Thus have I heard:
At one time the Radiant one was dwelling at Jeta’s Grove in the park of Anāthapiṇḍika near Sāvatthī. Then as the night was ending a deva of surpassing radiance, illuminating the whole of Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Radiant One and stood to one side after saluting him. Standing there that deva addressed the Radiant One with a verse:
Deva
To ask the lord we come here,
from Gotama we wish to know;
That one who goes disaster way—
what’s the way to disaster’s woes?Buddha
The wise one does develop well,
the unwise to disaster bound;
the lover of Dharma develops well,
Dharma-hater to disaster’s round.Deva
We clearly understand this much,
that way’s first to disaster’s woe;
second, may the Lord advise—
what’s the way to disaster’s woe?Buddha
The untrue, they are dear to me,
true persons, they’re not dear, so
the untrue teaching one prefers—
that’s the way to disaster’s woe.Deva
We clearly understand this much,
second that way’s to disaster’s woe;
thirdly, may the Lord advise—
what’s the way to disaster’s woe?Buddha
Lethargic and gregarious—
whoever is of effort low,
lazy and anger marked—
that’s the way to disaster’s woe.Deva
We clearly understand this much,
third that way’s to disaster’s woe;
fourthly, may the Lord advise—
what’s the way to disaster’s woe?Buddha
Though wealth’s enough one does not help,
mother and father who aged grow,
though long their youth is left behind—
that’s the way to disaster’s woe.Deva
We clearly understand this much,
that way’s fourth to disaster’s woe;
fifthly, may the Lord advise—
what’s the way to disaster’s woe?Buddha
Whether with priest or monk as well,
one likes to lie and cheat, also
deceiving other wanderers—
that’s the way to disaster’s woe.Deva
We clearly understand this much,
that way’s fifth to disaster’s woe;
sixthly, may the Lord advise—
what’s the way to disaster’s woe?Buddha
A person of great property,
with wealth and food they overflow,
and yet enjoy its sweets alone—
that’s the way to disaster’s woe.Deva
We clearly understand this much,
that way’s sixth to disaster’s woe;
seventh, may the Lord advise—
what’s the way to disaster’s woe?Buddha
Proud of birth and proud of wealth,
so of their families they crow,
but meeting, slight their relatives—
that’s the way to disaster’s woe.Deva
We clearly understand this much,
seventh that way’s to disaster’s woe;
eighthly, may the Lord advise—
what’s the way to disaster’s woe?Buddha
Debauched in drink, with women too,
by dice debauched; such a fellow,
little by little his assets waste—
that’s the way to disaster’s woe.Deva
We clearly understand this much,
that way’s eighth to disaster’s woe;
ninthly, may the Lord advise—
what’s the way to disaster’s woe?Buddha
Unsatisfied with his own wife,
with others’ wives he’s seen in tow,
corrupted too with prostitutes—
that’s the way to disaster’s woe.Deva
We clearly understand this much,
that way’s ninth to disaster’s woe;
tenthly, may the Lord advise—
what’s the way to disaster’s woe?Buddha
A man no longer young still weds
a girl with apple breasts—and lo!
for jealousy he cannot sleep—
that’s the way to disaster’s woe.Deva
We clearly understand this much,
that way’s tenth to disaster’s woe;
may the Lord eleventh advise—
what’s the way to disaster’s woe?Buddha
Whoever, whether woman or man,
drunken, dissolute, wealth does blow;
then in position of power is placed—
that’s the way to disaster’s woe.Deva
We clearly understand this much,
eleventh that way’s to disaster’s woe;
twelfthly, may the Lord advise—
what’s the way to disaster’s woe?Buddha
When, from noble family sprung
with little wealth, great craving though,
and still one wants to rule the realm—
that’s the way to disaster’s woe.The one who’s wise well knows the way
within this world to disaster’s woe;
and then that Noble, insight pure,
to a blessed state one such does go.