The Buddha teaches on stains, presenting a threefold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 3.10 Stains

“Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato tayo male appahāya yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye. Katamehi tīhi? Dussīlo ca hoti, dussīlyamalañcassa appahīnaṁ hoti; issukī ca hoti, issāmalañcassa appahīnaṁ hoti; maccharī ca hoti, maccheramalañcassa appahīnaṁ hoti.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato ime tayo male appahāya yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye.

Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato tayo male pahāya yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ sagge. Katamehi tīhi? Sīlavā ca hoti, dussīlyamalañcassa pahīnaṁ hoti; anissukī ca hoti, issāmalañcassa pahīnaṁ hoti; amaccharī ca hoti, maccheramalañcassa pahīnaṁ hoti.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato ime tayo male pahāya yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ sagge”ti.

Dasamaṁ.

Bālavaggo paṭhamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Bhayaṁ lakkhaṇacintī ca,
accayañca ayoniso;
Akusalañca sāvajjaṁ,
sabyābajjhakhataṁ malanti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato tayo male appahāya yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye.

“Anyone who has three qualities, and has not given up three stains, is placed in hell as if delivered there.

Katamehi tīhi?

What three?

Dussīlo ca hoti, dussīlyamalañcassa appahīnaṁ hoti;

They’re unethical, and haven’t given up the stain of immorality.

issukī ca hoti, issāmalañcassa appahīnaṁ hoti;

They’re jealous, and haven’t given up the stain of jealousy.

maccharī ca hoti, maccheramalañcassa appahīnaṁ hoti.

They’re stingy, and haven’t given up the stain of stinginess.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato ime tayo male appahāya yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye.

Anyone who possesses these three qualities, and has not given up these three stains, is placed in hell as if delivered there.

Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato tayo male pahāya yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ sagge.

Anyone who has three qualities, and has given up three stains, is placed in heaven as if delivered there.

Katamehi tīhi?

What three?

Sīlavā ca hoti, dussīlyamalañcassa pahīnaṁ hoti;

They’re ethical, and have given up the stain of immorality.

anissukī ca hoti, issāmalañcassa pahīnaṁ hoti;

They’re not jealous, and have given up the stain of jealousy.

amaccharī ca hoti, maccheramalañcassa pahīnaṁ hoti.

They’re not stingy, and have given up the stain of stinginess.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato ime tayo male pahāya yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ sagge”ti.

Anyone who possesses these three qualities, and has given up these three stains, is placed in heaven as if delivered there.”

Dasamaṁ.

Bālavaggo paṭhamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Bhayaṁ lakkhaṇacintī ca,

accayañca ayoniso;

Akusalañca sāvajjaṁ,

sabyābajjhakhataṁ malanti.

Qualities:

Ethical conduct

Ethical conduct

A disciplined way of living grounded in harmlessness and integrity. Ethical conduct restrains the body and speech from harm, purifies behavior, and forms the foundation for collectedness and wisdom.

Also known as: moral integrity, right action, virtue
Pāli: sīla, sammākammanta
View all discourses →
Jealousy

Jealousy

A painful mental state that arises when seeing the good fortune or qualities of others. It begrudges what others have and resents their happiness, closing the heart to appreciative joy.

Also known as: covetousness, envy, possessiveness, protective of, unwilling to part with
Pāli: issā
View all discourses →
Stinginess

Stinginess

A contracted, possessive refusal to share what one has—whether material goods, knowledge, or status. It clings tightly to what is “mine,” fearing loss and closing the hand against generosity.

Also known as: miserliness, meanness, tight-fistedness
Pāli: macchariya
View all discourses →

Last updated on July 27, 2026