1So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in the Eastern Monastery, the stilt longhouse of Migāra’s mother.

Now, at that time it was the sabbath — the full moon on the fifteenth day — and the Buddha was sitting in the open surrounded by the Saṅgha of monks. Then the Buddha looked around the Saṅgha of monks, who were so very silent. He addressed them: “Mendicants, could a bad person know of a bad person: ‘This fellow is a bad person’?”

“No, sir.”

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2“Good, mendicants! It’s impossible, it can’t happen, that a bad person could know of a bad person: ‘This fellow is a bad person.’ But could a bad person know of a good person: ‘This fellow is a good person’?”

“No, sir.”

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3“Good, mendicants! That too is impossible. A bad person has bad qualities, associates with bad people, and has the intentions, counsel, speech, actions, views, and giving of a bad person.

And how does a bad person have bad qualities? It’s when a bad person is faithless, shameless, imprudent, uneducated, lazy, unmindful, and witless. That’s how a bad person has bad qualities.

4And how does a bad person associate with bad people? It’s when a bad person is a friend and companion of ascetics and brahmins who are faithless, shameless, imprudent, uneducated, lazy, unmindful, and witless. That’s how a bad person associates with bad people.

5And how does a bad person have the intentions of a bad person? It’s when a bad person intends to hurt themselves, hurt others, and hurt both. That’s how a bad person has the intentions of a bad person.

6And how does a bad person offer the counsel of a bad person? It’s when a bad person offers counsel that hurts themselves, hurts others, and hurts both. That’s how a bad person offers the counsel of a bad person.

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8And how does a bad person have the speech of a bad person? It’s when a bad person uses speech that’s false, divisive, harsh, and nonsensical. That’s how a bad person has the speech of a bad person.

9And how does a bad person have the action of a bad person? It’s when a bad person kills living creatures, steals, and commits sexual misconduct. That’s how a bad person has the actions of a bad person.

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10And how does a bad person have the view of a bad person? It’s when a bad person has such a view: ‘There’s no meaning in giving, sacrifice, or offerings. There’s no fruit or result of good and bad deeds. There’s no afterlife. There’s no obligation to mother and father. No beings are reborn spontaneously. And there’s no ascetic or brahmin who is well attained and practiced, and who describes the afterlife after realizing it with their own insight.’ That’s how a bad person has the view of a bad person.

11And how does a bad person give the gifts of a bad person? It’s when a bad person gives a gift carelessly, not with their own hand, and thoughtlessly. They give the dregs, and they give without consideration for consequences. That’s how a bad person gives the gifts of a bad person.

12That bad person — who has such bad qualities, frequents bad people, and has the intentions, counsel, speech, actions, views, and giving of a bad person — when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in the place where bad people are reborn. And what is the place where bad people are reborn? Hell or the animal realm.

13Mendicants, could a good person know of a good person: ‘This fellow is a good person’?”

“Yes, sir.”

14“Good, mendicants! It is possible that a good person could know of a good person: ‘This fellow is a good person.’ But could a good person know of a bad person: ‘This fellow is a bad person’?”

“Yes, sir.”

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15“Good, mendicants! That too is possible. A good person has good qualities, associates with good people, and has the intentions, counsel, speech, actions, views, and giving of a good person.

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16And how does a good person have good qualities? It’s when a good person is faithful, conscientious, prudent, learned, energetic, mindful, and wise. That’s how a good person has good qualities.

17And how does a good person associate with good people? It’s when a good person is a friend and companion of ascetics and brahmins who are faithful, conscientious, prudent, learned, energetic, mindful, and wise. That’s how a good person associates with good people.

18And how does a good person have the intentions of a good person? It’s when a good person doesn’t intend to hurt themselves, hurt others, and hurt both. That’s how a good person has the intentions of a good person.

19And how does a good person offer the counsel of a good person? It’s when a good person offers counsel that doesn’t hurt themselves, hurt others, and hurt both. That’s how a good person offers the counsel of a good person.

20And how does a good person have the speech of a good person? It’s when a good person refrains from speech that’s false, divisive, harsh, or nonsensical. That’s how a good person has the speech of a good person.

21And how does a good person have the action of a good person? It’s when a good person refrains from killing living creatures, stealing, and committing sexual misconduct. That’s how a good person has the action of a good person.

22And how does a good person have the view of a good person? It’s when a good person has such a view: ‘There is meaning in giving, sacrifice, and offerings. There are fruits and results of good and bad deeds. There is an afterlife. There are duties to mother and father. There are beings reborn spontaneously. And there are ascetics and brahmins who are well attained and practiced, and who describe the afterlife after realizing it with their own insight.’ That’s how a good person has the view of a good person.

