So I have heard. Evaṁ me sutaṁ—At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. 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. Atha kho aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Standing to one side, that deity addressed the Buddha in verse: Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho sā devatā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“He deceives with lies “Yo brāhmaṇaṁ samaṇaṁ vā, ascetics and brahmins Aññaṁ vāpi vanibbakaṁ; and other supplicants, Musāvādena vañceti, and that leads to his downfall.” Taṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Parābhavasuttaṁ chaṭṭhaṁ.