Aṅguttara Nikāya
IV. Catukka Nipāta
I. Bhaṇḍagāma Vagga
The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha
IV. The Book of the Fours
I. Bhaṇḍagāma
Sutta 3
Paṭhama Khata Suttaɱ
Maimed (1)
Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi.
© 2012 Bhikkhu Bodhi
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[1][pts]. "Bhikkhus, possessing four qualities, the foolish, incompetent, bad person maintains himself in a maimed and injured condition; he is blameworthy [3] and subject to reproach by the wise; and he generates much demerit.
What four?
(1) "Without investigating and scrutinizing, he speaks praise of one who deserves dispraise.
(2) Without investigating and scrutinizing, he speaks dispraise of one who deserves praise.
[389](3) Without investigating and scrutinizing, he believes a matter that merits suspicion.
(4) Without investigating and scrutinizing, he is suspicious about a matter that merits belief.
Possessing these four qualities, the foolish, incompetent, bad person maintains himself in a maimed and injured condition; he is blameworthy and subject to reproach by the wise; and he generates much demerit.
"Bhikkhus, possessing four qualities, the wise, competent, good person preserves himself unmaimed and uninjured; he is blameless and beyond reproach by the wise; and he generates much merit.
What four?
(1) "Having investigated and scrutinized, he speaks dispraise of one who deserves dispraise.
(2) Having investigated and scrutinized, he speaks praise of one who deserves praise.
(3) Having investigated and scrutinized, he is suspicious about a matter that merits suspicion.
(4) Having investigated and scrutinized, he believes a matter that merits belief.
Possessing these four qualities, the wise, competent, good person preserves himself unmaimed and uninjured; he is blameless and beyond reproach by the wise; and he generates much merit."
He who praises one deserving blame,
or blames one deserving praise,
casts with his mouth an unlucky throw
by which he finds no happiness.
Slight is the unlucky throw at dice
that results in the loss of one's wealth,
[the loss] of all, oneself included;
much worse is this unlucky throw
of harboring hate against the fortunate ones.
For a hundred thousand and thirty-six
nirabbudas, plus five abbudas,
[4] the slanderer of noble ones goes to hell,
having defamed them with evil speech and mind.
