The Buddha teaches on hell, presenting a fivefold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 5.145 Hell

“Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye. Katamehi pañcahi? Pāṇātipātī hoti, adinnādāyī hoti, kāmesumicchācārī hoti, musāvādī hoti, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhāyī hoti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye.

Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ sagge. Katamehi pañcahi? Pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti, adinnādānā paṭivirato hoti, kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato hoti, musāvādā paṭivirato hoti, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato hoti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ sagge”ti.

Pañcamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye.

“Mendicants, someone with five qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there.

Katamehi pañcahi?

What five?

Pāṇātipātī hoti, adinnādāyī hoti, kāmesumicchācārī hoti, musāvādī hoti, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhāyī hoti.

They kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, and consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye.

Someone with these five qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there.

Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ sagge.

Someone with five qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there

Katamehi pañcahi?

What five?

Pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti, adinnādānā paṭivirato hoti, kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato hoti, musāvādā paṭivirato hoti, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato hoti.

They don’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ sagge”ti.

Someone with these five qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there.”

Pañcamaṁ.

Qualities:

Sexual misconduct

Sexual misconduct

Transgression of boundaries in intimate relations—acting on desire in ways that betray trust, cause harm, or violate the commitments of oneself or others.

Also known as: crossing boundaries, infidelity, inappropriate sexual behavior, unfaithfulness to one's partner
Pāli: kāmesumicchācāra
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Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita, asammūḷha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026