23And how does a good person give the gifts of a good person? It’s when a good person gives a gift carefully, with their own hand, and thoughtfully. They don’t give the dregs, and they give with consideration for consequences. That’s how a good person gives the gifts of a good person.

24That good person — who has such good qualities, associates with good people, and has the intentions, counsel, speech, actions, views, and giving of a good person — when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in the place where good people are reborn. And what is the place where good people are reborn? A state of greatness among gods or humans.”

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25That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, the mendicants were happy with what the Buddha said.

1Evaṁ me sutaṁ — ​ ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati pubbārāme migāramātupāsāde.

Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā tadahuposathe pannarase puṇṇāya puṇṇamāya rattiyā bhikkhusaṅghaparivuto abbhokāse nisinno hoti. Atha kho bhagavā tuṇhībhūtaṁ tuṇhībhūtaṁ bhikkhusaṅghaṁ anuviloketvā bhikkhū āmantesi:

"jāneyya nu kho, bhikkhave, asappuriso asappurisaṁ: ‘asappuriso ayaṁ bhavan’"ti?

"No hetaṁ, bhante".

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2"Sādhu, bhikkhave; aṭṭhānametaṁ, bhikkhave, anavakāso yaṁ asappuriso asappurisaṁ jāneyya: ‘asappuriso ayaṁ bhavan’ti. Jāneyya pana, bhikkhave, asappuriso sappurisaṁ: ‘sappuriso ayaṁ bhavan’"ti?

"No hetaṁ, bhante".

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3"Sādhu, bhikkhave; etampi kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhānaṁ anavakāso yaṁ asappuriso sappurisaṁ jāneyya: ‘sappuriso ayaṁ bhavan’ti.

Asappuriso, bhikkhave, assaddhammasamannāgato hoti, asappurisabhatti hoti, asappurisacintī hoti, asappurisamantī hoti, asappurisavāco hoti, asappurisakammanto hoti, asappurisadiṭṭhi hoti; asappurisadānaṁ deti.

4Kathañca, bhikkhave, asappuriso assaddhammasamannāgato hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, asappuriso assaddho hoti, ahiriko hoti, anottappī hoti, appassuto hoti, kusīto hoti, muṭṭhassati hoti, duppañño hoti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, asappuriso assaddhammasamannāgato hoti. (1)

5Kathañca, bhikkhave, asappuriso asappurisabhatti hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, asappurisassa ye te samaṇabrāhmaṇā assaddhā ahirikā anottappino appassutā kusītā muṭṭhassatino duppaññā tyāssa mittā honti te sahāyā. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, asappuriso asappurisabhatti hoti. (2)

6Kathañca, bhikkhave, asappuriso asappurisacintī hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, asappuriso attabyābādhāyapi ceteti, parabyābādhāyapi ceteti, ubhayabyābādhāyapi ceteti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, asappuriso asappurisacintī hoti. (3)

7Kathañca, bhikkhave, asappuriso asappurisamantī hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, asappuriso attabyābādhāyapi manteti, parabyābādhāyapi manteti, ubhayabyābādhāyapi manteti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, asappuriso asappurisamantī hoti. (4)

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8Kathañca, bhikkhave, asappuriso asappurisavāco hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, asappuriso musāvādī hoti, pisuṇavāco hoti, pharusavāco hoti, samphappalāpī hoti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, asappuriso asappurisavāco hoti. (5)

9Kathañca, bhikkhave, asappuriso asappurisakammanto hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, asappuriso pāṇātipātī hoti, adinnādāyī hoti, kāmesumicchācārī hoti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, asappuriso asappurisakammanto hoti. (6)

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10Kathañca, bhikkhave, asappuriso asappurisadiṭṭhi hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, asappuriso evaṁdiṭṭhi hoti: ‘Natthi dinnaṁ, natthi yiṭṭhaṁ, natthi hutaṁ, natthi sukatadukkaṭānaṁ kammānaṁ phalaṁ vipāko, natthi ayaṁ loko, natthi paro loko, natthi mātā, natthi pitā, natthi sattā opapātikā, natthi loke samaṇabrāhmaṇā sammaggatā sammāpaṭipannā, ye imañca lokaṁ parañca lokaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā pavedentī’ti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, asappuriso asappurisadiṭṭhi hoti. (7)

11Kathañca, bhikkhave, asappuriso asappurisadānaṁ deti? Idha, bhikkhave, asappuriso asakkaccaṁ dānaṁ deti, asahatthā dānaṁ deti, acittīkatvā dānaṁ deti, apaviṭṭhaṁ dānaṁ deti anāgamanadiṭṭhiko dānaṁ deti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, asappuriso asappurisadānaṁ deti.

