Visuddhimagga XVII-39

 Duggatigāmino hi kammassa visesahetu avijjā.

即（一）无明是至恶趣的业的特别原因，

Ñ(XVII,39): Ignorance is an outstanding cause of kamma that leads to unhappy destinies.

Kasmā?

何以故？

Ñ: Why?

Yasmā avijjābhibhūto puthujjano aggisantāpalaguḷābhighātaparissamābhibhūtā vajjhagāvī tāya parissamāturatāya nirassādampi attano anatthāvahampi ca uṇhodakapānaṃ viya kilesasantāpato nirassādampi duggatinipātanato ca attano anatthāvahampi pāṇātipātādiṃ anekappakāraṃ duggatigāmikammaṃ ārabhati.

因为给无明所克制的凡夫，而造杀生等种种至恶趣的业，那是有烦恼的热苦而无乐味，并且会堕恶趣而对自己是不利的；譬如因为给火所烧为棍所打而逼使力竭的屠牛，饮了热水一样，那是痛苦而无乐味，并对自己是不利的。

Ñ: Because, just as when a cow to be slaughtered is in the grip of the torment of burning with fire and belabouring with cudgels, and being crazed with torment, she drinks the hot water although it gives no satisfaction and does her harm, so the ordinary man who is in the grip of ignorance performs kamma of the various kinds beginning with killing living things that leads to unhappy destinies, although it gives no satisfaction because of the burning of defilements and does him harm because it casts him into an unhappy destiny.