Aṇguttara Nikāya
Catukka Nipāta
XXIV: Kamma Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Fours
Chapter XXIV: The Deed
Sutta 234
Catuttha Kamma Suttaṃ
aka
Sikkhapada Suttaṃ (1 and 2)
Precepts
Translated from the Pali by F. L. Woodward, M.A.
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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[1] Thus have I heard:
On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.
Then the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," they replied,
and the Exalted One said:
"Monks, these four deeds I have myself comprehended,
realized
and made known.
What four?
There is a dark deed
with a dark result;
a bright deed
with a bright result;
a deed that is both dark and bright,
with a dark and bright result;
and the deed that is neither dark nor bright,
with a result neither dark nor bright,
which being itself a deed
conduces to the waning of deeds.
§
And of what sort, brahmin
is the deed that is dark,
with a dark result?
In this case, monks, a certain one
takes life,
steals,
is a wrongdoer in sense-desires,
a liar,
given to the use of liquor fermented and distilled
which causes sloth.
This is called
"the dark deed with a dark result."
■
And of what sort, monks,
is the bright deed with a bright result?
In this case a certain one
abstains from taking life,
abstains from stealing,
abstains from being a wrongdoer in sense-desires,
abstains from lying,
abstains from the use of liquor fermented and distilled
which causes sloth.
This is called
"the the bright deed with a bright result."
■
And of what sort, monks,
is the deed that is both dark and bright,
with a result that is both dark and bright?
In this case, monks, a certain one
plans planned bodily action
that is joined with harm and harmlessness,
plans planned action of speech,
that is joined with harm and harmlessness,
plans planned action of thought,
that is joined with harm and harmlessness.
He thus planning action of body,
that is both harmful and harmless
planning harmless action of speech
that is both harmful and harmless
planning harmless action of thought,
that is both harmful and harmless
is born into a world
that is both harmful and harmless.
Touched by contacts
both harmful and harmless
he experiences feeling
that is both harmful and harmless,
a mixture of pleasure and pain,
such as for instance some humans,
some devas,
and some dwellers in purgatory feel.
This, monks, is called
"the deed that is both dark and bright,
with a result that is both dark and bright."
■
[241] And of what sort, monks,
is the deed that is neither dark nor bright,
with a result that is neither dark nor bright,
which, itself a deed,
conduces to the waning of deeds?
In this case, monks,
the intention to abandon this dark deed
with its dark result,
the intention to abandon this bright deed
with its bright result,
the intention to abandon this deed both dark and bright
with a its result both dark and bright, -
this intention is called
"the deed that is neither dark nor bright,
with a result that is neither dark nor bright,
which, itself a deed,
conduces to the waning of deeds."
These four deeds I have myself comprehended,
realized
and made known."
"Monks, these four deeds I have myself comprehended,
realized
and made known.
What four?
There is a dark deed
with a dark result;
a bright deed
with a bright result;
a deed that is both dark and bright,
with a dark and bright result;
and the deed that is neither dark nor bright,
with a result neither dark nor bright,
which being itself a deed
conduces to the waning of deeds.
§
And of what sort, monks,
is the dark deed with a dark result?
In this case a certain one
is a murderer of his mother,
a murderer of his father,
a murderer of an arahant,
one who with evil intent
draws the blood of a Tathāgata,
one who causes dissension of the Order.
This is called
"the dark deed with a dark result."
■
And of what sort
is the bright deed with a bright result?
In this case a certain one
abstains from taking life,
abstains from stealing,
abstains from being a wrongdoer in sense-desires,
abstains from lying,
he abstains from idle babble,
he abstains from coveting
he abstains from ill-will,
and has right view.
This is called
"the the bright deed with a bright result."
■
And of what sort, monks,
is the deed that is both dark and bright,
with a result that is both dark and bright?
In this case, monks, a certain one
plans planned bodily action
that is joined with harm and harmlessness,
plans planned action of speech,
that is joined with harm and harmlessness,
plans planned action of thought,
that is joined with harm and harmlessness.
He thus planning action of body,
that is both harmful and harmless
planning harmless action of speech
that is both harmful and harmless
planning harmless action of thought,
that is both harmful and harmless
is born into a world
that is both harmful and harmless.
Touched by contacts
both harmful and harmless
he experiences feeling
that is both harmful and harmless,
a mixture of pleasure and pain,
such as for instance some humans,
some devas,
and some dwellers in purgatory feel.
This, monks, is called
"the deed that is both dark and bright,
with a result that is both dark and bright."
■
And of what sort, monks,
is the deed that is neither dark nor bright,
with a result that is neither dark nor bright,
which, itself a deed,
conduces to the waning of deeds?
In this case, monks,
the intention to abandon this dark deed
with its dark result,
the intention to abandon this bright deed
with its bright result,
the intention to abandon this deed both dark and bright
with a its result both dark and bright, -
this intention is called
"the deed that is neither dark nor bright,
with a result that is neither dark nor bright,
which, itself a deed,
conduces to the waning of deeds."
"Monks, these four deeds I have myself comprehended,
realized
and made known.
