Significance of Evil deed
Evil deeds are actions regarded as harmful or immoral across various philosophical and religious teachings, leading to negative consequences for both the individual and others. In Buddhism, they encompass everything from selfish behaviors to harmful actions resulting in bad karma, while Jainism emphasizes moral failures and their repercussions. Similarly, other traditions like Vedanta and Mahayana view evil deeds as detrimental actions that obstruct spiritual progress. Overall, the concept underscores the importance of recognizing and rectifying harmful behaviors to avoid suffering and promote well-being.
Synonyms: Wrongdoing, Immoral act, Wicked deed, Sinful act, Misdeed, Transgression, Sin, Villainy, Malevolence, Crime, Iniquity
In Dutch: Kwade daad; In Finnish: Paha teko; In Spanish: Mala acción; In German: Böse Tat; In Malay: Perbuatan jahat; In Swedish: Ond handling; In French: Mauvaise action; In Swedish: Ond gärning
The below excerpts are indicatory and do represent direct quotations or translations. It is your responsibility to fact check each reference.
Buddhist concept of 'Evil deed'
In Buddhism, "Evil deed" refers to harmful actions that lead to negative consequences and suffering, stemming from morally wrong intentions. Such actions are linked to negative karma and are often influenced by ignorance or malice.
From: Dhammapada (Illustrated)
(1) Actions that are morally wrong, which are easier to perform for an evil individual.[1] (2) Actions Tambadathika committed during his life, which he reflected on after hearing the Dhamma.[2] (3) Actions characterized by immorality and wrongdoing, which lead to a meaningless existence even when lived over a long duration.[3] (4) Actions performed by individuals with an evil disposition, resulting in their suffering in hell and eventual rebirth as ghosts.[4] (5) The negative action that caused Rohini to suffer from leprosy in her current existence, stemming from her jealousy and spite in a past life.[5]
From: Abhidhamma in Daily Life (by Ashin Janakabhivamsa)
(1) The young chief queen suffered consequences for her evil deeds after her wicked actions were revealed.[6] (2) Actions that are morally wrong and caused by malevolent intent, which lead to suffering for oneself and others.[7] (3) Actions that have adverse effects and lead to negative consequences in the present and future existences.[8] (4) Unwholesome actions that lead to suffering for oneself and for others, which virtuous persons feel concerned about.[9] (5) Actions or thoughts that arise from unwholesome mental factors, contributing to the cycle of samsara.[10]
From: Jataka tales [English], Volume 1-6
(1) Evil deeds denote wrongful actions, which are condemned in the narrative, particularly those related to the murder of Sundari.[11] (2) Refers to the harmful actions taken by the brahmin, which ultimately resulted in his misfortune and suffering.[12] (3) Actions committed by wicked individuals who received the moral law but did not abide by it.[13] (4) Refers to the wrongful actions taken by the younger brother as he schemes to cheat his elder brother and possess their father's wealth.[14] (5) The past actions of the yakkha that led to his current form and existence.[15]
From: A Discourse on Paticcasamuppada
(1) A harmful action that brings negative consequences, related to Koka's superstition-driven behavior.[16] (2) Actions taken by the man and others, influenced by attachment to loved ones and desires, often leading to negative consequences.[17] (3) Actions that are considered immoral and harmful; they lead to negative consequences and spiritual detriment.[18] (4) Acts that result in negative kammic outcomes, potentially leading to rebirth in lower worlds.[19] (5) Immoral actions undertaken by individuals who may not believe in the law of kamma or afterlife, resulting in negative consequences.[20]
From: Dhammapada (translated from the Pali)
