諸經要集 13.75

13.75

"The fourth is called divisive speech, harsh speech, false speech, and frivolous speech, slandering the innocent and reviling the Three Honoured Ones. The tongue brings about beatings with staves and also leads to the destruction of one's clan. Upon death one enters hell; the spirits in hell pull out one's tongue and plow it with oxen, pouring molten copper into the mouth; seeking death, it cannot be attained, and only when the sin is exhausted does one emerge. One shall become an animal, constantly eating grass and thorns. If later born as a human, one's words are not believed, the mouth is constantly foul-smelling, and one is frequently subjected to slander and abuse; when lying down, one always has nightmares; having a mouth, one cannot eat the supreme flavor of the Buddha's sūtras. Seeing this, I dare not speak harshly again: this is my fourth teacher." The Buddha thereupon spoke in verse: