Answering Venerable Anuruddha, the Buddha teaches that ladies who break the five precepts—killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and consuming intoxicants—are reborn in hell after death.

SN 37.24 Five Precepts

“Pañcahi, anuruddha, dhammehi samannāgato mātugāmo kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjati. Katamehi pañcahi? Pāṇātipātā paṭivirato ca hoti, adinnādānā paṭivirato ca hoti, kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato ca hoti, musāvādā paṭivirato ca hoti, surāmerayamajjappamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato ca hoti imehi kho, anuruddha, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato mātugāmo kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjatī”ti.

Dasamaṁ.

Dutiyapeyyālavaggo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Dutiye ca akkodhano,
anupanāhī anissukī;
Amaccharī anaticārī,
sīlavā ca bahussuto;
Vīriyaṁ sati sīlañca,
sukkapakkhe pakāsito.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Pañcahi, anuruddha, dhammehi samannāgato mātugāmo kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjati.

“Anuruddha, when ladies have five qualities, when their body breaks up, after death, they are reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.

Katamehi pañcahi?

What five?

Pāṇātipātā paṭivirato ca hoti, adinnādānā paṭivirato ca hoti, kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato ca hoti, musāvādā paṭivirato ca hoti, surāmerayamajjappamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato ca hoti

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

imehi kho, anuruddha, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato mātugāmo kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjatī”ti.

When ladies possess these five qualities, when their body breaks up, after death, they are reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.”

Dasamaṁ.

Dutiyapeyyālavaggo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Dutiye ca akkodhano,

anupanāhī anissukī;

Amaccharī anaticārī,

sīlavā ca bahussuto;

Vīriyaṁ sati sīlañca,

sukkapakkhe pakāsito.

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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Wholesome

Wholesome

Conducive to or suggestive of good health and mental well-being.

Also known as: blameless, skillful, beneficial, good, useful, healthy, nourishing, sustaining
Pāli: kusala
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Last updated on July 27, 2026