upāli, who causes schism in the Saṅgha is destined to a state of misery, destined to hell, abiding there for an eon, incurable."
¹ [Siam Raṭṭha footnote: In the Burmese and European editions the word "nu kho" is absent.]
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.