an.8.15 Aṅguttara Nikāya (Numbered Discourses)

Stains

“Bhikkhus, there are these eight stains. What eight? (1) Non-recitation is the stain of the hymns. (2) The stain of houses is lack of upkeep. (3) The stain of beauty is laziness. (4) Heedlessness is the stain of a guard. (5) A woman’s stain is misconduct. (6) Miserliness is a donor’s stain. (7) Bad unwholesome qualities are stains in this world and the next. (8) A stain graver than this is ignorance, the very worst of stains. These, bhikkhus, are the eight stains.”

Non-recitation is the stain of the hymns;
the stain of houses is lack of upkeep;
the stain of beauty is laziness,
heedlessness is the stain of a guard.

A woman’s stain is misconduct,
miserliness is a donor’s stain;
bad unwholesome qualities are stains
in this world and the next.
A stain graver than these
is ignorance, the worst of stains.

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

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Stains

Laziness is the stain of beauty.
Negligence is a guard’s stain.
Misconduct is a woman’s stain.
Stinginess is a giver’s stain.
“Mendicants, there are these eight stains.
What eight?
Not reciting is the stain of hymns.
Neglect is the stain of houses.
Bad, unskillful qualities are a stain in this world and the next.
Worse than any of these is ignorance, the worst stain of all.
These are the eight stains.
Not reciting is the stain of hymns.
The stain of houses is neglect.
Laziness is the stain of beauty.
A guard’s stain is negligence.
Misconduct is a woman’s stain.
A giver’s stain is stinginess.
Bad qualities are a stain
in this world and the next.
But a worse stain than these
is ignorance, the worst stain of all.”