The Buddha explains how ungratefulness, along with misconduct in body, speech, and mind, leads one to be cast into hell, while gratefulness and ethical conduct lead one to be cast into heaven.
“Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye. Katamehi catūhi? Kāyaduccaritena, vacīduccaritena, manoduccaritena, akataññutā akataveditā— imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye.
“Bhikkhus, possessing four qualities, one is cast into |hell::a place of intense suffering, lit. no good fortune [niraya]| just as if carried and placed there. What four? |Bodily misconduct::killing living beings, harming others, theft, or sexual misconduct [kāyaduccarita]|, |verbal misconduct::false speech, harsh speech, divisive speech, idle chatter [vacīduccarita]|, |mental misconduct::yearning with strong eagerness and desire, having ill will or hatred, delighting in harm [manoduccarita]|, and |being ungrateful::lit. not knowing what is done state [akataññutā]| and unappreciative. Possessing these four qualities, bhikkhus, one is cast into hell just as if carried and placed there.
Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ sagge. Katamehi catūhi? Kāyasucaritena, vacīsucaritena, manosucaritena, kataññutā kataveditā— imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ sagge”ti.
Bhikkhus, endowed with four qualities, one is cast into |heaven::a place of happiness, lit. good fortune [sagga]| just as if carried and placed there. What four? |Good bodily conduct::good physical conduct, virtuous bodily behavior [kāyasucarita]|, |good verabl conduct::applying the five factors of well spoken speech - 1) speaking at the proper time, 2) being truthful, 3) being gentle, 4) speaking beneficially, and 5) speaking with a mind of loving-kindness [vacīsucarita]|, |good mental conduct::being with thoughts of renunciation, non-ill will, and non-harm [manosucarita]|, and |being grateful::thankfulness; lit. knowing what is done state [kataññutā]| and appreciative. Endowed with these four qualities, bhikkhus, one is cast into heaven just as if carried and placed there.”
“Bhikkhus, possessing four qualities, one is cast into |hell::a place of intense suffering, lit. no good fortune [niraya]| just as if carried and placed there. What four? |Bodily misconduct::killing living beings, harming others, theft, or sexual misconduct [kāyaduccarita]|, |verbal misconduct::false speech, harsh speech, divisive speech, idle chatter [vacīduccarita]|, |mental misconduct::yearning with strong eagerness and desire, having ill will or hatred, delighting in harm [manoduccarita]|, and |being ungrateful::lit. not knowing what is done state [akataññutā]| and unappreciative. Possessing these four qualities, bhikkhus, one is cast into hell just as if carried and placed there.
Bhikkhus, endowed with four qualities, one is cast into |heaven::a place of happiness, lit. good fortune [sagga]| just as if carried and placed there. What four? |Good bodily conduct::good physical conduct, virtuous bodily behavior [kāyasucarita]|, |good verabl conduct::applying the five factors of well spoken speech - 1) speaking at the proper time, 2) being truthful, 3) being gentle, 4) speaking beneficially, and 5) speaking with a mind of loving-kindness [vacīsucarita]|, |good mental conduct::being with thoughts of renunciation, non-ill will, and non-harm [manosucarita]|, and |being grateful::thankfulness; lit. knowing what is done state [kataññutā]| and appreciative. Endowed with these four qualities, bhikkhus, one is cast into heaven just as if carried and placed there.”
“Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye. Katamehi catūhi? Kāyaduccaritena, vacīduccaritena, manoduccaritena, akataññutā akataveditā— imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye.
Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ sagge. Katamehi catūhi? Kāyasucaritena, vacīsucaritena, manosucaritena, kataññutā kataveditā— imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ sagge”ti.