(1) Actions that are morally wrong and lead to negative consequences in the next world.[21] (2) Actions that are considered morally wrong or harmful, leading one away from virtue and righteousness.[22] (3) Actions that are morally wrong, often unnoticed by the perpetrator but acknowledged as harmful.[23] (4) An action that leads to negative consequences, initially perceived positively by fools until its true effects surface.[24]
From: Maha Buddhavamsa—The Great Chronicle of Buddhas
(1) The harmful action committed by Venerable Moggallana in a previous life that led to his eventual suffering and fate during his last existence.[25] (2) A wrongful action performed by an individual, which in the text results in consequences for the Buddha in his last existence.[26] (3) Actions performed by a person lacking moral virtue that lead to negative consequences and suffering.[27]
From: Vinaya Pitaka (3): Khandhaka
(1) The morally wrong action taken by the brahmin youth that caused him distress and trouble.[28] (2) The act of depriving one's mother of life, which caused the brahmin youth to feel troubled and ashamed.[29]
From: Guide to Tipitaka
(1) Actions that yield unwholesome results, leading to the decline of morality and societal harmony.[30] (2) Actions that lead to negative rebirths and experiences in states like petas.[31]
From: Milindapanha (questions of King Milinda)
(1) Refers to the actions that lead to negative karma, discussed in the context of the consequences that follow the name-and-form after death.[32] (2) Actions that produce negative consequences, often referenced as the cause for suffering and misfortune in one's life.[33]
From: Vinaya (1): The Patimokkha
(1) Actions that are harmful to others, especially in a monastic context where they lead to the suffering of the laity.[34]
From: Cetasikas
(1) Evil deeds refer to harmful actions motivated by akusala citta, leading to negative results like a bad reputation and loss of friends.[35]
From: Patipada (path of practice)
(1) The evil deed is the action that the Upasaka performed which brought the tiger to him, and the Acariya said he must accept blame.[36]
From: The Great Chariot
(1) Actions that are harmful or negative, contributing to the formation of bad karma and the experience of suffering.[37] (2) Actions for which one seeks forgiveness during the practice of meditation.[38] (3) Actions that cause harm, which may lead to suffering not only for the doer but for their loved ones as well.[39] (4) Actions that are harmful to oneself and others, which should be cut off to prevent negative karmic outcomes.[40] (5) The wrong actions committed by individuals, often leading to negative consequences.[41]
From: Apadana commentary (Atthakatha)
(1) A bad action that the banker's daughter committed in her past existence, leading to her present predicament.[42] (2) Refers to the king's recognition of the negative consequences of his actions, particularly the distress caused to others in pursuit of power and sustenance.[43] (3) The act of eating alone and not sharing the meal, which the king reflected upon as negative behavior.[44]
From: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra
(1) Mara's action of influencing the villagers not to give alms, which the Buddha labels as sinful and counterproductive.[45]
From: Lankavatara Sutra
(1) Actions that produce negative karma, often resulting from desires or unethical behavior.[46]
From: Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Purvapranidhana Sutra
(1) Negative actions or behaviors that one may be protected from through faith and offerings to Earth Store Bodhisattva.[47]
From: Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva fundamental vow sutra
(1) Actions committed by sentient beings that lead to negative consequences and suffering in future lives.[48]
From: The Six Yogas of Naropa
(1) Actions that are harmful or ill-intended which should be avoided to prevent negative outcomes.[49]
Hindu concept of 'Evil deed'
In Hinduism, "Evil deed" denotes actions that cause suffering and harm, jeopardize spiritual progress, and invoke negative consequences, ultimately blocking divine grace and leading to punishment, guilt, and unfavorable future experiences.
