Aṅguttara Nikāya
Pañcaka Nipāta
VI: Nīvaraṇa Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Fives
VI: The Hindrances
Sutta 60
Dutiya Vuḍḍha-Pabbajita Suttaɱ
Hard to Find (b)
Translated by E. M. Hare
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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Once the Exalted One dwelt near Sāvatthī;
and there he addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
'Yes, lord,' they replied; and the Exalted One said:
"Monks, it is hard to find one,
gone forth when old,
endowed with five qualities.
What five?
Monks, it is hard to find one who speaks well,
it is hard to find one who grasps what is easily grasped,
it is hard to find one having the talent to grasp,[1]
it is hard to find one who is a preacher of Dhamma,
it is hard to find one who has the discipline by heart.
Monks, it is hard to find one,
gone forth when old,
endowed with these five qualities.'
[1] Padakkhiṇaggāhī lit. grasping on the right. Comy. dinn'ovādaɱ padakkhiṇato gaṇhanto. The word recurs at A. v, 24, where the Comy. observes: yathā ekacco ovadiyamāno vāmato gaṅhāti paṭippharati vā asuṇanto vā gacchati evaɱ akatvā ovadatha bhante anusāsatha tumhesu anovadantesu ho añño ovadissati ti padakkhiṇaɱ ganhāti. See K.S. ii, 137; below V, § 156.
