On a certain occasion the Exalted One addressed Venerable Sariputta as follows:

"Five in number are the Future States.

"What are the Five?

"Hell, the Animal Kingdom, the Region of the Fathers, the World of Men, the Worlds of the Gods.

"Hell I know, and the road which leads to hell, and the path which leads to hell, and the path which if a man enter upon, he is reborn, upon dissolution of the body, after death, in a state of loss, in a state of suffering, in a state of punishment, in hell,--that too I know.

"The animal kingdom I know, and the road which leads to the animal kingdom, and the path which leads to the animal kingdom, and the path which if a man enter upon, he is reborn, upon dissolution of the body, after death, in the animal kingdom,--that too I know.

"The region of the fathers I know, and the road which leads to the region of the fathers, and the path which leads to the region of the fathers, and the path which if a man enter upon, he is reborn, upon dissolution of the body, after death, in the region of the fathers,--that too I know.

"The world of men I know, and also the road which leads to the world of men, and the path which leads to the world of men, and the path which if a man enter upon, he is reborn, upon dissolution of the body, after death, in the world of men,--that too I know.

"The worlds of the gods I know, and the road which leads to the worlds of the gods, and the path which leads to the worlds of the gods, and the path which if a man enter upon, he is reborn, upon dissolution of the body, after death, in a state of bliss, in a heavenly world,--that too I know.

"Nirvana too I know, and the road which leads to Nirvana, and the path which leads to Nirvana, and the path which if a man enter upon, he dwells, through destruction of the Contaminations, even in this present world, having himself comprehended, realized, entered upon, freedom from the Contaminations, deliverance of the mind, deliverance of the understanding,--that too I know.

"Here in this world, I, embracing mind with mind, with reference to many a man, perceive as follows: Such a path has this man entered upon, and so does he walk, and such a road has he taken, that upon dissolution of the body, after death, he will be reborn in a state of loss, in a state of suffering, in a state of punishment, in hell. And that very man I behold, after a time, with the Heavenly Eye, purified, transcending that of man, upon dissolution of the body, after death, reborn in a state of loss, in a state of suffering, in a state of punishment, in hell, experiencing sharp, bitter sensations of utter pain.

"It is precisely as if there were a pit of red-hot coals, in depth exceeding a man's height, full of red-hot coals, free from flames, free from smoke; and as if a man were to approach, overheated by the heat, overcome by the heat, weary, trembling, thirsty, and were to make a straight course for that very pit of red-hot coals; and as if a man with eyes were to see that man and were to say: 'Such a path has this good man entered upon, and so does he walk, and such a road has he taken, that he will find himself in that very pit of red-hot coals;' and as if he were to behold that very man, after a time, fallen into that pit of red-hot coals, experiencing sharp, bitter sensations of utter pain.

"Precisely so I, here in this world, embracing mind with mind, with reference to many a man, perceive as follows: Such a path has this man entered upon, and so does he walk, and such a road has he taken, that upon dissolution of the body, after death, he will be reborn in a state of loss, in a state of suffering, in a state of punishment, in hell. And that very man I behold, after a time, with the Heavenly Eye, purified, transcending that of man, upon dissolution of the body, after death, reborn in a state of loss, in a state of suffering, in a state of punishment, in hell, experiencing sharp, bitter sensations of utter pain.

"Here in this world, moreover, I...perceive as follows: Such a path has this man entered upon...that...he will be reborn in the animal kingdom. And that very man I behold...reborn in the animal kingdom, experiencing sharp, bitter sensations of pain.

"It is precisely as if there were a dung-pit, in depth exceeding a man's height, full of dung; and as if a man were to approach, overheated by the heat, overcome by the heat, weary, trembling, thirsty, and were to make a straight course for that very dung-pit; and as if a man with eyes were to see that man and were to say: 'Such a path has this good man entered upon, and so does he walk, and such a road has he taken, that he will find himself in that very dung-pit;' and as if he were to behold that very man, after a time, fallen into that dung-pit, experiencing sharp, bitter sensations of pain.

"Precisely so I...perceive...and behold...

"Here in this world, moreover, I...perceive as follows: Such a path has this man entered upon...that...he will be reborn in the region of the fathers. And that very man I behold...reborn in the region of the fathers, experiencing sensations abounding in pain.