From: Ramayana of Valmiki (Shastri)
(1) Unwholesome actions committed by King Lomapada that led to adverse conditions like drought.[50] (2) Refers to Bharata's mother's actions that led to the king's death, which Bharata condemns as improper and shameful.[51] (3) An immoral action that brings about negative consequences, particularly associated with Ravana.[52] (4) Refers to the malicious actions of Kaikeyi, which are perceived as the root cause of the people's suffering.[53] (5) The actions committed by Kaikeyi that lead to the unjust banishment of Shri Rama, reflecting themes of betrayal.[54]
From: Ramayana of Valmiki (Griffith)
(1) The term 'evil deeds' refers to the actions that led to someone being cursed, causing them to wear a shape that was abhorred by the world.[55] (2) This phrase describes an action committed by Kaikeyi, which resulted in a series of general wrongs and a state of misery for the prince.[56] (3) Evil deeds are actions that the speaker believes he committed, leading to misery and greater woes, suggesting a sense of guilt and wrongdoing.[57] (4) This refers to the actions of the wicked ones, which are considered wrong and harmful, as the text indicates.[58] (5) Actions that are morally wrong or sinful, often associated with negative consequences.[59]
From: Mahabharata (English)
(1) Actions that are harmful or wrong, resulting in pain and negative consequences.[60] (2) Unvirtuous actions that lead to a poor reputation and a lower status in the afterlife, as described in the teachings shared in the text.[61] (3) A term representing actions that are driven by Darkness, leading to negative consequences and fear, particularly in the context of the rising sun's light.[62] (4) Actions performed with malice or wrongdoing, particularly referring to the actions of the king's son against his own family.[63]
From: Gautami Mahatmya
(1) Refers to the actions of individuals bereft of their fathers and living unvirtuous lives, as expressed by Devapi.[64] (2) Refers to Indra's violent act against Diti's unborn child, which leads to curses and consequences.[65]
From: Devi Bhagavata Purana
(1) A sinful action that results in negative consequences, as discussed in relation to the actions of Narada and Kamsa.[66]
From: Yoga Vasistha [English], Volume 1-4
(1) Actions performed by individuals with ungoverned minds, which result in suffering and unhappiness.[67]
From: Brihaddharma Purana (abridged)
(1) Actions considered wrong but tolerated when committed for the welfare of one’s kinsmen.[68]
From: Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi
(1) Actions considered immoral or wrong, which generate guilt that can be extinguished by the fire of Vedic knowledge.[69] (2) Improprieties in the past that contribute to a king's current state of weakness.[70] (3) Actions that are forbidden and considered morally wrong.[71] (4) Actions regarded as immoral or harmful including theft and robbery, which are not acknowledged as legitimate sources of wealth.[72] (5) Actions stemming from feelings such as love and hatred, classified under the term 'taint,' which can be destroyed by their effects rather than the feelings themselves.[73]
From: Baudhayana Dharmasutra
(1) Actions considered morally wrong or sinful, which require atonement according to sacred law.[74] (2) Actions that are immoral or harmful, from which a Brahmana abstains to achieve fulfillment.[75] (3) Actions considered morally wrong or impure, for which one seeks atonement through purification rituals.[76]
From: Vasistha Dharmasutra
(1) Actions that are considered morally wrong or harmful, resulting in guilt.[77]
From: Brahma Sutras (Shankaracharya)
(1) Actions that are considered wrong or harmful, and the text explains how these can be removed through knowledge.[78] (2) This is something that does not cling to the one who knows Brahman, as stated by the teacher, and is related to the qualities of the person within the eye.[79] (3) The text indicates that the actions that lead to suffering in Samyamana are of a negative nature, indicating wrongdoing.[80] (4) These actions are something from which a person frees themselves, particularly at the time of departing the body, with the destruction of their results being contrary to the outcome of knowledge, leading to their early elimination.[81] (5) Actions that produce negative consequences, and their impact on the individual diminishes once knowledge of Brahman is attained through meditation and contemplation.[82]
From: Brahma Sutras (Ramanuja)
