Itivuttaka — Assim Foi Dito — 20 — A Corrupted Mind

1This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

2“Mendicants, when I’ve comprehended the mind of an individual whose mind is corrupted, I understand: ‘If this individual were to die right now, they would be placed in hell as if delivered there.’ Why is that? Because their mind is corrupted. Corruption of mind is the reason why some sentient beings, when their body breaks up, after death, are reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.”

3The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said:

4“Knowing an individual’s
corrupted mind,
the Buddha explained this matter
in the mendicants’ presence.

5If that individual
were to die at this time,
they’d be reborn in hell,
for their mind is corrupted.

6That sort is cast down as surely
as if they’d been carried off and put there.
For corruption of mind is the reason
sentient beings go to a bad place.”

7This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.