1.1“Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, akusalamūlāni.∥“Mendicants, there are these three unskillful roots.1.2Katamāni tīṇi?What three?1.3Lobho akusalamūlaṁ, doso akusalamūlaṁ, moho akusalamūlaṁ.Greed, hate, and delusion.

2.1Yadapi, bhikkhave, lobho tadapi akusalamūlaṁ;Greed is a root of the unskillful.2.2yadapi luddho abhisaṅkharoti kāyena vācāya manasā tadapi akusalaṁ;When a greedy person chooses to act by way of body, speech, or mind, that too is unskillful.2.3yadapi luddho lobhena abhibhūto pariyādinnacitto parassa asatā dukkhaṁ uppādayati vadhena vā bandhanena vā jāniyā vā garahāya vā pabbājanāya vā balavamhi balattho itipi tadapi akusalaṁ.When a greedy person, overcome by greed, causes another to suffer under a false pretext—by execution or imprisonment or confiscation or condemnation or banishment—thinking ‘I’m powerful, I want power’, that too is unskillful.2.4Itissame lobhajā lobhanidānā lobhasamudayā lobhapaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti.And so these many bad, unskillful things are produced in them, born, sourced, originated, and conditioned by greed.

3.1PTS 1.202Yadapi, bhikkhave, doso tadapi akusalamūlaṁ;Hate is a root of the unskillful.3.2yadapi duṭṭho abhisaṅkharoti kāyena vācāya manasā tadapi akusalaṁ;When a hateful person chooses to act by way of body, speech, or mind, that too is unskillful.3.3yadapi duṭṭho dosena abhibhūto pariyādinnacitto parassa asatā dukkhaṁ uppādayati vadhena vā bandhanena vā jāniyā vā garahāya vā pabbājanāya vā balavamhi balattho itipi tadapi akusalaṁ.When a hateful person, overcome by hate, causes another to suffer under a false pretext—by execution or imprisonment or confiscation or condemnation or banishment—thinking ‘I’m powerful, I want power’, that too is unskillful.3.4Itissame dosajā dosanidānā dosasamudayā dosapaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti.And so these many bad, unskillful things are produced in them, born, sourced, originated, and conditioned by hate.

4.1Yadapi, bhikkhave, moho tadapi akusalamūlaṁ;Delusion is a root of the unskillful.4.2yadapi mūḷho abhisaṅkharoti kāyena vācāya manasā tadapi akusalaṁ;When a deluded person chooses to act by way of body, speech, or mind, that too is unskillful.4.3yadapi mūḷho mohena abhibhūto pariyādinnacitto parassa asatā dukkhaṁ uppādayati vadhena vā bandhanena vā jāniyā vā garahāya vā pabbājanāya vā balavamhi balattho itipi tadapi akusalaṁ.When a deluded person, overcome by delusion, causes another to suffer under a false pretext—by execution or imprisonment or confiscation or condemnation or banishment—thinking ‘I’m powerful, I want power’, that too is unskillful.4.4Itissame mohajā mohanidānā mohasamudayā mohapaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti.And so these many bad, unskillful things are produced in them, born, sourced, originated, and conditioned by delusion.4.5Evarūpo cāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo vuccati akālavādītipi, abhūtavādītipi, anatthavādītipi, adhammavādītipi, avinayavādītipi.Such an individual is said to have speech that’s ill-timed, false, meaningless, not in line with the teaching and training.

5.1Kasmā cāyaṁ, bhikkhave, evarūpo puggalo vuccati akālavādītipi, abhūtavādītipi, anatthavādītipi, adhammavādītipi, avinayavādītipi?Why is this?5.2Tathāhāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo parassa asatā dukkhaṁ uppādayati vadhena vā bandhanena vā jāniyā vā garahāya vā pabbājanāya vā balavamhi balattho itipi.This individual causes another to suffer under a false pretext—by execution or imprisonment or confiscation or condemnation or banishment—thinking ‘I’m powerful, I want power’.5.3Bhūtena kho pana vuccamāno avajānāti, no paṭijānāti;So when someone makes a valid criticism, they’re scornful and admit nothing.5.4abhūtena vuccamāno na ātappaṁ karoti, tassa nibbeṭhanāya itipetaṁ atacchaṁ itipetaṁ abhūtanti.When someone makes a baseless criticism, they make no effort to explain, ‘This is why that’s untrue, this is why that’s false.’5.5Tasmā evarūpo puggalo vuccati akālavādītipi, abhūtavādītipi, anatthavādītipi, adhammavādītipi, avinayavādītipi.That’s why such an individual is said to have speech that’s ill-timed, false, meaningless, not in line with the teaching and training.

6.1Evarūpo, bhikkhave, puggalo lobhajehi pāpakehi akusalehi dhammehi abhibhūto pariyādinnacitto diṭṭhe ceva dhamme dukkhaṁ viharati, savighātaṁ saupāyāsaṁ sapariḷāhaṁ.Such an individual—overcome with bad, unskillful qualities born of greed, hate, and delusion—suffers in this very life, with distress, anguish, and fever.6.2Kāyassa ca bhedā paraṁ maraṇā duggati pāṭikaṅkhā.And when the body breaks up, after death, they can expect to be reborn in a bad place.

