Aṇguttara-Nikāya
III. Tika Nipāta
XIV. Yodh-ā-jīva Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
or
More-Numbered Suttas
III. The Book of the Threes
XIV. The Fighting-Man
Sutta 138
Assa-Sadassā Suttaṃ
Thoroughbreds
Translated from the Pali by
F.L. Woodward, M.A.
Copyright The Pali Text Society
Commercial Rights Reserved
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[1] THUS HAVE I HEARD
Once the Exalted One was dwelling near Sāvatthī.
There the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," they replied, and the Exalted One said:
"Monks, I will teach you
the three thoroughbreds[1] among steeds
and the three human thoroughbreds.
Do ye listen to it.
Apply your minds earnestly
and I will speak."
"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.
The Exalted One said:
"Now, monks, what are the three thoroughbreds among steeds?
Herein a certain thoroughbred
is gifted with speed,
but not gifted with beauty,
not with gifted good proportions.
Herein also a thoroughbred
is gifted with speed,
gifted with beauty,
but not gifted with good proportions.
Likewise we have a certain thoroughbred
gifted with speed,
gifted with beauty,
and gifted with good proportions.
These are the three sorts of thoroughbred.
■
2. Now, monks, what are the three human thoroughbreds?
Herein we have a certain human thoroughbred
gifted with speed,
but not gifted with beauty,
not with gifted good proportions.
Herein we have a certain human thoroughbred
gifted with speed,
gifted with beauty,
but not gifted with good proportions.
Likewise we have a certain human thoroughbred
gifted with speed,
gifted with beauty,
and gifted with good proportions.
§
3. Now how is a human thoroughbred
gifted with speed
but not gifted with beauty,
not gifted with good proportions?
Herein a monk,
by destroying the five fetters
that bind to the lower worlds,[2]
is reborn spontaneously,
there finally to pass away;
his nature is to return from that world no more.
This I call his 'speed'.
■
But if he be asked a question
about extra doctrine
or extra discipline,
he falters,
he cannot solve it.
This failure I call his 'lack of beauty.'
■
And suppose that he fails to get offerings
of robes and alms-food,
lodging,
extras
and necessary medicines.
This I call his 'lack of good proportions.'
■
Thus we have among men
a thoroughbred gifted with speed,
but not gifted in beauty
and not gifted in good proportions.
§
4. And how is a human thoroughbred[3]
gifted with speed
and gifted with beauty
but not gifted in good proportions?
Herein a monk,
by destroying the five fetters
that bind to the lower worlds,
is reborn spontaneously,
there finally to pass away;
his nature is to return from that world no more.
This I call his 'speed.'
■
When he is put a question
on extra doctrine and extra discipline,
he solves it,
he does not falter.
This I call his 'gift of beauty.'
■
Yet he fails to get offerings
of robes and alms-food,
lodging,
extras
and necessary medicines.
This I call his 'lack of good proportions.'
■
Thus we have among men a thoroughbred
gifted with speed
and gifted with beauty
but not gifted in good proportions
§
[269] 5. And how is a human thoroughbred
gifted with speed
and gifted with beauty
and gifted in good proportions?
Herein a monk,
by destroying the five fetters
that bind to the lower worlds,
is reborn spontaneously,
there finally to pass away;
his nature is to return from that world no more.
This I call his 'speed.'
■
When he is put a question
on extra doctrine and extra discipline,
he solves it,
he does not falter.
This I call his 'gift of beauty.'
■
Herein he does not fail to get offerings
of robes and alms-food,
lodging,
extras
and necessary medicines.
This I call his 'gift of good proportions.'
■
In this way, monks, a thoroughbred among men is
gifted with speed
and gifted with beauty
and gifted in good proportions
These are the three sorts of thoroughbred among men."
[1] Assa-sadassa (sa-d-°, or sat-, sant-assa), much the same as ājānīya.
[2] Orambhāgiya, cf. K.S. v, passim.
[3] Text wrongly adds bhikkhu here.
