…There are some ascetics and brahmins who have this doctrine and view: ‘…Everyone who lies experiences pain and sadness in the present life.’
…But you can see someone, garlanded and adorned, nicely bathed and anointed, hair and beard dressed, taking his pleasure with women as if he were a king. You might ask someone: ‘Mister, what did that man do?’ And they’d reply: ‘Mister, that man amused the king with lies. The king was delighted and gave him this reward. That’s why he’s garlanded and adorned, nicely bathed and anointed, hair and beard dressed, taking his pleasure with women as if he were a king.’
And you can see someone else, his arms tied tightly behind his back with a strong rope. His head is shaven and he’s marched from street to street and from square to square to the beating of a harsh drum. Then he’s taken out the south gate and there, to the south of the city, they chop off his head. You might ask someone: ‘Mister, what did that man do?’ And they’d reply: ‘Mister, that man has ruined a householder or householder’s child by lying. That’s why the rulers arrested him and inflicted such punishment.’
What do you think, chief? Have you seen or heard of such a thing?”
“Sir, we have seen it and heard of it, and we will hear of it again.”
“Since this is so, the ascetics and brahmins whose view is that everyone who lies experiences pain and sadness in the present life: are they right or wrong?”
“They’re wrong, sir.”
“But those who speak hollow, false nonsense: are they moral or immoral?”
“Immoral, sir.”
“And are those who are immoral, of bad character practicing wrongly or rightly?”
“They’re practicing wrongly, sir.”
“And do those who are practicing wrongly have wrong view or right view?”
“They have wrong view, sir.”
“But is it appropriate to have confidence in those of wrong view?”
“No, sir.”…
Read the entire translation of Saṁyutta Nikāya 42.13 Pāṭaliyasutta: With Pāṭaliya Pāṭaliyasutta by Bhikkhu Sujato on SuttaCentral.net. Or read a different translation on SuttaCentral.net. Or listen on SC-Voice.net. Or explore the Pali on DigitalPaliReader.online.