Puggala-Paññatti
Dessignation of Human Types
Division of human Types by Four
§ 19
Translated from the Pali by Bimala Charan Law, M.A., B.L.
© The Pali Text Society
19. How does a person remain in the dark and tend towards darkness?[1]
Here a person born in a family of low degree, be it of Candalas, or of Nesadas, or of basket-weavers, or of chariot [71] makers, or of Pukkusas, poor, ill-fed, in straitened circumstances, where victuals are obtained with difficulty, is swarthy, ill-featured, hunch-backed, a prey to many diseases, purblind, or with a crooked hand, lame or paralysed, one who receives neither food nor drink, nor raiment, nor conveyances, nor wreaths, perfumes and unguents, nor bed, dwelling, and light; he is an evil doer in deed, word, and thought, he having been an evil doer in deed, word, and thought, is reborn at the disintegration of the body after death in misery, to woeful doom, to disaster. Thus does a person remain in the dark and tend towards darkness.
How does a person who is in the dark tend towards light?[2]
Here a person born in a family of low degree, be it of Candalas, or of Nesadas, or of basket-weavers, or of chariot makers, or of Pukkusas, poor, ill-fed, in straitened circumstances, where victuals are obtained with difficulty, is swarthy, ill-featured, hunch-backed, a prey to many diseases, purblind, or with a crooked hand, lame or paralysed, one who receives neither food nor drink, nor raiment, nor conveyances, nor wreaths, perfumes and unguents, nor bed, dwelling, and light; he is a well-doer in deed, word, and thought, he having been a well-doer in deed, word, and thought, is reborn at the disintegration of the body after death to a happy destiny in the bright worlds. Thus does a person who is in the dark tend towards light.
How does a person who is in the light tend towards darkness?
Here a person who is reborn into a family of high degree, be it eminently noble or of a brahmin magnate, or of a householder of high position, rich, of enormous wealth, owner of abundant objects of enjoyment, having ample hoards of gold and silver, having ample aids to enjoyment, ample stores of money and corn, is handsome, fair-looking, charming, endowed with the most exquisite complexion, the recipient of food, drink, raiment, means of transport, wreaths, perfumes [72] and unguents, bed, dwelling, and light; he is an evil-doer in deed, word, and thought, he having been an evil-doer in deed, word, and thought, is reborn at the disintegration of the body alter death, in misery, to woeful doom, to disaster. Thus does a person who is in the light tend towards darkness.
How does a 'person who is in the light tend totoards light?
Here a person who is reborn into a family of high degree, be it eminently noble or of a brahmin magnate, or of a householder of high position, rich, of enormous wealth, owner of abundant objects of enjoyment, having ample hoards of gold and silver, having ample aids to enjoyment, ample stores of money and corn, is handsome, fair-looking, charming, endowed with the most exquisite complexion, the recipient of food, drink, raiment, means of transport, wreaths, perfumes, unguents, bed, dwelling, and light; he is a well-doer in deed, word, and thought, he having been a well-doer in deed, word, and thought, is reborn at the disintegration of the body after death to a happy destiny in the bright worlds. Thus does a person who is in the light proceed towards light.
§ 20
20. How does a 'person stoop down and remain unprogressive? How does a person stoop down but remain progressive? How does a person who is prosperous remain unprogressive? How does a person who is prosperous remain progressive?
These four types correspond respectively to the above four.
[1] Cf. The Book of the Kindred Sayings, i, by Mrs. Rhys Davids, pp. 118-119. [SN 2.3.21] "They are joined to darkness and fare to darkness." Cf. also Angultara Nikaya, vol. ii, p. 85. "Kathañ ca bhikkhave puggalo tamo hoti tamaparāyano?"
[2] Cf. op. cit. i, p. 119 f. "They that are joined to darkness and fare to light." Cf. also Aṇguttara Nikāya, ii, p. 85 f. "Kathañ ca bhikkhave puggalo tamo hoti jotiparāyano?"
References:
