At that time, Lady Maya, the Buddha’s mundane mother, reverently brought her palms together in front of her chest and asked Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva: “O Holy One, when sentient beings in Jambudvipa commit various karmic deeds, how different in severity are the deeds? And what kinds of retributions will these sentient beings receive?”

Ksitigarbha answered… “In southern Jambudvipa, the five evil deeds that will attract grave retributions are as follows... Noble Mother, if any sentient beings commit the above-mentioned five sinful deeds, they will certainly fall into the Five Unremitting Hells as a consequence, where they cannot even plead for an instance of relief from the suffering.”