The Buddha teaches on hell (2nd), presenting a sixfold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 6.82 Hell (2nd)

“Chahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye. Katamehi chahi? Pāṇātipātī hoti, adinnādāyī hoti, kāmesumicchācārī hoti, musāvādī hoti, luddho ca, pagabbho ca. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, chahi dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye.

Chahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ sagge. Katamehi chahi? Pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti, adinnādānā paṭivirato hoti, kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato hoti, musāvādā paṭivirato hoti, aluddho ca, appagabbho ca. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, chahi dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ sagge”ti.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

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

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

Katamehi chahi?

What six?

Pāṇātipātī hoti, adinnādāyī hoti, kāmesumicchācārī hoti, musāvādī hoti, luddho ca, pagabbho ca.

They kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, and lie. And they’re greedy and rude.

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

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

Chahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ sagge.

Someone with six qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there.

Katamehi chahi?

What six?

Pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti, adinnādānā paṭivirato hoti, kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato hoti, musāvādā paṭivirato hoti, aluddho ca, appagabbho ca.

They don’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, or lie. And they’re not greedy or rude.

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

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

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Qualities:

Craving

Craving

A driving ‘thirst’ that reaches out toward experiences, identities, or outcomes as the place to find satisfaction—“if only I had that.” It spins stories of lack, binds the mind to becoming, and invariably leads to suffering.

Also known as: wanting, yearning, longing, lit. thirst
Pāli: taṇha, abhijjhā
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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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Last updated on July 27, 2026