iti.30 Itivuttaka

Remorse

This was said by the Lord…

“There are two things, bhikkhus, causing remorse. What are the two? Here someone has not done what is good, not done what is wholesome, not done what is beneficial, but has done evil, callous, wrongful deeds. He is remorseful on thinking, ‘I have not done good,’ and is remorseful on thinking, ‘I have done evil.’ These, bhikkhus, are the two things causing remorse.”

Having performed misconduct
By body, misconduct by speech,
Misconduct by mind, and whatever else
Is reckoned a fault—

Not having done a good deed
And done much that is bad—
When his body perishes
That foolish one is reborn in hell.

- Translator: John D. Ireland

- Editor: Bhikkhu Sujato

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Mortifying

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.
“These two things, mendicants, are mortifying.
What two?
It’s when someone hasn’t done good and skillful things that keep them safe, but has done bad, violent, and depraved things.
Thinking, ‘I haven’t done good things’, they’re mortified. Thinking, ‘I have done bad things’, they’re mortified.
These are the two things that are mortifying.”
The Buddha spoke this matter.
On this it is said:
“Having done bad things
by way of body,
speech, and mind,
and whatever else is corrupt;
not having done good deeds,
and having done many bad,
when their body breaks up, that witless person
is reborn in hell.”
This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.