Then the Nigantha Dīgha Tapassi asked The Perfectly Enlightened One:

‘And you, friend Gotama, how many kinds of rod do you describe for the performance of unwholesome action, for the carrying out of unwholesome action?’

Tapassi, The Tathāgata is not accustomed to use the description ‘rod, rod’; The Tathāgata is accustomed to use the description ‘action, action’.

‘But, friend Gotama, how many kinds of action do you describe for the performance of unwholesome action, for the carrying out of unwholesome action?’

Tapassi, I describe three kinds of action for the performance of unwholesome action, for the carrying out of unwholesome action: that is, bodily action, verbal action, and mental action.

‘How then, friend Gotama, is bodily action one, verbal action another, and mental action still another?’

Bodily action is one, Tapassi, verbal action is another, and mental action is still another.

‘Of these three kinds of action, friend Gotama, thus analyzed and distinguished, which kind of action do you describe as the most reprehensible for the performance of unwholesome action, for the carrying out of unwholesome action: bodily action or verbal action or mental action?’

Of these three kinds of action, Tapassi, thus analyzed and distinguished, I describe mental action as the most reprehensible for the performance of unwholesome action, for the carrying out of unwholesome action, and not so much bodily action and verbal action.

‘Do you say mental action, friend Gotama?’