III. The Book of the Threes

XV. Good Auspices

[270]

THUS HAVE I HEARD

Once the Exalted One was dwelling near Sāvatthī.

Then the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks!"

"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.

The Exalted One said:

"Monks, possessed of three qualities
one is put into Purgatory
according to his deserts.¹

What three?

Sinful action of body,
sinful action of speech,
sinful action of mind.

Monks, possessed of these three qualities
one is put into Purgatory
according to his deserts.

[271] Monks, possessed of three qualities
one is put into Heaven
according to his deserts.

What three?

Righteous action of body,
righteous action of speech,
righteous action of mind.

Monks, possessed of these three qualities
one is put into Heaven
according to his deserts."

¹ Yathābhataṃ, cf. text 8 n. [Ed? no note in 'text'; there is a note here on page 6] § 116 n. Here it = yathā ānetvā ṭhito. Comy.