法苑珠林 70.18

70.18

故地持論云。無義語罪亦令眾生墮三惡道。若生人中得二種果報。一者所有言語人不信受。二者有所言說不能明了。何故無義語墮於地獄。語既非義事成損彼。所以命終受地獄苦。何故無義語出為畜生。緣語無義人倫理乖。所以出地獄受畜生身。何故無義語復為餓鬼。語無義故慳惑所障。因慳惑故復為餓鬼。何故無義語罪出生為人。有所言語人不信受。緣語無義非可承受。何故無義語有所言說不能明了。語既無義皆緣暗昧。暗昧報故不能明了。當知無義語七大苦也。

Therefore, the Bodhisattvabhūmi-śāstra states: The offense of frivolous speech also causes sentient beings to fall into the three evil destinies. If born among humans, they receive two kinds of retributive fruits: first, whatever words they speak are not believed or accepted by others; second, whatever they say cannot be clearly understood. Why does frivolous speech cause one to fall into hell? Because speech that lacks meaningful purpose causes harm to others in practice; therefore, at the end of life, one suffers the torments of hell. Why does one emerge from hell as an animal due to frivolous speech? Because frivolous speech goes against human propriety and reason; therefore, upon leaving hell, one receives an animal's body. Why does frivolous speech lead further to becoming a hungry ghost? Because frivolous speech is obstructed by the delusion of stinginess; through the delusion of stinginess, one becomes a hungry ghost. Why, as a result of the offense of frivolous speech, when born among humans, are one's words not believed or accepted by others? Because frivolous speech is inherently unworthy of being accepted. Why does frivolous speech result in what one says not being clearly understood? Because frivolous speech stems entirely from ignorance and obscurity; as the retribution of ignorance and obscurity, it cannot be clearly understood. One should know that frivolous speech constitutes the seventh great suffering.