Dhammapada, Dhamma Verses (KN 2)

18: The Chapter about Stains – 99
Malitthiyā duccaritaṁ, maccheraṁ dadato malaṁ,
Bad conduct is a woman’s stain, stinginess is a giver’s stain,
malā ve pāpakā dhammā asmiṁ loke paramhi ca. [242]
wicked actions are indeed stains both in this world and in the next.
Tato malā malataraṁ, avijjā paramaṁ malaṁ,
A stain that is worse than that stain, ignorance is the supreme stain,
etaṁ malaṁ pahatvāna, nimmalā hotha, bhikkhavo! [243]
after abandoning that stain, be without stains, 1 O monastics!
Sujīvaṁ ahirikena, kākasūrena dhaṁsinā,
Life is light for one without shame, with the bold courage of a crow,
pakkhandinā pagabbhena, saṅkiliṭṭhena jīvitaṁ. [244]
living a life with backbiting, recklessness, and defilements.
Hirīmatā ca dujjīvaṁ, niccaṁ sucigavesinā,
Life is hard when endowed with shame, for the one constantly seeking purity,
alīnenāpagabbhena, suddhājīvena passatā. [245]
for one sincere, and not reckless, looking for purity of life.
Yo pāṇam-atipāteti, musāvādañ-ca bhāsati,
Whoever kills a living being, and speaks a word that is not true,
loke adinnaṁ ādiyati, paradārañ-ca gacchati, [246]
takes what is not given here, and goes to another’s wife,
surāmerayapānañ-ca yo naro anuyuñjati,
that person who is devoted to a drink of liquor and wine, 2
idhevam-eso lokasmiṁ mūlaṁ khaṇati attano. [247]
digs up his own root right here in the world.
1
Note that this is the last mention of stains (mala) in this chapter, although related themes make
up the rest of the chapter.
2
It is interesting that all of these deeds are in the singular, where we would more naturally use a
plural. This happens in many places, but in such a long list it stands out here.