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306. The one who speaks lies, goes to hell,
And the one who having done says, “I don’t do this.”
Both of these, people of base deeds,
Having passed away, become equal in the beyond.
307. Many having the yellow robe about their necks
Are of bad qualities, uncontrolled.
They, the bad ones,
By bad deeds are led to hell.
308. Better that an iron ball be eaten,
Glowing, like a flame of fire,
Than that one should eat a country’s alms food,
Being poor in virtue, lacking control.
309. Four conditions the heedless man comes by,
Who resorts to the wives of others;
Acquisition of demerit,
Lack of agreeable sleep,
Disgrace is third; hell is the fourth.
310. Acquisition of demerit
And a lowly [future] course.
And brief the delight of a frightened man with a frightened woman,
The king too gives a heavy punishment –
So let a man not resort to the wife of another.
311. Just as kusa grass, wrongly grasped,
Cuts the hand itself,
So, reclusiveness wrongly handled,
Drags one down to hell.
312. Whatever is a loose act,
And what is a defiled observance –
A “higher life” filled with suspicion –
That is not of great fruit.
313. If it is a thing to be done, let one do it,
Let one advance decisively to it;
for religious conduct that is slack
Throws up dirt all the more.
314. A misdeed is better not done;
The misdeed torments hereafter.
But a good deed is better done,
Having done which, one does not regret.
315. Like a border city
Guarded both within and without,
So, guard yourself.
Let not the moment slip you by.
Those for whom the moment is past
Do indeed grieve, consigned to hell.
316. They are ashamed of what is not shameful,
They are not ashamed of what is shameful.
Ones who endorse wrong views,
Such beings go to a state of woe.
317. Those who see what is not fear as fear,
And see no fear in fear,
Ones who endorse wrong views,
Such beings go to a state of woe.
318. Those who regard what is not error as error,
And see no error in error,
Ones who endorse wrong views,
Such beings go to a state of woe.
319. But having known error as error,
And non-error as non-error,
Ones who endorse proper views,
Such beings go to a state of weal.