Assakhaḷuṅkasutta

Aṅguttara Nikāya 9.22

Numbered Discourses 9.22

3. Sattāvāsavagga

3. Abodes of Sentient Beings

Assakhaḷuṅkasutta

A Wild Colt

“Tayo ca, bhikkhave, assakhaḷuṅke desessāmi tayo ca purisakhaḷuṅke tayo ca assaparasse tayo ca purisaparasse tayo ca bhadde assājānīye tayo ca bhadde purisājānīye.

“Mendicants, I will teach you about three wild colts and three wild people; three excellent horses and three excellent people; and three fine thoroughbred horses and three fine thoroughbred people.

Taṁ suṇātha. (…)

Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, tayo assakhaḷuṅkā?

And what are the three wild colts?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco assakhaḷuṅko javasampanno hoti, na vaṇṇasampanno, na ārohapariṇāhasampanno.

One wild colt is fast, but not beautiful or well proportioned.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco assakhaḷuṅko javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca, na ārohapariṇāhasampanno.

Another wild colt is fast and beautiful, but not well proportioned.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco assakhaḷuṅko javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca ārohapariṇāhasampanno ca.

While another wild colt is fast, beautiful, and well proportioned.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo assakhaḷuṅkā.

These are the three wild colts.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, tayo purisakhaḷuṅkā?

And what are the three wild people?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco purisakhaḷuṅko javasampanno hoti, na vaṇṇasampanno, na ārohapariṇāhasampanno.

One wild person is fast, but not beautiful or well proportioned.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco purisakhaḷuṅko javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca, na ārohapariṇāhasampanno.

Another wild person is fast and beautiful, but not well proportioned.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco purisakhaḷuṅko javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca ārohapariṇāhasampanno ca.

While another wild person is fast, beautiful, and well proportioned.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, purisakhaḷuṅko javasampanno hoti, na vaṇṇasampanno na ārohapariṇāhasampanno?

And how is a wild person fast, but not beautiful or well proportioned?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti, ‘ayaṁ dukkhasamudayo’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodho’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti.

It’s when a mendicant truly understands: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’.

Idamassa javasmiṁ vadāmi.

This is how they’re fast, I say.

Abhidhamme kho pana abhivinaye pañhaṁ puṭṭho saṁsādeti, no vissajjeti.

But when asked a question about the teaching or training, they falter without answering.

Idamassa na vaṇṇasmiṁ vadāmi.

This is how they’re not beautiful, I say.

Na kho pana lābhī hoti cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānapaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ.

And they don’t receive robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.

Idamassa na ārohapariṇāhasmiṁ vadāmi.

This is how they’re not well proportioned, I say.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, purisakhaḷuṅko javasampanno hoti, na vaṇṇasampanno na ārohapariṇāhasampanno.

This is how a wild person is fast, but not beautiful or well proportioned.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, purisakhaḷuṅko javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca, na ārohapariṇāhasampanno?

And how is a wild person fast and beautiful, but not well proportioned?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti.

They truly understand: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’.

Idamassa javasmiṁ vadāmi.

This is how they’re fast, I say.

Abhidhamme kho pana abhivinaye pañhaṁ puṭṭho vissajjeti, no saṁsādeti.

When asked a question about the teaching or training, they answer without faltering.

Idamassa vaṇṇasmiṁ vadāmi.

This is how they’re beautiful, I say.

Na kho pana lābhī hoti cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānapaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ.

But they don’t receive robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.

Idamassa na ārohapariṇāhasmiṁ vadāmi.

This is how they’re not well proportioned, I say.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, purisakhaḷuṅko javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca, na ārohapariṇāhasampanno.

This is how a wild person is fast and beautiful, but not well proportioned.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, purisakhaḷuṅko javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca ārohapariṇāhasampanno ca?

And how is a wild person fast, beautiful, and well proportioned?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti.

They truly understand: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’.

Idamassa javasmiṁ vadāmi.

This is how they’re fast, I say.

Abhidhamme kho pana abhivinaye pañhaṁ puṭṭho vissajjeti, no saṁsādeti.

When asked a question about the teaching or training, they answer without faltering.

Idamassa vaṇṇasmiṁ vadāmi.

This is how they’re beautiful, I say.

Lābhī kho pana hoti cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānapaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ.

They receive robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.

Idamassa ārohapariṇāhasmiṁ vadāmi.

This is how they’re well proportioned, I say.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, purisakhaḷuṅko javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca ārohapariṇāhasampanno ca.

This is how a wild person is fast, beautiful, and well proportioned.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo purisakhaḷuṅkā.

These are the three wild people.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, tayo assaparassā?

And what are the three excellent horses?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco assaparasso …pe…

One excellent horse …

javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca ārohapariṇāhasampanno ca.

is fast, beautiful, and well proportioned.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo assaparassā.

These are the three excellent horses.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, tayo purisaparassā?

What are the three excellent people?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco purisaparasso …pe…

One excellent person …

javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca ārohapariṇāhasampanno ca.

is fast, beautiful, and well proportioned.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, purisaparasso …pe…

And how is an excellent person …

javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca ārohapariṇāhasampanno ca?

fast, beautiful, and well proportioned?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā opapātiko hoti, tattha parinibbāyī anāvattidhammo tasmā lokā.

It’s when a mendicant, with the ending of the five lower fetters, is reborn spontaneously. They’re extinguished there, and are not liable to return from that world.

Idamassa javasmiṁ vadāmi.

This is how they’re fast, I say.

Abhidhamme kho pana abhivinaye pañhaṁ puṭṭho vissajjeti, no saṁsādeti.

When asked a question about the teaching or training, they answer without faltering.

Idamassa vaṇṇasmiṁ vadāmi.

This is how they’re beautiful, I say.

Lābhī kho pana hoti cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānapaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ.

They receive robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.

Idamassa ārohapariṇāhasmiṁ vadāmi.

This is how they’re well proportioned, I say.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, purisaparasso javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca ārohapariṇāhasampanno ca.

This is how an excellent person is fast, beautiful, and well proportioned.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo purisaparassā.

These are the three excellent people.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, tayo bhaddā assājānīyā?

And what are the three fine thoroughbred horses?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco bhaddo assājānīyo …pe…

One fine thoroughbred horse …

javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca ārohapariṇāhasampanno ca.

is fast, beautiful, and well proportioned.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo bhaddā assājānīyā.

These are the three fine thoroughbred horses.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, tayo bhaddā purisājānīyā?

And what are the three fine thoroughbred people?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco bhaddo purisājānīyo …pe…

One fine thoroughbred person …

javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca ārohapariṇāhasampanno ca.

is fast, beautiful, and well proportioned.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhaddo purisājānīyo …pe…

And how is a fine thoroughbred person …

javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca ārohapariṇāhasampanno ca?

fast, beautiful, and well proportioned?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati.

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

Idamassa javasmiṁ vadāmi.

This is how they’re fast, I say.

Abhidhamme kho pana abhivinaye pañhaṁ puṭṭho vissajjeti, no saṁsādeti.

When asked a question about the teaching or training, they answer without faltering.

Idamassa vaṇṇasmiṁ vadāmi.

This is how they’re beautiful, I say.

Lābhī kho pana hoti cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānapaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ.

They receive robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.

Idamassa ārohapariṇāhasmiṁ vadāmi.

This is how they’re well proportioned, I say.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhaddo purisājānīyo javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca ārohapariṇāhasampanno ca.

This is how a fine thoroughbred person is fast, beautiful, and well proportioned.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo bhaddā purisājānīyā”ti.

These are the three fine thoroughbred people.”

Dutiyaṁ.