I take refuge in the Buddhas of the Three Times, In the teachings spoken by the Perfectly Enlightened Ones.

Always act for the benefit of others, And accumulate all merits and virtues.

If one's body, speech, or mind Creates good or evil karma, The resulting fruit will surely come, without fail, With no separate creator to be found.

The Supreme Guide, having realized the truth, Shows compassion and mercy, Universally explaining to all beings That they will receive results according to their actions.

This teaching accords with true principle; Hearing it, you should accept it. All actions arise from one's own mind, Which becomes the cause for wandering through the six realms.

Driven by the three poisons of fear, Selling the lives of various creatures, Raising them only to kill them for oneself— One will fall into the Reviving Hell. There, for hundreds of thousands of years, They are cut, beaten, and struck with weapons; Dying only to be reborn again, They suffer such retribution.

Bringing harm to parents, friends, or relatives, Engaging in false speech and deceit— One will fall into the Black Rope Hell. Black ropes bind their bodies, Like logs being split in the world; Saws emit blazing flames, And they suffer such retribution.

Using fire to burn mountains, rivers, Forests, trees, and open fields, Harming living beings— One will fall into the Scorching Hell. Flames spread everywhere, burning fiercely, Cries of suffering never cease, Their eyes see nothing but darkness, And they suffer such retribution.

Calling the true Dharma false, Slandering without basis, Causing others distress and agitation— One will fall into the Great Scorching Hell. These sinful beings Are tormented by great fires, Burning without respite, And suffer such retribution.

Killing countless pigs, sheep, foxes, rabbits, And other living creatures— One will fall into the Crushing Hell. Once born in that hell, They endure all kinds of torture, Beaten until they perish, only to revive, And suffer such retribution.

Engaging in evil through body, speech, or mind, Sowing discord and creating division— Such sinful beings Will fall into the Screaming Hell. There, fierce, blazing flames Burn without rest, And they constantly let out terrible screams, Suffering such retribution.

If one steals property from the Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, Or from the poor and needy— One will fall into the Great Screaming Hell. Scorched by fire, They endure the most extreme agony, Letting out fierce, terrible cries, And suffer such retribution.

If one kills parents, teachers, Or virtuous and wise ones with heightened malice— One will certainly fall into the Unceasing Hell. A raging, blazing fire Burns through to their very marrow; For a long time they endure extreme suffering, With no moment of joy at all.

Starting feuds, conflicts, and fights, Harming each other with weapons— After death, they fall into the Copper Claws Hell, Where the claws are extremely sharp, Tearing each other apart, Or turning into blades and clubs, Chopping and stabbing their bodies, Suffering such retribution.

Violently violating others' dignity— Later, they fall into the Iron Spike Hell, Where spikes sixteen fingers long Pierce through flesh and bone. There are also great iron women With flaming teeth, terrifying to behold, Who devour them from head to toe, Suffering such retribution.

If one schemes to harm others, They fall into the Forest of Sword Leaves, Where rabid dogs, vultures, and eagles Chase and compete to devour them.

If one robs others of their wealth, They will endure extreme suffering, Constantly swallowing molten iron balls, And having molten copper poured down their throats.

Harming innocent beings without cause— They will fall into the Iron Eagle Hell, Where sharp talons attack and tear them, Suffering torment for a long time.

If one enjoys injuring and killing The lives of water-dwelling creatures, They later fall into the River of Molten Copper, Boiled by the fires of their karma.

If, out of greed for personal gain, One suppresses and dismisses the good deeds of others, They fall into the Iron Mill Hell, Wailing with no one to save them.

If one brings no benefit to others, They will take on many forms, Crushed between two mountains, Pressed and squeezed repeatedly.

If one spreads false teachings, Destroying bridges of connection, The path becomes one of sharp blades, Forcing them to travel back and forth.

Harming even fleas and lice with armor— They fall between two Ram-Headed Mountains, Beaten to death only to revive, Suffering repeatedly in turn.

Relying on the path of renunciation But failing to uphold the precepts— They fall into the Ember Hell, Where their limbs melt and rot away.

Putting on false airs of dignity, Seeking livelihood through wrong means— They fall into the Corpse and Filth Hell, Devoured by maggots.

Seeing insects among the grains, Crushing them without discrimination— They fall into the Iron Mortar Hell, Where they are constantly pounded and ground.

Taking joy in others' suffering, Deceitful, full of doubt, Always harboring resentment and malice— They become the attendants of Yama.

These are but a brief outline Of the seeds that bear bitter fruit. Purify your body, speech, and mind, And ultimately stay far from them forever.

If a person takes no joy in giving, and even steals the food and drink of others, they will fall among the great-tumor ghosts, forever feeding on filth and waste.

If one obstructs others' generosity, and clings stingily to one's own possessions, they will fall among the needle-mouth ghosts, with swollen bellies, ever hungry and thirsty.

Without heirs, yet hoarding wealth, neither sharing nor enjoying it oneself, they will fall among the destitute ghosts, living only on others' leftover scraps.

Hoping for gifts from others, yet giving little and regretting even that, they will fall among the lowly ghosts, feeding always on spittle and vomit.

Taking pleasure in hearing others' faults, and spreading them with harsh words, they will fall among the flaming-mouth ghosts, enduring long suffering and torment.

Delighting in stirring up strife and conflict, with not a shred of compassion, they will fall among the exhausted ghosts, eating worms and crawling insects.

Extorting wealth from others through fear, and giving little, if at all, of what is gained, they will fall among the hideous ghosts, receiving only meager offerings out of terror.

If one indulges in feasts and revelry, slaughtering many living beings, eating oneself and serving others, they will later fall among the rakshasa ghosts.

Regarding offered incense and flowers, either sniffing them or secretly taking them, even from a slight greedy thought, one later becomes a scent-seeking ghost.

If people honor and serve you, seeking something from you in return, yet you respond with anger, coveting their wealth, you later become a fierce and malicious ghost.

If one delights in arranging marriages for others, acting as a matchmaker, yet later sows discord to break them apart, after death one becomes a wandering ghost.

If one takes pleasure in drinking wine, exceeding limits and becoming wild and drunk, or encourages others to do the same, they later become a yaksha ghost.

If one opposes the wishes of parents, teachers, or elders, they will later be reborn in a yaksha realm, fierce, strong, and prone to violence.

These faults of stinginess and greed constantly give birth among the hungry ghosts. Suffering and joy follow one's own causes— therefore, do not create them again.