This discourse was taught by the Blessed One, taught by the Arahant, the fully enlightened Supreme Buddha. This is as I heard:
“Monks, there are two bright wholesome qualities that control the world. What are the two? Shame of wrongdoing and fear of wrongdoing. If, monks, those two bright wholesome qualities did not control the world, there would not be any concern as to ‘this is my mother,’ ‘this is my aunt,’ ‘this is my uncle’s wife,’ ‘this is my teacher’s wife,’ or ‘these are wives of other honoured persons.’ Relationships in the world would completely turn upside down, and people would live like goats, sheep, chickens, pigs, dogs, and jackals. But, monks, because these two bright wholesome qualities control the world, there is concern that ‘this is my mother,’ ‘this is my aunt,’ ‘this is my uncle’s wife,’ ‘this is my teacher’s wife,’ or ‘these are wives of other honoured persons.’”
This is the meaning of what the Blessed One said. So, with regard to this, it was said:
Those who do not have shame and fear of wrongdoing have cut off the roots of wholesomeness and are heading towards repeated births and deaths.
But those peaceful ones who are well established in shame and fear of wrongdoing are matured in the Buddha’s path, and they will put an end to repeated existence.
This, too, is the meaning of what was said by the Blessed One. This is exactly as I heard.
