--- title: "Numbered Discourses: The Threes · Aṅguttara Nikāya · Tikanipāta" author: "The Buddha" translator: "Bhikkhu Sujato" languages: [pi, en] shelf: "Pali Canon" section: 1 of 28 url: https://scriptura.si/works/pali-anguttara-nikaya-3/1/ cite: "The Buddha, tr. Bhikkhu Sujato, Numbered Discourses: The Threes · Aṅguttara Nikāya · Tikanipāta, section 1. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/pali-anguttara-nikaya-3/1/" --- # Numbered Discourses: The Threes · Aṅguttara Nikāya · Tikanipāta *The Buddha, tr. Bhikkhu Sujato* Teachings grouped in threes: the Kālāma discourse on what to believe, the three fires, the messengers of the gods. > Pali: the Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka (Buddha Jayanti edition, 2500), from SuttaCentral’s bilara-data, dedicated to the public domain (CC0). > English: Bhikkhu Sujato, from SuttaCentral’s bilara-data, dedicated to the public domain (CC0). Notes are not included. > Rows follow the segment numbers the two texts share, gathered into paragraphs; verse keeps its lines. ## 1. Fools · AN 3.1–3.10 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/pali-anguttara-nikaya-3/1/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/pali-anguttara-nikaya-3/1/#p-N [¶0] AN 3.1 · Perils > Pali: AN 3.1 · Bhayasutta [¶1] So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants, “Mendicants!” > Pali: Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “bhikkhavo”ti. [¶2] “Venerable sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this: > Pali: “Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca: [¶3] “Whatever dangers there are, all come from the foolish, not from the astute. Whatever perils there are, all come from the foolish, not from the astute. Whatever hazards there are, all come from the foolish, not from the astute. It’s like a fire that spreads from a hut made of reeds or grass, and burns down even a bungalow, plastered inside and out, draft-free, with doors fastened and windows shuttered. In the same way, whatever dangers there are, all come from the foolish, not from the astute. Whatever perils there are, all come from the foolish, not from the astute. Whatever hazards there are, all come from the foolish, not from the astute. > Pali: “Yāni kānici, bhikkhave, bhayāni uppajjanti sabbāni tāni bālato uppajjanti, no paṇḍitato. Ye keci upaddavā uppajjanti sabbe te bālato uppajjanti, no paṇḍitato. Ye keci upasaggā uppajjanti sabbe te bālato uppajjanti, no paṇḍitato. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, naḷāgārā vā tiṇāgārā vā aggi mutto kūṭāgārānipi ḍahati ullittāvalittāni nivātāni phusitaggaḷāni pihitavātapānāni; evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, yāni kānici bhayāni uppajjanti sabbāni tāni bālato uppajjanti, no paṇḍitato. Ye keci upaddavā uppajjanti sabbe te bālato uppajjanti, no paṇḍitato. Ye keci upasaggā uppajjanti sabbe te bālato uppajjanti, no paṇḍitato. [¶4] So, the fool is dangerous, but the astute person is safe. The fool is perilous, but the astute person is not. The fool is hazardous, but the astute person is not. There’s no danger, peril, or hazard that comes from the astute. > Pali: Iti kho, bhikkhave, sappaṭibhayo bālo, appaṭibhayo paṇḍito. Saupaddavo bālo, anupaddavo paṇḍito. Saupasaggo bālo, anupasaggo paṇḍito. Natthi, bhikkhave, paṇḍitato bhayaṁ, natthi paṇḍitato upaddavo, natthi paṇḍitato upasaggo. [¶5] So you should train like this: ‘We will shun the three things by which a fool is known, and we will proceed having undertaken the three things by which an astute person is known.’ That’s how you should train.” > Pali: Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ: ‘yehi tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bālo veditabbo te tayo dhamme abhinivajjetvā, yehi tīhi dhammehi samannāgato paṇḍito veditabbo te tayo dhamme samādāya vattissāmā’ti. Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti. [¶6] > Pali: Paṭhamaṁ. [¶7] AN 3.2 · Characteristics > Pali: AN 3.2 · Lakkhaṇasutta [¶8] “A fool is characterized by their deeds, and an astute person is characterized by their deeds, for wisdom shines in its traces. A fool is known by three things. What three? Bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind. > Pali: “Kammalakkhaṇo, bhikkhave, bālo, kammalakkhaṇo paṇḍito, apadānasobhanī paññāti. Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bālo veditabbo. Katamehi tīhi? Kāyaduccaritena, vacīduccaritena, manoduccaritena. [¶9] These are the three things by which a fool is known. > Pali: Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bālo veditabbo. [¶10] An astute person is known by three things. What three? Good conduct by way of body, speech, and mind. > Pali: Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato paṇḍito veditabbo. Katamehi tīhi? Kāyasucaritena, vacīsucaritena, manosucaritena. [¶11] These are the three things by which an astute person is known. > Pali: Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato paṇḍito veditabbo. [¶12] So you should train like this: ‘We will shun the three things by which a fool is known, and we will proceed having undertaken the three things by which an astute person is known.’ That’s how you should train.” > Pali: Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ: ‘yehi tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bālo veditabbo te tayo dhamme abhinivajjetvā, yehi tīhi dhammehi samannāgato paṇḍito veditabbo te tayo dhamme samādāya vattissāmā’ti. Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti. [¶13] > Pali: Dutiyaṁ. [¶14] AN 3.3 · Thinking > Pali: AN 3.3 · Cintīsutta [¶15] “There are these three characteristics, signs, and manifestations of a fool. What three? A fool thinks poorly, speaks poorly, and acts poorly. If a fool didn’t think poorly, speak poorly, and act poorly, then how would the astute know of them: ‘This worthy one is a fool, an untrue person’? But since a fool does think poorly, speak poorly, and act poorly, then the astute do know of them: ‘This worthy one is a fool, an untrue person’. These are the three characteristics, signs, and manifestations of a fool. > Pali: “Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, bālassa bālalakkhaṇāni bālanimittāni bālāpadānāni. Katamāni tīṇi? Idha, bhikkhave, bālo duccintitacintī ca hoti dubbhāsitabhāsī ca dukkaṭakammakārī ca. No cedaṁ, bhikkhave, bālo duccintitacintī ca abhavissa dubbhāsitabhāsī ca dukkaṭakammakārī ca, kena naṁ paṇḍitā jāneyyuṁ: ‘bālo ayaṁ bhavaṁ asappuriso’ti? Yasmā ca kho, bhikkhave, bālo duccintitacintī ca hoti dubbhāsitabhāsī ca dukkaṭakammakārī ca tasmā naṁ paṇḍitā jānanti: ‘bālo ayaṁ bhavaṁ asappuriso’ti. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi bālassa bālalakkhaṇāni bālanimittāni bālāpadānāni. [¶16] There are these three characteristics, signs, and manifestations of an astute person. What three? An astute person thinks well, speaks well, and acts well. If an astute person didn’t think well, speak well, and act well, then how would the astute know of them: ‘This worthy one is astute, a true person’? But since an astute person does think well, speak well, and act well, then the astute do know of them: ‘This worthy one is astute, a true person’. These are the three characteristics, signs, and manifestations of an astute person. So you should train …” > Pali: Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, paṇḍitassa paṇḍitalakkhaṇāni paṇḍitanimittāni paṇḍitāpadānāni. Katamāni tīṇi? Idha, bhikkhave, paṇḍito sucintitacintī ca hoti subhāsitabhāsī ca sukatakammakārī ca. No cedaṁ, bhikkhave, paṇḍito sucintitacintī ca abhavissa subhāsitabhāsī ca sukatakammakārī ca, kena naṁ paṇḍitā jāneyyuṁ: ‘paṇḍito ayaṁ bhavaṁ sappuriso’ti? Yasmā ca kho, bhikkhave, paṇḍito sucintitacintī ca hoti subhāsitabhāsī ca sukatakammakārī ca tasmā naṁ paṇḍitā jānanti: ‘paṇḍito ayaṁ bhavaṁ sappuriso’ti. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi paṇḍitassa paṇḍitalakkhaṇāni paṇḍitanimittāni paṇḍitāpadānāni. Tasmātiha …pe…. [¶17] > Pali: Tatiyaṁ. [¶18] AN 3.4 · Mistakes > Pali: AN 3.4 · Accayasutta [¶19] “A fool is known by three things. What three? They don’t recognize when they’ve made a mistake. When they do recognize it they don’t deal with it properly. And when someone else confesses a mistake to them, they don’t accept it properly. > Pali: “Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bālo veditabbo. Katamehi tīhi? Accayaṁ accayato na passati, accayaṁ accayato disvā yathādhammaṁ nappaṭikaroti, parassa kho pana accayaṁ desentassa yathādhammaṁ nappaṭiggaṇhāti. [¶20] These are the three things by which a fool is known. > Pali: Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bālo veditabbo. [¶21] An astute person is known by three