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Aṅguttara Nikāya - The Numerical Discourses

4: The Book of the Fours

X. Demons — AN 4.91: Demons

1“Mendicants, these four people are found in the world. What four?

  1. A demon surrounded by demons,
  2. a demon surrounded by gods,
  3. a god surrounded by demons, and
  4. a god surrounded by gods.

2And how is a person a demon surrounded by demons? It’s when a person is unethical, of bad character, and their followers are the same. That’s how a person is a demon surrounded by demons.

3And how is a person a demon surrounded by gods? It’s when a person is unethical, of bad character, but their followers are ethical, of good character. That’s how a person is a demon surrounded by gods.

4And how is a person a god surrounded by demons? It’s when a person is ethical, of good character, but their followers are unethical, of bad character. That’s how a person is a god surrounded by demons.

5And how is a person a god surrounded by gods? It’s when a person is ethical, of good character, and their followers are the same. That’s how a person is a god surrounded by gods.

These are the four people found in the world.”

1"Cattārome, bhikkhave, puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ. Katame cattāro?

Asuro asuraparivāro,

asuro devaparivāro,

devo asuraparivāro,

devo devaparivāro.

2Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo asuro hoti asuraparivāro? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo dussīlo hoti pāpadhammo, parisāpissa hoti dussīlā pāpadhammā. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo asuro hoti asuraparivāro.

3Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo asuro hoti devaparivāro? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo dussīlo hoti pāpadhammo, parisā ca khvassa hoti sīlavatī kalyāṇadhammā. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo asuro hoti devaparivāro.

4Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo devo hoti asuraparivāro? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo sīlavā hoti kalyāṇadhammo, parisā ca khvassa hoti dussīlā pāpadhammā. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo devo hoti asuraparivāro.

5Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo devo hoti devaparivāro? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo sīlavā hoti kalyāṇadhammo, parisāpissa hoti sīlavatī kalyāṇadhammā. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo devo hoti, devaparivāro.

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

Paṭhamaṁ.