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Aṅguttara Nikāya - The Numerical Discourses

4: The Book of the Fours

XXIV. Deeds — AN 4.241: Ascetics

1“‘Only here is there a true ascetic, here a second ascetic, here a third ascetic, and here a fourth ascetic. Other sects are empty of ascetics.’ This, mendicants, is how you should rightly roar your lion’s roar.

2And who is the first ascetic? It’s a mendicant who—with the ending of three fetters—is a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, bound for awakening. This is the first ascetic.

3And who is the second ascetic? It’s a mendicant who—with the ending of three fetters, and the weakening of greed, hate, and delusion—is a once-returner. They come back to this world once only, then make an end of suffering. This is the second ascetic.

4And who is the third ascetic? It’s a mendicant who—with the ending of the five lower fetters—is reborn spontaneously. They’re extinguished there, and are not liable to return from that world. This is the third ascetic.

5And who is the fourth ascetic? It’s a mendicant who realizes the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom in this very life. And they live having realized it with their own insight due to the ending of defilements. This is the fourth ascetic.

6‘Only here is there a true ascetic, here a second ascetic, here a third ascetic, and here a fourth ascetic. Other sects are empty of ascetics.’ This, mendicants, is how you should rightly roar your lion’s roar.”

1"‘Idheva, bhikkhave, paṭhamo samaṇo, idha dutiyo samaṇo, idha tatiyo samaṇo, idha catuttho samaṇo; suññā parappavādā samaṇehi aññehī’ti – evametaṁ, bhikkhave, sammā sīhanādaṁ nadatha.

2Katamo ca, bhikkhave, paṭhamo samaṇo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu tiṇṇaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā sotāpanno hoti avinipātadhammo niyato sambodhiparāyaṇo. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo samaṇo.

3Katamo ca, bhikkhave, dutiyo samaṇo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu tiṇṇaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā rāgadosamohānaṁ tanuttā sakadāgāmī hoti, sakideva imaṁ lokaṁ āgantvā dukkhassantaṁ karoti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo samaṇo.

4Katamo ca, bhikkhave, tatiyo samaṇo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā opapātiko hoti tattha parinibbāyī anāvattidhammo tasmā lokā. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyo samaṇo.

5Katamo ca, bhikkhave, catuttho samaṇo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, catuttho samaṇo.

6‘Idheva, bhikkhave, paṭhamo samaṇo, idha dutiyo samaṇo, idha tatiyo samaṇo, idha catuttho samaṇo; suññā parappavādā samaṇebhi aññehī’ti – evametaṁ, bhikkhave, sammā sīhanādaṁ nadathā"ti.

Dasamaṁ.