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Aṅguttara Nikāya - The Numerical Discourses

3: The Book of the Threes

XIII. Kusināra — AN 3.132: Etchings

1“Mendicants, these three people are found in the world. What three? A person like a line drawn in stone, a person like a line drawn in sand, and a person like a line drawn in water.

And who is the person like a line drawn in stone? It’s a person who is often angry, and their anger lingers for a long time. It’s like a line drawn in stone, which isn’t quickly worn away by wind and water, but lasts for a long time. In the same way, this person is often angry, and their anger lingers for a long time. This is called a person like a line drawn in stone.

2And who is the person like a line drawn in sand? It’s a person who is often angry, but their anger doesn’t linger long. It’s like a line drawn in sand, which is quickly worn away by wind and water, and doesn’t last long. In the same way, this person is often angry, but their anger doesn’t linger long. This is called a person like a line drawn in sand.

3And who is the person like a line drawn in water? It’s a person who, though spoken to by someone in a rough, harsh, and disagreeable manner, still stays in touch, interacts with, and greets them. It’s like a line drawn in water, which vanishes right away, and doesn’t last long. In the same way, this person, though spoken to by someone in a rough, harsh, and disagreeable manner, still stays in touch, interacts with, and greets them. This is called a person like a line drawn in water.

These are the three people found in the world.”


1"Tayome, bhikkhave, puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ. Katame tayo? Pāsāṇalekhūpamo puggalo, pathavilekhūpamo puggalo, udakalekhūpamo puggalo.

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, pāsāṇalekhūpamo puggalo? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo abhiṇhaṁ kujjhati. So ca khvassa kodho dīgharattaṁ anuseti. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, pāsāṇe lekhā na khippaṁ lujjati vātena vā udakena vā, ciraṭṭhitikā hoti; evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, idhekacco puggalo abhiṇhaṁ kujjhati. So ca khvassa kodho dīgharattaṁ anuseti. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, pāsāṇalekhūpamo puggalo.

2Katamo ca, bhikkhave, pathavilekhūpamo puggalo? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo abhiṇhaṁ kujjhati. So ca khvassa kodho na dīgharattaṁ anuseti. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, pathaviyā lekhā khippaṁ lujjati vātena vā udakena vā, na ciraṭṭhitikā hoti; evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, idhekacco puggalo abhiṇhaṁ kujjhati. So ca khvassa kodho na dīgharattaṁ anuseti. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, pathavilekhūpamo puggalo.

3Katamo ca, bhikkhave, udakalekhūpamo puggalo? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo āgāḷhenapi vuccamāno pharusenapi vuccamāno amanāpenapi vuccamāno sandhiyatimeva saṁsandatimeva sammodatimeva. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, udake lekhā khippaṁyeva paṭivigacchati, na ciraṭṭhitikā hoti; evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, idhekacco puggalo āgāḷhenapi vuccamāno pharusenapi vuccamāno amanāpenapi vuccamāno sandhiyatimeva saṁsandatimeva sammodatimeva. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, udakalekhūpamo puggalo.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmin"ti.


Dasamaṁ.

Kusināravaggo tatiyo.

4Kusinārabhaṇḍanā ceva,
Gotamabharaṇḍuhatthako;
Kaṭuviyaṁ dve anuruddhā,
Paṭicchannaṁ lekhena te dasāti.