17. Then the brahmin Janussoṇi approached the Blessed One, exchanged friendly greetings and sat on a side. Then he said to the Blessed One:

Good Gotama, why are certain ones born in decrease, in a bad state in hell after death?

Brahmin, on account of doing and not doing certain ones are born in decrease, in a bad state in hell.

Good Gotama, why are certain ones born in increase, in a good state in heaven after death?

Brahmin, on account of doing and not doing certain ones are born in increase, in a good state in heaven.

Good Gotama, I do not understand this short exposition, good if it is explained to me in detail.

Then brahmin, listen and attend carefully. Brahmin, a certain one, misconducts himself by body and fails to develop the right bodily conduct misconducts himself verbally and fails to develop the right verbal conduct, misconducts himself mentallyand fails to develop the right mental conduct, thus on account of doing and not doing certain ones are born in decrease, in a bad state in hell.

Brahmin, a certain one, develops the right conduct by body, and abstains from misconducting bodily develops the right verbal conduct, and abstains from misconducting verbally, develops the right mental conduct and abstains misconducting mentally, thus on account of doing and not doing certain ones are born in increase, in a good state in heaven.

Good Gotama, I understood, it is like something overturned is reinstated, it is like something is disclosed. It is like the path was told to someone who has lost his way, or like a lamp lighted for the darkness for those who have eyes to see forms. Good Gotama has explained the Teaching in various ways. Now I take refuge in the Blessed One in the Teaching and the Community of bhikkhus. Remember me as a lay disciple, from today until life lasts.