Aṇguttara Nikāya
Pañcaka Nipāta
16. Saddhamma Vaggo
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Fives
Chapter XVI: Saddhamma
Sutta 157
Dukkathā Suttaṃ
Ill Talk
Translated by E. M. Hare
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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[1] Thus have I heard:
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, to five persons
talk is ill talk
when the appropriate person is confronted.[1]
Of what five?
Monks, to the faithless
faith-talk is ill talk;
to the virtueless
virtue-talk is ill talk;
to the little learned
learned-talk is ill talk;
to the mean
generosity-talk is ill talk;
to the lack-brain[2]
insight-talk is ill talk.
§
[135] And wherefore, monks, is faith-talk
to the faithless
ill talk?
Monks, the faithless,
when faith-talk is talked,
are roused,[3]
angered,
upset,
made obstinate;
they show temper,
ill-will and sulkiness.
And why?
They perceive no achieving of faith in themselves
and they get no joy and gladness therefrom.
Therefore to the faithless
faith-talk is ill talk.
■
And wherefore, monks, is virtue-talk
to the virtueless
ill talk?
Monks, the virtueless,
when virtue-talk is talked,
are roused,
angered,
upset,
made obstinate;
they show temper,
ill-will and sulkiness.
And why?
They perceive no achieving of virtue in themselves
and they get no joy and gladness therefrom.
Therefore to the virtueless
virtue-talk is ill talk.
■
And wherefore, monks, is learned-talk
to the little learned
ill talk?
Monks, the little learned,
when learned-talk is talked,
are roused,
angered,
upset,
made obstinate;
they show temper,
ill-will and sulkiness.
And why?
They perceive no achieving of learning in themselves
and they get no joy and gladness therefrom.
Therefore to the little learned
learned-talk is ill talk.
■
And wherefore, monks, is generosity-talk
to the mean
ill talk?
Monks, the mean,
when generosity-talk is talked,
are roused,
angered,
upset,
made obstinate;
they show temper,
ill-will and sulkiness.
And why?
They perceive no achieving of generosity in themselves
and they get no joy and gladness therefrom.
Therefore to the mean
generosity-talk is ill talk.
■
And wherefore, monks, is insight-talk
to the lack-brain
ill talk?
Monks, the lack-brain,
when insight-talk is talked,
are roused,
angered,
upset,
made obstinate;
they show temper,
ill-will and sulkiness.
And why?
They perceive no achieving of insight in themselves
and they get no joy and gladness therefrom.
Therefore to the lack-brain
insight-talk is ill talk.
Verily, monks, to these five persons
talk is ill talk
when the appropriate person is confronted.
Monks, to five persons
talk is good talk
when the appropriate person is confronted.
Of what five?
Monks, to the faithful
faith-talk is good talk;
to the virtuous
virtue-talk is good talk;
to the learned
learned-talk is good talk;
to the generous
generosity-talk is good talk;
to the insightful
insight-talk is good talk.
§
And wherefore, monks, is faith-talk
to the faithful
good talk?
Monks, the faithful,
when faith-talk is talked,
are not roused,
not angered,
not upset,
not made obstinate;
they do not show temper,
ill-will or sulkiness.
And why?
They perceive achieving of faith in themselves
and they get joy and gladness therefrom.
Therefore to the faithful
faith-talk is good talk.
■
And wherefore, monks, is virtue-talk
to the virtuous
good talk?
Monks, the virtuous,
when virtue-talk is talked,
are not roused,
not angered,
not upset,
not made obstinate;
they do not show temper,
ill-will or sulkiness.
And why?
They perceive achieving of virtue in themselves
and they get joy and gladness therefrom.
Therefore to the virtuous
virtue-talk is good talk.
■
And wherefore, monks, is learned-talk
to the learned
good talk?
Monks, the learned,
when learned-talk is talked,
are not roused,
not angered,
not upset,
not made obstinate;
they do not show temper,
ill-will or sulkiness.
And why?
They perceive achieving of learning in themselves
and they get joy and gladness therefrom.
Therefore to the learned
learned-talk is good talk.
■
And wherefore, monks, is generosity-talk
to the generous
good talk?
Monks, the generous,
when generosity-talk is talked,
are not roused,
not angered,
not upset,
not made obstinate;
they do not show temper,
ill-will or sulkiness.
And why?
They perceive achieving of generosity in themselves
and they get joy and gladness therefrom.
Therefore to the generous
generosity-talk is good talk.
■
And wherefore, monks, is insight-talk
to the insightful
good talk?
Monks, the insightful,
when insight-talk is talked,
are not roused,
not angered,
not upset,
not made obstinate;
they do not show temper,
ill-will or sulkiness.
And why?
They perceive achieving of insight in themselves
and they get joy and gladness therefrom.
Therefore to the insightful
insight-talk is good talk.
Verily, monks, to these five persons
talk is good talk
when the appropriate person is confronted.
[1] Puggalaṃ puggalaṃ upanidhdya. Comy. taṃ taṃ pnggalaṃ upanikkhipitvā, saklchiṃ katvā.
[2] Duppaññassa, one without insight.
[3] This is stock; Cf. D. iii, 159; A. i, 124; J. iv, 22.
