At Sāvatthi. Now on that occasion the monk Kokālika was sick, in pain, and gravely ill. Then, when the night was ending, the independent brahma Tudu, of stunning beauty, lighting the entire Jeta’s garden, went to the monk Kokālika. Having gone, he stood in the air and said to the monk Kokālika: “Place confidence in Sāriputta and Moggallāna, Kokālika. Sāriputta and Moggallāna are well behaved.”
“Who are you, friend?”
“I am the independent brahma Tudu.”
“Didn’t the Blessed One declare you to be a non-returner, friend? Then why have you come back here? See what wrong deed you did.”
Brahma Tudu:
“When a fool takes birth, he has an axe inside his mouth with which the fool cuts himself when speaking harsh words.
“He who praises a person deserving criticism, or criticises a person deserving praise, collects lots of demerit with his mouth. Because of that evil deed, he will never find happiness.
“Insignificant is the unlucky throw at dice that brings the loss of all wealth, including oneself. Worse by far is this unlucky throw of giving rise to hatred toward Liberated Ones.
“The insulter of noble ones, having done evil with speech and mind goes to hell. There he has to suffer for a hundred thousand Nirabbudas and thirty-six more and five Abbudās.”