things. What three? They recognize when they’ve made a mistake. When they recognize it they deal with it properly. And when someone else confesses a mistake to them, they accept it properly. > Pali: Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato paṇḍito veditabbo. Katamehi tīhi? Accayaṁ accayato passati, accayaṁ accayato disvā yathādhammaṁ paṭikaroti, parassa kho pana accayaṁ desentassa yathādhammaṁ paṭiggaṇhāti. [¶22] These are the three things by which an astute person is known. So you should train …” > Pali: Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato paṇḍito veditabbo. Tasmātiha …pe…. [¶23] > Pali: Catutthaṁ. [¶24] AN 3.5 · Irrational > Pali: AN 3.5 · Ayonisosutta [¶25] “A fool is known by three things. What three? They ask a question irrationally. They answer a question irrationally. And when someone else answers a question rationally—with well-rounded, coherent, and relevant words and phrases—they disagree with it. > Pali: “Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bālo veditabbo. Katamehi tīhi? Ayoniso pañhaṁ kattā hoti, ayoniso pañhaṁ vissajjetā hoti, parassa kho pana yoniso pañhaṁ vissajjitaṁ parimaṇḍalehi padabyañjanehi siliṭṭhehi upagatehi nābbhanumoditā hoti. [¶26] These are the three things by which a fool is known. > Pali: Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bālo veditabbo. [¶27] An astute person is known by three things. What three? They ask a question rationally. They answer a question rationally. And when someone else answers a question rationally—with well-rounded, coherent, and relevant words and phrases—they agree with it. > Pali: Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato paṇḍito veditabbo. Katamehi tīhi? Yoniso pañhaṁ kattā hoti, yoniso pañhaṁ vissajjetā hoti, parassa kho pana yoniso pañhaṁ vissajjitaṁ parimaṇḍalehi padabyañjanehi siliṭṭhehi upagatehi abbhanumoditā hoti. [¶28] These are the three things by which an astute person is known. So you should train …” > Pali: Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato paṇḍito veditabbo. Tasmātiha …pe…. [¶29] > Pali: Pañcamaṁ. [¶30] AN 3.6 · Unskillful > Pali: AN 3.6 · Akusalasutta [¶31] “A fool is known by three things. What three? Unskillful deeds by way of body, speech, and mind. > Pali: “Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bālo veditabbo. Katamehi tīhi? Akusalena kāyakammena, akusalena vacīkammena, akusalena manokammena. [¶32] These are the three things by which a fool is known. > Pali: Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bālo veditabbo. [¶33] An astute person is known by three things. What three? Skillful deeds by way of body, speech, and mind. > Pali: Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato paṇḍito veditabbo. Katamehi tīhi? Kusalena kāyakammena, kusalena vacīkammena, kusalena manokammena. [¶34] These are the three things by which an astute person is known. So you should train …” > Pali: Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato paṇḍito veditabbo. Tasmātiha …pe…. [¶35] > Pali: Chaṭṭhaṁ. [¶36] AN 3.7 · Blameworthy > Pali: AN 3.7 · Sāvajjasutta [¶37] “A fool is known by three things. What three? Blameworthy deeds by way of body, speech, and mind. … An astute person is known by blameless deeds by way of body, speech, and mind. …” > Pali: “Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bālo veditabbo. Katamehi tīhi? Sāvajjena kāyakammena, sāvajjena vacīkammena, sāvajjena manokammena …pe… anavajjena kāyakammena, anavajjena vacīkammena, anavajjena manokammena …pe…. [¶38] > Pali: Sattamaṁ. [¶39] AN 3.8 · Hurtful > Pali: AN 3.8 · Sabyābajjhasutta [¶40] “A fool is known by three things. What three? Hurtful deeds by way of body, speech, and mind. … An astute person is known by kind deeds by way of body, speech, and mind. These are the three things by which an astute person is known. > Pali: “Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bālo veditabbo. Katamehi tīhi? Sabyābajjhena kāyakammena, sabyābajjhena vacīkammena, sabyābajjhena manokammena …pe… abyābajjhena kāyakammena, abyābajjhena vacīkammena, abyābajjhena manokammena. Imehi, kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato paṇḍito veditabbo. [¶41] So you should train like this: ‘We will shun the three qualities by which a fool is known, and we will proceed having undertaken the three qualities by which an astute person is known.’ That’s how you should train.” > Pali: Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ: ‘yehi tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bālo veditabbo te tayo dhamme abhinivajjetvā, yehi tīhi dhammehi samannāgato paṇḍito veditabbo te tayo dhamme samādāya vattissāmā’ti. Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti. [¶42] > Pali: Aṭṭhamaṁ. [¶43] AN 3.9 · Broken > Pali: AN 3.9 · Khatasutta [¶44] “When a foolish, incompetent, untrue person has three qualities they keep themselves broken and damaged. They deserve to be blamed and criticized by sensible people, and they brim with much wickedness. What three? Bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind. > Pali: “Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bālo abyatto asappuriso khataṁ upahataṁ attānaṁ pariharati, sāvajjo ca hoti sānuvajjo ca viññūnaṁ, bahuñca apuññaṁ pasavati. Katamehi tīhi? Kāyaduccaritena, vacīduccaritena, manoduccaritena. [¶45] When a foolish, incompetent untrue person possesses these three qualities they keep themselves broken and damaged. They deserve to be blamed and criticized by sensible people, and they brim with much wickedness. > Pali: Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bālo abyatto asappuriso khataṁ upahataṁ attānaṁ pariharati, sāvajjo ca hoti sānuvajjo ca viññūnaṁ, bahuñca apuññaṁ pasavati. [¶46] When an astute, competent true person has three qualities they keep themselves healthy and whole. They don’t deserve to be blamed and criticized by sensible people, and they brim with much merit. What three? Good conduct by way of body, speech, and mind. > Pali: Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato paṇḍito viyatto sappuriso akkhataṁ anupahataṁ attānaṁ pariharati, anavajjo ca hoti ananuvajjo ca viññūnaṁ, bahuñca puññaṁ pasavati. Katamehi tīhi? Kāyasucaritena, vacīsucaritena, manosucaritena. [¶47] When an astute, competent true person possesses these three qualities they keep themselves healthy and whole. They don’t deserve to be blamed and criticized by sensible people, and they brim with much merit.” > Pali: Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato paṇḍito viyatto sappuriso akkhataṁ anupahataṁ attānaṁ pariharati, anavajjo ca hoti ananuvajjo ca viññūnaṁ, bahuñca puññaṁ pasavatī”ti. [¶48] > Pali: Navamaṁ. [¶49] AN 3.10 · Stains > Pali: AN 3.10 · Malasutta [¶50] “Anyone who has three qualities, and has not given up three stains, is placed in hell as if delivered there. What three? They’re unethical, and haven’t given up the stain of immorality. They’re jealous, and haven’t given up the stain of jealousy. They’re stingy, and haven’t given up the stain of stinginess. > Pali: “Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato tayo male appahāya yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye. Katamehi tīhi? Dussīlo ca hoti, dussīlyamalañcassa appahīnaṁ hoti; issukī ca hoti, issāmalañcassa appahīnaṁ hoti; maccharī ca hoti, maccheramalañcassa appahīnaṁ hoti. [¶51] Anyone who possesses these three qualities, and has not given up these three stains, is placed in hell as if delivered there. > Pali: Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato ime tayo male appahāya yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye. [¶52] Anyone who has three qualities, and has given up three stains, is placed in heaven as if delivered there. What three? They’re ethical, and have given up the stain of immorality. They’re not jealous, and have given up the stain of jealousy. They’re not stingy, and have given up the stain of stinginess. > Pali: Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato tayo male pahāya yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ sagge. Katamehi tīhi? Sīlavā ca hoti, dussīlyamalañcassa pahīnaṁ hoti; anissukī ca hoti, issāmalañcassa pahīnaṁ hoti; amaccharī ca hoti, maccheramalañcassa pahīnaṁ hoti. [¶53] Anyone who possesses these three qualities, and has given up these three stains, is placed in heaven as if delivered there.” > Pali: Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato ime tayo male pahāya yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ sagge”ti. [¶54] > Pali: Dasamaṁ. [¶55] > Pali: Bālavaggo paṭhamo. [¶56] > Pali: Tassuddānaṁ [¶57] > Pali: Bhayaṁ lakkhaṇacintī ca, accayañca ayoniso; Akusalañca sāvajjaṁ, sabyābajjhakhataṁ malanti.