The Buddha teaches on the results of misconduct, presenting a eightfold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 8.40 The Results of Misconduct

“Pāṇātipāto, bhikkhave, āsevito bhāvito bahulīkato nirayasaṁvattaniko tiracchānayonisaṁvattaniko pettivisayasaṁvattaniko. Yo sabbalahuso pāṇātipātassa vipāko, manussabhūtassa appāyukasaṁvattaniko hoti.

Adinnādānaṁ, bhikkhave, āsevitaṁ bhāvitaṁ bahulīkataṁ nirayasaṁvattanikaṁ tiracchānayonisaṁvattanikaṁ pettivisayasaṁvattanikaṁ. Yo sabbalahuso adinnādānassa vipāko, manussabhūtassa bhogabyasanasaṁvattaniko hoti.

Kāmesumicchācāro, bhikkhave, āsevito bhāvito bahulīkato nirayasaṁvattaniko tiracchānayonisaṁvattaniko pettivisayasaṁvattaniko. Yo sabbalahuso kāmesumicchācārassa vipāko, manussabhūtassa sapattaverasaṁvattaniko hoti.

Musāvādo, bhikkhave, āsevito bhāvito bahulīkato nirayasaṁvattaniko tiracchānayonisaṁvattaniko pettivisayasaṁvattaniko. Yo sabbalahuso musāvādassa vipāko, manussabhūtassa abhūtabbhakkhānasaṁvattaniko hoti.

Pisuṇā, bhikkhave, vācā āsevitā bhāvitā bahulīkatā nirayasaṁvattanikā tiracchānayonisaṁvattanikā pettivisayasaṁvattanikā. Yo sabbalahuso pisuṇāya vācāya vipāko, manussabhūtassa mittehi bhedanasaṁvattaniko hoti.

Pharusā, bhikkhave, vācā āsevitā bhāvitā bahulīkatā nirayasaṁvattanikā tiracchānayonisaṁvattanikā pettivisayasaṁvattanikā. Yo sabbalahuso pharusāya vācāya vipāko, manussabhūtassa amanāpasaddasaṁvattaniko hoti.

Samphappalāpo, bhikkhave, āsevito bhāvito bahulīkato nirayasaṁvattaniko tiracchānayonisaṁvattaniko pettivisayasaṁvattaniko. Yo sabbalahuso samphappalāpassa vipāko, manussabhūtassa anādeyyavācāsaṁvattaniko hoti.

Surāmerayapānaṁ, bhikkhave, āsevitaṁ bhāvitaṁ bahulīkataṁ nirayasaṁvattanikaṁ tiracchānayonisaṁvattanikaṁ pettivisayasaṁvattanikaṁ. Yo sabbalahuso surāmerayapānassa vipāko, manussabhūtassa ummattakasaṁvattaniko hotī”ti.

Dasamaṁ.

Dānavaggo catuttho.

Tassuddānaṁ

Dve dānāni vatthuñca,
khettaṁ dānūpapattiyo;
Kiriyaṁ dve sappurisā,
abhisando vipāko cāti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Pāṇātipāto, bhikkhave, āsevito bhāvito bahulīkato nirayasaṁvattaniko tiracchānayonisaṁvattaniko pettivisayasaṁvattaniko.

“Mendicants, the killing of living creatures, when cultivated, developed, and practiced, leads to hell, the animal realm, or the ghost realm.

Yo sabbalahuso pāṇātipātassa vipāko, manussabhūtassa appāyukasaṁvattaniko hoti.

The minimum result it leads to for a human being is a short lifespan.

Adinnādānaṁ, bhikkhave, āsevitaṁ bhāvitaṁ bahulīkataṁ nirayasaṁvattanikaṁ tiracchānayonisaṁvattanikaṁ pettivisayasaṁvattanikaṁ.

Stealing, when cultivated, developed, and practiced, leads to hell, the animal realm, or the ghost realm.

Yo sabbalahuso adinnādānassa vipāko, manussabhūtassa bhogabyasanasaṁvattaniko hoti.

The minimum result it leads to for a human being is loss of wealth.

Kāmesumicchācāro, bhikkhave, āsevito bhāvito bahulīkato nirayasaṁvattaniko tiracchānayonisaṁvattaniko pettivisayasaṁvattaniko.

Sexual misconduct, when cultivated, developed, and practiced, leads to hell, the animal realm, or the ghost realm.

Yo sabbalahuso kāmesumicchācārassa vipāko, manussabhūtassa sapattaverasaṁvattaniko hoti.

The minimum result it leads to for a human being is rivalry and enmity.

Musāvādo, bhikkhave, āsevito bhāvito bahulīkato nirayasaṁvattaniko tiracchānayonisaṁvattaniko pettivisayasaṁvattaniko.

Lying, when cultivated, developed, and practiced, leads to hell, the animal realm, or the ghost realm.

Yo sabbalahuso musāvādassa vipāko, manussabhūtassa abhūtabbhakkhānasaṁvattaniko hoti.

The minimum result it leads to for a human being is false accusations.

Pisuṇā, bhikkhave, vācā āsevitā bhāvitā bahulīkatā nirayasaṁvattanikā tiracchānayonisaṁvattanikā pettivisayasaṁvattanikā.

Backbiting, when cultivated, developed, and practiced, leads to hell, the animal realm, or the ghost realm.

Yo sabbalahuso pisuṇāya vācāya vipāko, manussabhūtassa mittehi bhedanasaṁvattaniko hoti.

The minimum result it leads to for a human being is being divided against friends.

Pharusā, bhikkhave, vācā āsevitā bhāvitā bahulīkatā nirayasaṁvattanikā tiracchānayonisaṁvattanikā pettivisayasaṁvattanikā.

Harsh speech, when cultivated, developed, and practiced, leads to hell, the animal realm, or the ghost realm.

Yo sabbalahuso pharusāya vācāya vipāko, manussabhūtassa amanāpasaddasaṁvattaniko hoti.

The minimum result it leads to for a human being is hearing disagreeable things.

Samphappalāpo, bhikkhave, āsevito bhāvito bahulīkato nirayasaṁvattaniko tiracchānayonisaṁvattaniko pettivisayasaṁvattaniko.

Talking nonsense, when cultivated, developed, and practiced, leads to hell, the animal realm, or the ghost realm.

Yo sabbalahuso samphappalāpassa vipāko, manussabhūtassa anādeyyavācāsaṁvattaniko hoti.

The minimum result it leads to for a human being is that no-one takes what you say seriously.

Surāmerayapānaṁ, bhikkhave, āsevitaṁ bhāvitaṁ bahulīkataṁ nirayasaṁvattanikaṁ tiracchānayonisaṁvattanikaṁ pettivisayasaṁvattanikaṁ.

Drinking beer and wine, when cultivated, developed, and practiced, leads to hell, the animal realm, or the ghost realm.

Yo sabbalahuso surāmerayapānassa vipāko, manussabhūtassa ummattakasaṁvattaniko hotī”ti.

The minimum result it leads to for a human being is madness.”

Dasamaṁ.

Dānavaggo catuttho.

Tassuddānaṁ

Dve dānāni vatthuñca,

khettaṁ dānūpapattiyo;

Kiriyaṁ dve sappurisā,

abhisando vipāko cāti.

Qualities:

Feuding

Feuding

An entrenched pattern of opposition and rivalry where parties seek to prevail over one another. It sustains hostility, disturbs peace, and obstructs harmony in community.

Also known as: competitiveness, contentiousness, quarreling, rivalry, opposition, struggle, conflict
Pāli: paḷāsa
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Insanity

Insanity

A disturbed and unstable mental condition in which the mind is scattered, erratic, or deranged. It can range from temporary disorientation and agitation to severe forms of insanity, obstructing clarity and discernment.

Also known as: craziness, mental derangement, lunacy, loss of reason, madness
Pāli: ummattaka, cittakkhepa
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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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Slaughtering

Slaughtering

The deliberate killing of a living being, carried out with the intention of ending its life while disregarding its natural drive to continue living.

Also known as: killing, murdering, taking life
Pāli: pāṇātipāta
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Stealing

Stealing

Also known as: theft, taking what is not given, taking what is not offerred, dishonesty regarding possessions
Pāli: adinnādānā
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Wrong speech

Wrong speech

Speech that deceives, divides, wounds, or wastes. It includes lying, slander, harshness, and idle chatter. Such speech distorts truth, breaks trust, and stirs the mind toward harm and discord.

Also known as: false speech, lying, divisive, slanderous or defamatory or malicious speech, abusive or rude or unkind way of speaking, meaningless talk or idle chatter or gossip
Pāli: musāvāda, pisuṇavācā, pharusāvācā, samphappalāpa
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Last updated on July 27, 2026