A deity engages the Buddha in verse on conscience, exploring a teaching on suffering, liberation, and the law of kamma.

SN 1.18 Conscience

“Hirīnisedho puriso,
koci lokasmiṁ vijjati;
Yo nindaṁ apabodhati,
asso bhadro kasāmivā”ti.

“Hirīnisedhā tanuyā,
ye caranti sadā satā;
Antaṁ dukkhassa pappuyya,
caranti visame saman”ti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Hirīnisedho puriso,

“Can a person constrained by conscience

koci lokasmiṁ vijjati;

be found in the world,

Yo nindaṁ apabodhati,

who is cognizant of blame,

asso bhadro kasāmivā”ti.

like a fine horse of the whip?”

“Hirīnisedhā tanuyā,

“Few are those constrained by conscience,

ye caranti sadā satā;

who live always mindful.

Antaṁ dukkhassa pappuyya,

Having reached the end of suffering,

caranti visame saman”ti.

smoothly they walk in the rough.”