The Buddha teaches on hell, presenting a fourfold teaching for disciples on the path.
“Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye. Katamehi catūhi? Pāṇātipātī hoti, adinnādāyī hoti, kāmesumicchācārī hoti, musāvādī hoti— imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ nirayeti.
Pāṇātipāto adinnādānaṁ,
Musāvādo ca vuccati;
Paradāragamanañcāpi,
Nappasaṁsanti paṇḍitā”ti.
Catutthaṁ.
Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).
“Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye.
“Mendicants, someone with four qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there.
Katamehi catūhi?
What four?
Pāṇātipātī hoti, adinnādāyī hoti, kāmesumicchācārī hoti, musāvādī hoti—
They kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, and lie.
imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ nirayeti.
Someone with these four qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there.
Pāṇātipāto adinnādānaṁ,
Killing, stealing,
Musāvādo ca vuccati;
telling lies,
Paradāragamanañcāpi,
and visiting others’ wives:
Nappasaṁsanti paṇḍitā”ti.
astute people don’t praise these things.”
Catutthaṁ.
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Last updated on July 27, 2026