12So, bhikkhave, asappuriso evaṁ assaddhammasamannāgato, evaṁ asappurisabhatti, evaṁ asappurisacintī, evaṁ asappurisamantī, evaṁ asappurisavāco, evaṁ asappurisakammanto, evaṁ asappurisadiṭṭhi; evaṁ asappurisadānaṁ datvā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā yā asappurisānaṁ gati tattha upapajjati. Kā ca, bhikkhave, asappurisānaṁ gati? Nirayo vā tiracchānayoni vā.

13Jāneyya nu kho, bhikkhave, sappuriso sappurisaṁ: ‘sappuriso ayaṁ bhavan’"ti?

"Evaṁ, bhante".

14"Sādhu, bhikkhave; ṭhānametaṁ, bhikkhave, vijjati yaṁ sappuriso sappurisaṁ jāneyya: ‘sappuriso ayaṁ bhavan’ti. Jāneyya pana, bhikkhave, sappuriso asappurisaṁ: ‘asappuriso ayaṁ bhavan’"ti?

"Evaṁ, bhante".

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15"Sādhu, bhikkhave; etampi kho, bhikkhave, ṭhānaṁ vijjati yaṁ sappuriso asappurisaṁ jāneyya: ‘asappuriso ayaṁ bhavan’ti. Sappuriso, bhikkhave, saddhammasamannāgato hoti, sappurisabhatti hoti, sappurisacintī hoti, sappurisamantī hoti, sappurisavāco hoti, sappurisakammanto hoti, sappurisadiṭṭhi hoti; sappurisadānaṁ deti.

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16Kathañca, bhikkhave, sappuriso saddhammasamannāgato hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, sappuriso saddho hoti, hirimā hoti, ottappī hoti, bahussuto hoti, āraddhavīriyo hoti, upaṭṭhitassati hoti, paññavā hoti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, sappuriso saddhammasamannāgato hoti. (1)

17Kathañca, bhikkhave, sappuriso sappurisabhatti hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, sappurisassa ye te samaṇabrāhmaṇā saddhā hirimanto ottappino bahussutā āraddhavīriyā upaṭṭhitassatino paññavanto tyāssa mittā honti, te sahāyā. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, sappuriso sappurisabhatti hoti. (2)

18Kathañca, bhikkhave, sappuriso sappurisacintī hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, sappuriso nevattabyābādhāya ceteti, na parabyābādhāya ceteti, na ubhayabyābādhāya ceteti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, sappuriso sappurisacintī hoti. (3)

19Kathañca, bhikkhave, sappuriso sappurisamantī hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, sappuriso nevattabyābādhāya manteti, na parabyābādhāya manteti, na ubhayabyābādhāya manteti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, sappuriso sappurisamantī hoti. (4)

20Kathañca, bhikkhave, sappuriso sappurisavāco hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, sappuriso musāvādā paṭivirato hoti, pisuṇāya vācāya paṭivirato hoti, pharusāya vācāya paṭivirato hoti, samphappalāpā paṭivirato hoti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, sappuriso sappurisavāco hoti. (5)

21Kathañca, bhikkhave, sappuriso sappurisakammanto hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, sappuriso pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti, adinnādānā paṭivirato hoti, kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato hoti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, sappuriso sappurisakammanto hoti. (6)

22Kathañca, bhikkhave, sappuriso sappurisadiṭṭhi hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, sappuriso evaṁdiṭṭhi hoti: ‘atthi dinnaṁ, atthi yiṭṭhaṁ, atthi hutaṁ, atthi sukatadukkaṭānaṁ kammānaṁ phalaṁ vipāko, atthi ayaṁ loko, atthi paro loko, atthi mātā, atthi pitā, atthi sattā opapātikā, atthi loke samaṇabrāhmaṇā sammaggatā sammāpaṭipannā ye imañca lokaṁ parañca lokaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā pavedentī’ti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, sappuriso sappurisadiṭṭhi hoti. (7)

23Kathañca, bhikkhave, sappuriso sappurisadānaṁ deti? Idha, bhikkhave, sappuriso sakkaccaṁ dānaṁ deti, sahatthā dānaṁ deti, cittīkatvā dānaṁ deti, anapaviṭṭhaṁ dānaṁ deti, āgamanadiṭṭhiko dānaṁ deti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, sappuriso sappurisadānaṁ deti. (8)

24So, bhikkhave, sappuriso evaṁ saddhammasamannāgato, evaṁ sappurisabhatti, evaṁ sappurisacintī, evaṁ sappurisamantī, evaṁ sappurisavāco, evaṁ sappurisakammanto, evaṁ sappurisadiṭṭhi; evaṁ sappurisadānaṁ datvā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā yā sappurisānaṁ gati tattha upapajjati. Kā ca, bhikkhave, sappurisānaṁ gati? Devamahattatā vā manussamahattatā vā"ti.

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25Idamavoca bhagavā. Attamanā te bhikkhū bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandunti.