The Buddha teaches the four noble truths regarding passing away as humans and reborn in hell, urging mendicants to practice for direct knowledge of suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path.

SN 56.102 Passing Away as Humans and Reborn in Hell

Atha kho bhagavā parittaṁ nakhasikhāyaṁ paṁsuṁ āropetvā bhikkhū āmantesi: “taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, katamaṁ nu kho bahutaraṁ yo vāyaṁ mayā paritto nakhasikhāyaṁ paṁsu āropito, ayaṁ mahāpathavī”ti? “Etadeva, bhante, bahutaraṁ, yadidaṁ mahāpathavī; appamattakāyaṁ bhagavatā paritto nakhasikhāyaṁ paṁsu āropito. Saṅkhampi na upeti, upanidhampi na upeti, kalabhāgampi na upeti mahāpathaviṁ upanidhāya bhagavatā paritto nakhasikhāyaṁ paṁsu āropito”ti.

“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye manussā cutā manussesu paccājāyanti; atha kho eteva bahutarā sattā ye manussā cutā niraye paccājāyanti …pe….

Paṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Atha kho bhagavā parittaṁ nakhasikhāyaṁ paṁsuṁ āropetvā bhikkhū āmantesi:

“taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, katamaṁ nu kho bahutaraṁ

yo vāyaṁ mayā paritto nakhasikhāyaṁ paṁsu āropito, ayaṁ mahāpathavī”ti?

“Etadeva, bhante, bahutaraṁ, yadidaṁ

mahāpathavī;

appamattakāyaṁ bhagavatā paritto nakhasikhāyaṁ paṁsu āropito.

Saṅkhampi na upeti, upanidhampi na upeti, kalabhāgampi na upeti mahāpathaviṁ upanidhāya bhagavatā paritto nakhasikhāyaṁ paṁsu āropito”ti.

“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye manussā cutā manussesu paccājāyanti; atha kho eteva bahutarā sattā ye manussā cutā niraye paccājāyanti …pe….

“… the sentient beings who die as humans and are reborn as humans are few, while those who die as humans and are reborn in hell are many …”

Paṭhamaṁ.

Qualities:

Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita, asammūḷha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026