1.1Evaṁ me sutaṁ—So I have heard.1.2ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.1.3Atha kho aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi.Then, late at night, a glorious deity, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and stood to one side.1.4Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho sā devatā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:Standing to one side, that deity addressed the Buddha in verse:

2.1“Parābhavantaṁ purisaṁ,“We ask Gotama¹2.2mayaṁ pucchāma gotama;about a man’s downfall.2.3Bhavantaṁ puṭṭhumāgamma,We have come to ask you, sir:²2.4kiṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”.what leads to downfall?”

3.1“Suvijāno bhavaṁ hoti,“It’s easy to understand success,³3.2suvijāno parābhavo;understanding downfall is just as easy.3.3Dhammakāmo bhavaṁ hoti,One who loves the teaching succeeds,⁴3.4dhammadessī parābhavo”.but a hater of the teaching meets their downfall.”

4.1“Iti hetaṁ vijānāma,“We understand what you’re saying,4.2paṭhamo so parābhavo;this is the first downfall.4.3Dutiyaṁ bhagavā brūhi,Tell us the second, Blessed One:4.4kiṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”.what leads to downfall?”

5.1“Asantassa piyā honti,“The bad are dear to him,5.2sante na kurute piyaṁ;he has no love for the good.5.3Asataṁ dhammaṁ roceti,He believes the teaching of the bad;5.4taṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”.and that leads to his downfall.”

6.1“Iti hetaṁ vijānāma,“We understand what you’re saying,6.2dutiyo so parābhavo;this is the second downfall.6.3Tatiyaṁ bhagavā brūhi,Tell us the third, Blessed One:6.4kiṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”.what leads to downfall?”

7.1“Niddāsīlī sabhāsīlī,“Fond of sleep, fond of company,7.2anuṭṭhātā ca yo naro;a man who does no work;7.3Alaso kodhapaññāṇo,he’s lazy, marked by anger,7.4taṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”.and that leads to his downfall.”

8.1“Iti hetaṁ vijānāma,“We understand what you’re saying,8.2tatiyo so parābhavo;this is the third downfall.8.3Catutthaṁ bhagavā brūhi,Tell us the fourth, Blessed One:8.4kiṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”.what leads to downfall?”

9.1“Yo mātaraṁ pitaraṁ vā,“Though able, he does not look after9.2jiṇṇakaṁ gatayobbanaṁ;his mother and father9.3Pahu santo na bharati,when elderly, past their prime,9.4taṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”.and that leads to his downfall.”

10.1“Iti hetaṁ vijānāma,“We understand what you’re saying,10.2catuttho so parābhavo;this is the fourth downfall.10.3Pañcamaṁ bhagavā brūhi,Tell us the fifth, Blessed One:10.4kiṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”.what leads to downfall?”

11.1“Yo brāhmaṇaṁ samaṇaṁ vā,“He deceives with lies11.2Aññaṁ vāpi vanibbakaṁ;ascetics and brahmins11.3Musāvādena vañceti,and other supplicants,11.4Taṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”.and that leads to his downfall.”

12.1“Iti hetaṁ vijānāma,“We understand what you’re saying,12.2Pañcamo so parābhavo;this is the fifth downfall.12.3Chaṭṭhamaṁ bhagavā brūhi,Tell us the sixth, Blessed One:12.4Kiṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”.what leads to downfall?”

13.1“Pahūtavitto puriso,“A man with plenty of wealth,13.2Sahirañño sabhojano;including gold coin and food,13.3Eko bhuñjati sādūni,eats delicacies alone,13.4Taṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”.and that leads to his downfall.”

14.1“Iti hetaṁ vijānāma,“We understand what you’re saying,14.2Chaṭṭhamo so parābhavo;this is the sixth downfall.14.3Sattamaṁ bhagavā brūhi,Tell us the seventh, Blessed One:14.4Kiṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”.what leads to downfall?”

15.1“Jātitthaddho dhanatthaddho,“Vain of birth, wealth,15.2Gottatthaddho ca yo naro;and clan, a man15.3Saññātiṁ atimaññeti,looks down on his own family,15.4Taṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”.and that leads to his downfall.”

16.1“Iti hetaṁ vijānāma,“We understand what you’re saying,16.2Sattamo so parābhavo;this is the seventh downfall.16.3Aṭṭhamaṁ bhagavā brūhi,Tell us the eighth, Blessed One:16.4Kiṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”.what leads to downfall?”

17.1“Itthidhutto surādhutto,“In womanizing, drinking,17.2Akkhadhutto ca yo naro;and gambling, a man17.3Laddhaṁ laddhaṁ vināseti,wastes all that he has earned,17.4Taṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”.and that leads to his downfall.”

18.1“Iti hetaṁ vijānāma,“We understand what you’re saying,18.2Aṭṭhamo so parābhavo;this is the eighth downfall.18.3Navamaṁ bhagavā brūhi,Tell us the ninth, Blessed One:18.4Kiṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”.what leads to downfall?”

19.1“Sehi dārehi asantuṭṭho,“Not content with his own partners,19.2Vesiyāsu padussati;he debauches himself with prostitutes,⁵19.3Dussati paradāresu,and with others’ partners,19.4Taṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”.and that leads to his downfall.”

20.1“Iti hetaṁ vijānāma,“We understand what you’re saying,20.2Navamo so parābhavo;this is the ninth downfall.20.3Dasamaṁ bhagavā brūhi,Tell us the tenth, Blessed One:20.4Kiṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”.what leads to downfall?”

21.1“Atītayobbano poso,“A man well past his prime21.2Āneti timbarutthaniṁ;marries a girl with budding breasts;21.3Tassā issā na supati,he cannot sleep for jealousy,21.4Taṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”.and that leads to his downfall.”

22.1“Iti hetaṁ vijānāma,“We understand what you’re saying,22.2Dasamo so parābhavo;this is the tenth downfall.22.3Ekādasamaṁ bhagavā brūhi,Tell us the eleventh, Blessed One:22.4Kiṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”.what leads to downfall?”

23.1“Itthiṁ soṇḍiṁ vikiraṇiṁ,“He places in authority23.2Purisaṁ vāpi tādisaṁ;a woman or a man23.3Issariyasmiṁ ṭhapeti,who’s a drunkard and a wastrel,23.4Taṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”.and that leads to his downfall.”

24.1“Iti hetaṁ vijānāma,“We understand what you’re saying,24.2Ekādasamo so parābhavo;this is the eleventh downfall.24.3Dvādasamaṁ bhagavā brūhi,Tell us the twelfth, Blessed One:24.4Kiṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”.what leads to downfall?”

25.1“Appabhogo mahātaṇho,“A man of little wealth and strong craving,25.2Khattiye jāyate kule;born into an aristocratic family,25.3So ca rajjaṁ patthayati,sets his sights on kingship,25.4Taṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ.and that leads to his downfall.

26.1Ete parābhave loke,Seeing these downfalls in the world,26.2Paṇḍito samavekkhiya;an astute and noble person,26.3Ariyo dassanasampanno,accomplished in vision,26.4Sa lokaṁ bhajate sivan”ti.will enjoy a world of grace.”

26.5Parābhavasuttaṁ chaṭṭhaṁ.