In short: Chapter 22 of the Dhammapada, Hell (Nirayavagga), verses 306 to 319. The results of wrong action, and guarding yourself like a well-guarded border city.
A liar goes to hell, as does one who denies what they did. Both are equal in the hereafter, those men of base deeds.
Dhammapada 306, the chapter's first verse.
Pāli and English translation by Bhikkhu Sujato, from SuttaCentral. The introduction is ANEW's.
The verses in Pāli and English
| Verse | Pāli | English |
|---|---|---|
| 306 | Abhūtavādī nirayaṁ upeti, | A liar goes to hell, |
| Yo vāpi katvā na karomi cāha; | as does one who denies what they did. | |
| Ubhopi te pecca samā bhavanti, | Both are equal in the hereafter, | |
| Nihīnakammā manujā parattha. | those men of base deeds. | |
| 307 | Kāsāvakaṇṭhā bahavo, | Many who wear a scrap of ocher cloth |
| pāpadhammā asaññatā; | are unrestrained and wicked. | |
| Pāpā pāpehi kammehi, | Being wicked, they are reborn in hell | |
| nirayaṁ te upapajjare. | due to their bad deeds. | |
| 308 | Seyyo ayoguḷo bhutto, | It’d be better for the immoral and unrestrained |
| tatto aggisikhūpamo; | to eat an iron ball, | |
| Yañce bhuñjeyya dussīlo, | scorching, like a burning flame, | |
| raṭṭhapiṇḍamasaññato. | than to eat the nation’s alms. | |
| 309 | Cattāri ṭhānāni naro pamatto, | Four things befall a heedless man |
| Āpajjati paradārūpasevī; | who sleeps with another’s wife: | |
| Apuññalābhaṁ na nikāmaseyyaṁ, | wickedness, poor sleep, | |
| Nindaṁ tatīyaṁ nirayaṁ catutthaṁ. | ill-repute, and rebirth in hell. | |
| 310 | Apuññalābho ca gatī ca pāpikā, | He accrues wickedness and is reborn in a bad place, |
| Bhītassa bhītāya ratī ca thokikā; | all so a frightened couple may snatch a moment’s pleasure, | |
| Rājā ca daṇḍaṁ garukaṁ paṇeti, | for which rulers impose a heavy punishment. | |
| Tasmā naro paradāraṁ na seve. | That’s why a man should not sleep with another’s wife. | |
| 311 | Kuso yathā duggahito, | When kusa grass is wrongly grasped |
| hatthamevānukantati; | it only cuts the hand. | |
| Sāmaññaṁ dupparāmaṭṭhaṁ, | So too, the ascetic life, when wrongly taken, | |
| nirayāyupakaḍḍhati. | drags you to hell. | |
| 312 | Yaṁ kiñci sithilaṁ kammaṁ, | Any lax act, |
| saṅkiliṭṭhañca yaṁ vataṁ; | any corrupt observance, | |
| Saṅkassaraṁ brahmacariyaṁ, | or suspicious spiritual life, | |
| na taṁ hoti mahapphalaṁ. | is not very fruitful. | |
| 313 | Kayirā ce kayirāthenaṁ, | If one is to do what should be done, |
| daḷhamenaṁ parakkame; | one should staunchly strive. | |
| Sithilo hi paribbājo, | For the life gone forth when laxly led | |
| bhiyyo ākirate rajaṁ. | just stirs up dust all the more. | |
| 314 | Akataṁ dukkaṭaṁ seyyo, | A bad deed is better left undone, |
| pacchā tappati dukkaṭaṁ; | for it will plague you later on. | |
| Katañca sukataṁ seyyo, | A good deed is better done, | |
| yaṁ katvā nānutappati. | one that does not plague you. | |
| 315 | Nagaraṁ yathā paccantaṁ, | As a frontier city |
| guttaṁ santarabāhiraṁ; | is guarded inside and out, | |
| Evaṁ gopetha attānaṁ, | so you should ward yourselves— | |
| khaṇo vo mā upaccagā; | don’t let the moment pass you by. | |
| Khaṇātītā hi socanti, | For if you miss your moment | |
| nirayamhi samappitā. | you’ll grieve when sent to hell. | |
| 316 | Alajjitāye lajjanti, | Unashamed of what is shameful, |
| lajjitāye na lajjare; | ashamed of what is not shameful; | |
| Micchādiṭṭhisamādānā, | beings who uphold wrong view | |
| sattā gacchanti duggatiṁ. | go to a bad place. | |
| 317 | Abhaye bhayadassino, | Seeing danger where there is none, |
| bhaye cābhayadassino; | and blind to the actual danger, | |
| Micchādiṭṭhisamādānā, | beings who uphold wrong view | |
| sattā gacchanti duggatiṁ. | go to a bad place. | |
| 318 | Avajje vajjamatino, | Seeing fault where there is none, |
| vajje cāvajjadassino; | and blind to the actual fault, | |
| Micchādiṭṭhisamādānā, | beings who uphold wrong view | |
| sattā gacchanti duggatiṁ. | go to a bad place. | |
| 319 | Vajjañca vajjato ñatvā, | Knowing a fault as a fault |
| avajjañca avajjato; | and the faultless as faultless, | |
| Sammādiṭṭhisamādānā, | beings who uphold right view | |
| sattā gacchanti suggatiṁ. | go to a good place. |
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Questions people ask
What is chapter 22 of the Dhammapada about?
The results of wrong action, and guarding yourself like a well-guarded border city.
Which verses are in Dhammapada chapter 22?
Chapter 22, Hell (Nirayavagga), contains verses 306 to 319.