(1) Actions that are morally wrong or harmful, from which individuals seek to detach themselves, particularly at the moment of death.[83] (2) Any action or sin that is considered harmful or negative, which does not affect the one who has acquired knowledge of Brahman.[84] (3) Actions that cause harm and result in negative consequences, as discussed in the context of soul embodiment in plants.[85]
From: Isopanisad (Madhva commentary)
(1) Actions carried out with negative intent that can detract from one's spiritual duties.[86]
From: Taittiriya Upanishad Bhashya Vartika
(1) An action that is morally wrong and results in negative consequences, commonly referred to as 'sin' in the text.[87]
From: Taittiriya Upanishad
(1) Sinful actions that are believed to lead to negative consequences and suffering.[88]
From: Parama Samhita (English translation)
(1) Actions that are detrimental and cause harm, hindering one's spiritual progress and blocking the flow of divine grace.[89] (2) The negative actions that lead to suffering and lower realms, impacting one's state of existence after death.[90] (3) Actions driven by negative intentions, resulting in adverse consequences.[91]
From: Tiruvaymoli (Thiruvaimozhi): English translation
(1) Actions that are morally wrong or sinful, from which the speaker wishes to desist through divine grace.[92] (2) Actions taken by the speaker that stray away from righteousness and contribute to their separation from the divine.[93]
From: Kathasaritsagara (the Ocean of Story)
(1) A wrongful action that brings about negative consequences, cited by the merchant's wife upon realizing the hermit's self-mutilation.[94]
From: Hayanaratna: The Jewel of Annual Astrology
(1) Unfavorable actions or negative outcomes, which are accomplished if the ruler of the sign occupied by the ruler of the ascendant occupies its fall, is heliacally set, or occupies a malefic sign.[95]
Jain concept of 'Evil deed'
In Jainism, "Evil deed" encompasses harmful actions rooted in malice, considered sinful and detrimental both in this life and the afterlife. It emphasizes the moral consequences of wrongdoing and the peril of persistent immoral behavior.
From: Naladiyar
(1) Actions that have negative effects, replacing the absence of good deeds when their effects are exhausted.[96] (2) Actions characterized by wrongdoing or immoral behavior that are consistently practiced by the ignorant.[97] (3) Actions that lead to one's downfall, illustrating that even those in high positions can suffer due to their actions.[98]
From: Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra
(1) The harmful action performed by Pingala in a former birth which affects his current decisions.[99]
From: Tattvartha Sutra (with commentary)
(1) These deeds are known as ashubha and are similarly accumulated in the regions of labour.[100]
From: Uttaradhyayana Sutra
(1) Actions that are morally wrong or harmful, typically committed for personal gain.[101]
From: Sutrakritanga (English translation)
(1) Actions committed with malice or harm, considered sinful and leading to severe consequences in the afterlife.[102]
The concept of Evil deed in local and regional sources
The keyphrase "Evil deed" encompasses actions deemed morally wrong, causing suffering and obstructing spiritual understanding. Such deeds reflect poor karma and lead to negative consequences, highlighting the need for self-responsibility and the potential for redemption through higher power.
From: The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda
(1) These are the deeds which contract the real natural knowledge and purity of the soul, and make the soul contracted.[103] (2) The actions that will cause the group to sink in bad odours, indicating the negative consequences of certain actions.[104] (3) This refers to an action that is considered morally wrong or harmful, as the text suggests.[105] (4) These are actions that are considered morally wrong or harmful, which can obscure the infinite wisdom within the human soul, as mentioned in the text.[106] (5) He who is continuously doing evil deeds, he whose mind is not calm, he who cannot meditates he who is always disturbed and fickle � he cannot understand and realise this Atman who has entered the cave of the heart, showing the effects of a disturbed mind.[107]
From: Triveni Journal
(1) Actions that are morally wrong and contribute to suffering in the present life, attributed to past karma.[108] (2) Wrongful acts or behaviors that are removed or eradicated by a higher power.[109]
From: Bhaktavijaya: Stories of Indian Saints
(1) Actions characterized by immorality, which the tiger repented and renounced after divine instruction.[110]
From: Folklore of the Santal Parganas
(1) The wrongful actions performed by Lita's wife when she decided to elope with her former lover.[111]