Aṇguttara-Nikāya
III. Tika Nipāta
X. Loṇa-Phala Vagga
Sutta 94 [DTO 97]
Paṭhama Ājānīya Suttaṃ
The Thoroughbred
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
Proofed against and modified in accordance with the revised edition at dhammatalks.org
Provenance, terms and conditons
[94][pts] Endowed with three characteristics,
a king's excellent thoroughbred steed
is worthy of a king,
the wealth of a king,
and counts as one of the king's own limbs.
Which three?
There is the case
where a king's excellent thoroughbred steed
is consummate in beauty,
consummate in strength,
and consummate in speed.
Endowed with these three characteristics
is a king's excellent thoroughbred steed
worthy of a king,
the wealth of a king,
and counts as one of the king's own limbs.
"In the same way,
a monk endowed with these three qualities
is deserving of gifts,
deserving of hospitality,
deserving of offerings,
deserving of respect,
an unexcelled field of merit for the world.
Which three?
There is the case
where a monk is consummate in beauty,
consummate in strength,
and consummate in speed.
"And how is a monk consummate in beauty?
There is the case
where a monk is virtuous.
He dwells restrained in accordance with the Pāṭimokkha,
consummate in his behavior and sphere of activity.
He trains himself,
having undertaken the training rules,
seeing danger in the slightest fault.
This is how a monk is consummate in beauty.
"And how is a monk consummate in strength?
There is the case
where a monk keeps his persistence aroused
for abandoning unskillful qualities
and taking on skillful qualities.
He is steadfast,
solid in his effort,
not shirking his duties
with regard to skillful qualities.
This is how a monk is consummate in strength.
"And how is a monk consummate in speed?
There is the case
where a monk discerns as it has come to be that
'This is stress.'
He discerns as it has come to be that
'This is the origination of stress.'
He discerns as it has come to be that
'This is the cessation of stress.'
He discerns as it has come to be that
'This is the path of practice
leading to the cessation of stress.'
This is how a monk is consummate in speed.
"Endowed with these three qualities
is a monk deserving of gifts,
deserving of hospitality,
deserving of offerings,
deserving of respect,
an unexcelled field of merit for the world."
Of Related Interest:
DN 26;
SN 35:153;
SN 47:6–7;
AN 3.81(ii);
AN 4:111;
AN 4:113;
AN 5:139
AN 5.140
AN 8:13;
AN 8:14;
AN 11:10
