Pathikasutta 2.19.1-22

There are some ascetics and brahmins who describe the origin of the world in their denomination as due to those who are malevolent.

I go up to them and say,

‘Is it really true that this is the venerables’ view?’

And they answer, ‘Yes’.

I say to them,

‘But how do you describe in your denomination that the origin of the world came about due to those who are malevolent?’

But they are stumped by my question, and they even question me in return.

So I answer them,

‘Reverends, there are gods named “malevolent”. They spend too much time gazing at each other, so they grow angry with each other, and their bodies and minds get tired. They pass away from that host of gods.

It’s possible that one of those beings passes away from that host and is reborn in this place.

Having done so, they go forth from the lay life to homelessness.

By dint of keen, resolute, committed, and diligent effort, and right application of mind, they experience an immersion of the heart of such a kind that they recollect that past life, but no further.

They say,

“The gods who are not malevolent don’t spend too much time gazing at each other, so they don’t grow angry with each other, their bodies and minds don’t get tired, and they don’t pass away from that host of gods.

They are permanent, everlasting, eternal, imperishable, remaining the same for all eternity.

But we who were malevolent spent too much time gazing at each other, so our minds grew angry with each other, our bodies and minds got tired, and we passed away from that host of gods.

We are impermanent, not lasting, short-lived, liable to pass away, and have come to this place.”

Is this how you describe in your denomination that the origin of the world came about due to those who are malevolent?’

They say,

‘That is what we have heard, Reverend Gotama, just as you say.’

Bhaggava, I understand the origin of the world.

Directly knowing this, the Realized One does not come to ruin.