7.1PTS 1.203Dosajehi …pe…7.2mohajehi pāpakehi akusalehi dhammehi abhibhūto pariyādinnacitto diṭṭhe ceva dhamme dukkhaṁ viharati, savighātaṁ saupāyāsaṁ sapariḷāhaṁ.7.3Kāyassa ca bhedā paraṁ maraṇā duggati pāṭikaṅkhā.7.4Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, sālo vā dhavo vā phandano vā tīhi māluvālatāhi uddhasto pariyonaddho anayaṁ āpajjati, byasanaṁ āpajjati, anayabyasanaṁ āpajjati;Suppose a sal, axlewood, or sandan tree was choked and enveloped by three camel’s foot creepers. It would fall to ruin and disaster.7.5evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, evarūpo puggalo lobhajehi pāpakehi akusalehi dhammehi abhibhūto pariyādinnacitto diṭṭhe ceva dhamme dukkhaṁ viharati, savighātaṁ saupāyāsaṁ sapariḷāhaṁ.In the same way, such an individual—overcome with bad, unskillful qualities born of greed, hate, and delusion—suffers in this very life, with distress, anguish, and fever.7.6Kāyassa ca bhedā paraṁ maraṇā duggati pāṭikaṅkhā.And when the body breaks up, after death, they can expect to be reborn in a bad place.

8.1Dosajehi …pe…8.2mohajehi pāpakehi akusalehi dhammehi abhibhūto pariyādinnacitto diṭṭhe ceva dhamme dukkhaṁ viharati savighātaṁ saupāyāsaṁ sapariḷāhaṁ.8.3Kāyassa ca bhedā paraṁ maraṇā duggati pāṭikaṅkhā.8.4Imāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi akusalamūlānīti.These are the three unskillful roots.

9.1Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, kusalamūlāni.∥There are these three skillful roots.9.2Katamāni tīṇi?What three?9.3Alobho kusalamūlaṁ, adoso kusalamūlaṁ, amoho kusalamūlaṁ.Contentment, love, and understanding.

10.1Yadapi, bhikkhave, alobho tadapi kusalamūlaṁ;Contentment is a root of the skillful.10.2yadapi aluddho abhisaṅkharoti kāyena vācāya manasā tadapi kusalaṁ;When a contented person chooses to act by way of body, speech, or mind, that too is skillful.10.3yadapi aluddho lobhena anabhibhūto apariyādinnacitto na parassa asatā dukkhaṁ uppādayati vadhena vā bandhanena vā jāniyā vā garahāya vā pabbājanāya vā balavamhi balattho itipi tadapi kusalaṁ.When a contented person, not overcome by greed, doesn’t cause another to suffer under a false pretext—by execution or imprisonment or confiscation or condemnation or banishment—thinking ‘I’m powerful, I want power’, that too is skillful.10.4Itissame alobhajā alobhanidānā alobhasamudayā alobhapaccayā aneke kusalā dhammā sambhavanti.And so these many skillful things are produced in them, born, sourced, originated, and conditioned by contentment.

11.1Yadapi, bhikkhave, adoso tadapi kusalamūlaṁ;Love is a root of the skillful.11.2yadapi aduṭṭho abhisaṅkharoti kāyena vācāya manasā tadapi kusalaṁ;When a loving person chooses to act by way of body, speech, or mind, that too is skillful.11.3yadapi aduṭṭho dosena anabhibhūto apariyādinnacitto na parassa asatā dukkhaṁ uppādayati vadhena vā bandhanena vā jāniyā vā garahāya vā pabbājanāya vā balavamhi balattho itipi tadapi kusalaṁ.When a loving person, not overcome by hate, doesn’t cause another to suffer under a false pretext—by execution or imprisonment or confiscation or condemnation or banishment—thinking ‘I’m powerful, I want power’, that too is skillful.11.4Itissame adosajā adosanidānā adosasamudayā adosapaccayā aneke kusalā dhammā sambhavanti.And so these many skillful things are produced in them, born, sourced, originated, and conditioned by love.

12.1PTS 1.204Yadapi, bhikkhave, amoho tadapi kusalamūlaṁ;Understanding is a root of the skillful.12.2yadapi amūḷho abhisaṅkharoti kāyena vācāya manasā tadapi kusalaṁ;When an understanding person chooses to act by way of body, speech, or mind, that too is skillful.12.3yadapi amūḷho mohena anabhibhūto apariyādinnacitto na parassa asatā dukkhaṁ uppādayati vadhena vā bandhanena vā jāniyā vā garahāya vā pabbājanāya vā balavamhi balattho itipi tadapi kusalaṁ.When an understanding person, not overcome by delusion, doesn’t cause another to suffer under a false pretext—by execution or imprisonment or confiscation or condemnation or banishment—thinking ‘I’m powerful, I want power’, that too is skillful.12.4Itissame amohajā amohanidānā amohasamudayā amohapaccayā aneke kusalā dhammā sambhavanti.And so these many skillful things are produced in them, born, sourced, originated, and conditioned by understanding.12.5Evarūpo cāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo vuccati kālavādītipi, bhūtavādītipi, atthavādītipi, dhammavādītipi, vinayavādītipi.Such an individual is said to have speech that’s well-timed, true, meaningful, in line with the teaching and training.

13.1Kasmā cāyaṁ, bhikkhave, evarūpo puggalo vuccati kālavādītipi, bhūtavādītipi, atthavādītipi, dhammavādītipi, vinayavādītipi?Why is this?13.2Tathāhāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo na parassa asatā dukkhaṁ uppādayati vadhena vā bandhanena vā jāniyā vā garahāya vā pabbājanāya vā balavamhi balattho itipi.This individual doesn’t cause another to suffer under a false pretext—by execution or imprisonment or confiscation or condemnation or banishment—thinking ‘I’m powerful, I want power’.13.3Bhūtena kho pana vuccamāno paṭijānāti no avajānāti;So when someone makes a valid criticism, they admit it and aren’t scornful.13.4abhūtena vuccamāno ātappaṁ karoti tassa nibbeṭhanāya:When someone makes a baseless criticism, they make an effort to explain,13.5‘itipetaṁ atacchaṁ, itipetaṁ abhūtan’ti.‘This is why that’s untrue, this is why that’s false.’13.6Tasmā evarūpo puggalo vuccati kālavādītipi, atthavādītipi, dhammavādītipi, vinayavādītipi.That’s why such an individual is said to have speech that’s well-timed, true, meaningful, in line with the teaching and training.

14.1Evarūpassa, bhikkhave, puggalassa lobhajā pāpakā akusalā dhammā pahīnā ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā.For such an individual, bad unskillful qualities born of greed, hate, and delusion are cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, and unable to arise in the future.14.2Diṭṭheva dhamme sukhaṁ viharati avighātaṁ anupāyāsaṁ apariḷāhaṁ.In this very life they’re happy, free of distress, anguish, and fever,14.3Diṭṭheva dhamme parinibbāyati.and they’re also extinguished in this very life.

15.1PTS 1.205Dosajā …pe…15.2parinibbāyati.15.3Mohajā …pe…15.4parinibbāyati.15.5Seyyathāpi bhikkhave, sālo vā dhavo vā phandano vā tīhi māluvālatāhi uddhasto pariyonaddho.Suppose a sal, axlewood, or sandan tree was choked and enveloped by three camel’s foot creepers.15.6Atha puriso āgaccheyya kudālapiṭakaṁ ādāya.Then along comes a person with a spade and basket.15.7So taṁ māluvālataṁ mūle chindeyya, mūle chetvā palikhaṇeyya, palikhaṇitvā mūlāni uddhareyya, antamaso usīranāḷimattānipi.They’d cut the creeper out by the roots, dig them up, and pull them out, down to the fibers and stems.15.8So taṁ māluvālataṁ khaṇḍākhaṇḍikaṁ chindeyya, khaṇḍākhaṇḍikaṁ chetvā phāleyya, phāletvā sakalikaṁ sakalikaṁ kareyya, sakalikaṁ sakalikaṁ karitvā vātātape visoseyya, vātātape visosetvā agginā ḍaheyya, agginā ḍahitvā masiṁ kareyya, masiṁ karitvā mahāvāte vā ophuṇeyya nadiyā vā sīghasotāya pavāheyya.Then they’d split the creeper apart, cut up the parts, and chop it into splinters. They’d dry the splinters in the wind and sun, burn them with fire, and reduce them to ashes. Then they’d whisk away the ashes in a strong wind, or glide them down a swift stream.15.9Evamassa tā, bhikkhave, māluvālatā ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā.So those camel’s foot creepers would be cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, and obliterated, unable to arise in the future.15.10Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, evarūpassa puggalassa lobhajā pāpakā akusalā dhammā pahīnā ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā.In the same way, for such an individual, bad unskillful qualities born of greed, hate, and delusion are cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, and unable to arise in the future.15.11Diṭṭheva dhamme sukhaṁ viharati avighātaṁ anupāyāsaṁ apariḷāhaṁ.In this very life they’re happy, free of distress, anguish, and fever,15.12Diṭṭheva dhamme parinibbāyati.and they’re also extinguished in this very life.

16.1Dosajā …pe…16.2mohajā pāpakā akusalā dhammā pahīnā ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā.16.3Diṭṭheva dhamme sukhaṁ viharati avighātaṁ anupāyāsaṁ apariḷāhaṁ.16.4Diṭṭheva dhamme parinibbāyati.16.5Imāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi kusalamūlānī”ti.These are the three skillful roots.”

16.6Navamaṁ.