"It is precisely as if, on a piece of poor soil, there grew a tree with sparse leaves and foliage, with scanty shade; and as if a man were to approach, overheated by the heat, overcome by the heat, weary, trembling, thirsty, and were to make a straight course for that very tree; and as if a man with eyes were to see that man and were to say: 'Such a path has this good man entered upon, and so does he walk, and such a road has he taken, that he will come to that very tree;' and as if he were to behold that very man, after a time, sitting or lying in the shade of that tree, experiencing sensations abounding in pain.

"Precisely so I...perceive...and behold...

"Here in this world, moreover, I...perceive as follows: Such a path has this man entered upon...that...he will be reborn in the world of men. And that very man I behold...reborn in the world of men, experiencing sensations abounding in pleasure.

"It is precisely as if, on a piece of good soil, there grew a tree with thick leaves and foliage, with ample shade; and as if a man were to approach, overheated by the heat, overcome by the heat, weary, trembling, thirsty, and were to make a straight course for that very tree; and as if a man with eyes were to see that man and were to say: 'Such a path has this good man entered upon, and so does he walk, and such a road has he taken, that he will come to that very tree;' and as if he were to behold that very man, after a time, sitting or lying in the shade of that tree, experiencing sensations abounding in pleasure.

"Precisely so I...perceive...and behold...

"Here in this world, moreover, I...perceive as follows: Such a path has this man entered upon...that...he will be reborn in a state of bliss, in a heavenly world. And that very man I behold...reborn in a state of bliss, in a heavenly world, experiencing sensations of perfect happiness.

"It is precisely as if there were a palace, and in the palace there were a pavilion with bell-shaped pinnacle, plastered within and without, sheltered from the wind, the door-bolts driven home, the windows closed, and in the pavilion there were a couch spread with coverlets, some with long fleeces, some pure white, some woven thickly with flowers, with coverings of the choicest antelope-skins, with a canopy overhead, with red cushions at both ends; and as if a man were to approach, overheated by the heat, overcome by the heat, weary, trembling, thirsty, and were to make a straight course for that very palace; and as if a man with eyes were to see that man and were to say: 'Such a path has this good man entered upon, and so does he walk, and such a road has he taken, that he will come to that very palace;' and as if he were to behold that very man, after a time, in that palace, in that pavilion, sitting or lying on that couch, experiencing sensations of perfect happiness.

"Precisely so I...perceive...and behold...

"Here in this world, I, embracing mind with mind, with reference to many a man, perceive as follows: Such a path has this man entered upon, and so does he walk, and such a road has he taken, that he will dwell, through destruction of the Contaminations, even in this present world, having himself comprehended, realized, entered upon, freedom from the Contaminations, deliverance of the mind, deliverance of the understanding. And that very man I behold, after a time, dwelling, through destruction of the Contaminations, even in this present world, having himself comprehended, realized, entered upon, freedom from the Contaminations, deliverance of the mind, deliverance of the understanding,--experiencing sensations of perfect happiness.

"It is precisely as if there were a lotus-pond, with clear water, with pleasant water, with cool water, transparent, easy of access, full of charm,--and not far off there were a deep forest-grove; and as if a man were to approach, overheated by the heat, overcome by the heat, weary, trembling, thirsty, and were to make a straight course for that very lotus-pond; and as if a man with eyes were to see that man and were to say: 'Such a path has this good man entered upon, and so does he walk, and such a road has he taken, that he will come to that very lotus-pond;' and as if he were to behold that very man, after a time, after plunging into that lotus-pond, after bathing and drinking, having quieted, having overcome, all oppression and weariness and burning, sitting or lying in that forest-grove, experiencing sensations of perfect happiness.

"Precisely so I, here in this world, embracing mind with mind, with reference to many a man, perceive as follows: Such a path has this man entered upon, and so does he walk, and such a road has he taken, that he will dwell, through destruction of the Contaminations, even in this present world, having himself comprehended, realized, entered upon, freedom from the Contaminations, deliverance of the mind, deliverance of the understanding. And that very man I behold, after a time, dwelling, through destruction of the Contaminations, even in this present world, having himself comprehended, realized, entered upon, freedom from the Contaminations, deliverance of the mind, deliverance of the understanding,--experiencing sensations of perfect happiness.

"These, verily, are the Five Future States."