The Buddha describes the five qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there—it’s when a mendicant is faithless, shameless, imprudent, lazy, and witless, a mendicant with these five qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there, a mendicant with five qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there, and what five?, and it’s when a mendicant is faithful, conscientious, prudent, energetic, and wise.

AN 5.4 Cast Down

“Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye. Katamehi pañcahi? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu assaddho hoti, ahiriko hoti, anottappī hoti, kusīto hoti, duppañño hoti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye.

Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ sagge. Katamehi pañcahi? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu saddho hoti, hirīmā hoti, ottappī hoti, āraddhavīriyo hoti, paññavā hoti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ sagge”ti.

Catutthaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

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

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

Katamehi pañcahi?

What five?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu assaddho hoti, ahiriko hoti, anottappī hoti, kusīto hoti, duppañño hoti.

It’s when a mendicant is faithless, shameless, imprudent, lazy, and witless.

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

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

Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ sagge.

A mendicant with five qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there.

Katamehi pañcahi?

What five?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu saddho hoti, hirīmā hoti, ottappī hoti, āraddhavīriyo hoti, paññavā hoti.

It’s when a mendicant is faithful, conscientious, prudent, energetic, and wise.

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

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

Catutthaṁ.

Qualities:

Faith

Faith

Confidence in the Buddha's awakening and the efficacy of the path. It brightens and steadies the mind, removing doubt and inspiring energy toward wholesome practice. True faith rests on clarity and direct experience rather than mere belief.

Also known as: confidence, trust, belief, conviction, self-assurance
Pāli: saddha, pasanna
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Fear of wrongdoing

Fear of wrongdoing

A wholesome dread of misconduct that considers consequences and the censure of the wise. It looks outward—aware of blame, loss of reputation, and the suffering that follows unskillful action—and holds the mind back from crossing ethical boundaries.

Also known as: conscientious, moral dread, respect for others, (comm) originating from outside
Pāli: ottappa
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Last updated on July 27, 2026