Light/Dark

Aṅguttara Nikāya - The Numerical Discourses

5: The Book of the Fives

1“Mendicants, you shouldn’t take an ascetic with five qualities to follow behind on almsround. What five? They walk too far away or too close behind. They don’t take your bowl when it’s full. They don’t warn you when your speech is bordering on an offense. They keep on interrupting while you’re speaking. And they’re witless, dull, and stupid. You shouldn’t take an ascetic with these five qualities to follow behind on almsround.

2You should take an ascetic with five qualities to follow behind on almsround. What five? They don’t walk too far away or too close behind. They take your bowl when it is full. They warn you when your speech is bordering on an offense. They don’t interrupt while you’re speaking. And they’re wise, bright, and clever. You should take an ascetic with these five qualities to follow behind on almsround.”

1"Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato pacchāsamaṇo na ādātabbo. Katamehi pañcahi? Atidūre vā gacchati accāsanne vā, na pattapariyāpannaṁ gaṇhati, āpattisāmantā bhaṇamānaṁ na nivāreti, bhaṇamānassa antarantarā kathaṁ opāteti, duppañño hoti jaḷo eḷamūgo. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato pacchāsamaṇo na ādātabbo.

2Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato pacchāsamaṇo ādātabbo. Katamehi pañcahi? Nātidūre gacchati na accāsanne, pattapariyāpannaṁ gaṇhati, āpattisāmantā bhaṇamānaṁ nivāreti, bhaṇamānassa na antarantarā kathaṁ opāteti, paññavā hoti ajaḷo aneḷamūgo. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato pacchāsamaṇo ādātabbo"ti.

Dutiyaṁ.