| It.089 | Devadatta Sutta | Bhikkhus, overcome with his mind obsessed by three kinds of wickedness, Devadatta will inevitably go to a state of misery, to hell, for the duration of the aeon. What are the three? Overcome with his mind obsessed by evil desires . . . ; overcome with his mind obsessed by evil friends . . . ; and although there was more that should have been done, he stopped halfway through gaining a trifling attainment of distinction. These, bhikkhus, are the three. Surely no one of evil desires Is born again in this world. Know that he goes to the bourn of those who live in the grip of evil desires. I heard how Devadatta was Regarded as a wise man, One developed in meditation who shone as it were with fame. Having thought himself his equal, He assaulted the Tathagata And went to the four-doored frightful place, Avici the Unremitting Hell. When one plots against an innocent Who has done no evil deed, That evil merely affects the one Corrupt of mind and disrespectful. One who thinks he could pollute The ocean with a pot of poison Would not be able to pollute it - Awesome is that mass of water. It is similar in attacking with abuse The Tathagata who has reached perfection And ever dwells with peaceful mind - Abuse has no effect on him. A wise man should befriend such a one And constantly follow after him. A bhikkhu who goes along his path Can reach the end of suffering. | 45/548 | Itivuttaka | Khuddhaka | It.085 | Devadatta |