---
title: "Numbered Discourses: The Fives · Aṅguttara Nikāya · Pañcakanipāta"
author: "The Buddha"
translator: "Bhikkhu Sujato"
languages: [pi, en]
shelf: "Pali Canon"
section: 17 of 36
url: https://scriptura.si/works/pali-anguttara-nikaya-5/17/
cite: "The Buddha, tr. Bhikkhu Sujato, Numbered Discourses: The Fives · Aṅguttara Nikāya · Pañcakanipāta, section 17. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/pali-anguttara-nikaya-5/17/"
---

# Numbered Discourses: The Fives · Aṅguttara Nikāya · Pañcakanipāta

*The Buddha, tr. Bhikkhu Sujato*

Teachings grouped in fives: five hindrances, five strengths, five subjects for frequent reflection.

> 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.

## 17. Sick · AN 5.121–5.130

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/pali-anguttara-nikaya-5/17/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/pali-anguttara-nikaya-5/17/#p-N

[¶0] AN 5.121 · Sick

> Pali: AN 5.121 · Gilānasutta

[¶1] At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof. Then in the late afternoon, the Buddha came out of retreat and went to the infirmary, where he saw a certain mendicant who was weak and sick. He sat down on the seat spread out, and addressed the mendicants:

> Pali: Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ. Atha kho bhagavā sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yena gilānasālā tenupasaṅkami. Addasā kho bhagavā aññataraṁ bhikkhuṁ dubbalaṁ gilānakaṁ; disvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. Nisajja kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:

[¶2] “Mendicants, if a weak and sick mendicant does not neglect five things, it can be expected that they will soon realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom, and live having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements.

> Pali: “Yaṁ kiñci, bhikkhave, bhikkhuṁ dubbalaṁ gilānakaṁ pañca dhammā na vijahanti, tassetaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁ: ‘nacirasseva āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharissatī’ti.

[¶3] What five? It’s when a mendicant meditates observing the ugliness of the body, perceives the repulsiveness of food, perceives dissatisfaction with the whole world, observes the impermanence of all conditions, and has well established the perception of their own death. If a weak and sick mendicant does not neglect these five things, it can be expected that they will soon realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom, and live having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements.”

> Pali: Katame pañca? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu asubhānupassī kāye viharati, āhāre paṭikūlasaññī, sabbaloke anabhiratasaññī, sabbasaṅkhāresu aniccānupassī, maraṇasaññā kho panassa ajjhattaṁ sūpaṭṭhitā hoti. Yaṁ kiñci, bhikkhave, bhikkhuṁ dubbalaṁ gilānakaṁ ime pañca dhammā na vijahanti, tassetaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁ: ‘nacirasseva āsavānaṁ khayā …pe… sacchikatvā upasampajja viharissatī’”ti.

[¶4] > Pali: Paṭhamaṁ.

[¶5] AN 5.122 · Mindfulness Well Established

> Pali: AN 5.122 · Satisūpaṭṭhitasutta

[¶6] “Mendicants, any monk or nun who develops and cultivates five qualities can expect one of two results: enlightenment in this very life, or if there’s residue left behind, non-return.

> Pali: “Yo hi koci, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vā bhikkhunī vā pañca dhamme bhāveti pañca dhamme bahulīkaroti, tassa dvinnaṁ phalānaṁ aññataraṁ phalaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁ— diṭṭheva dhamme aññā, sati vā upādisese anāgāmitā.

[¶7] What five? It’s when a mendicant has well established mindfulness inside themselves in order to understand the arising and passing away of phenomena, meditates observing the ugliness of the body, perceives the repulsiveness of food, perceives dissatisfaction with the whole world, and observes the impermanence of all conditions. Any monk or nun who develops and cultivates these five qualities can expect one of two results: enlightenment in this very life, or if there’s residue left behind, non-return.”

> Pali: Katame pañca? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno ajjhattaññeva sati sūpaṭṭhitā hoti dhammānaṁ udayatthagāminiyā paññāya, asubhānupassī kāye viharati, āhāre paṭikūlasaññī, sabbaloke anabhiratasaññī, sabbasaṅkhāresu aniccānupassī. Yo hi koci, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vā bhikkhunī vā ime pañca dhamme bhāveti ime pañca dhamme bahulīkaroti, tassa dvinnaṁ phalānaṁ aññataraṁ phalaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁ— diṭṭheva dhamme aññā, sati vā upādisese anāgāmitā”ti.

[¶8] > Pali: Dutiyaṁ.

[¶9] AN 5.123 · A Carer (1st)

> Pali: AN 5.123 · Paṭhamaupaṭṭhākasutta

[¶10] “Mendicants, a patient with five qualities is hard to care for. What five? They do what is unsuitable. They don’t know moderation in what is suitable. They don’t take their medicine. Though their carer wants what’s best for them, they don’t accurately report their symptoms by saying when they’re getting worse, getting better, or staying the same. And they cannot endure physical pain—sharp, severe, acute, unpleasant, disagreeable, and life-threatening. A patient with these five qualities is hard to care for.

> Pali: “Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato gilāno dūpaṭṭhāko hoti. Katamehi pañcahi? Asappāyakārī hoti, sappāye mattaṁ na jānāti, bhesajjaṁ nappaṭisevitā hoti, atthakāmassa gilānupaṭṭhākassa na yathābhūtaṁ ābādhaṁ āvikattā hoti abhikkamantaṁ vā abhikkamatīti paṭikkamantaṁ vā paṭikkamatīti ṭhitaṁ vā ṭhitoti, uppannānaṁ sārīrikānaṁ vedanānaṁ dukkhānaṁ tibbānaṁ kharānaṁ kaṭukānaṁ asātānaṁ amanāpānaṁ pāṇaharānaṁ anadhivāsakajātiko hoti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato gilāno dūpaṭṭhāko hoti.

[¶11] A patient with five qualities is easy to care for. What five? They do what is suitable. They know moderation in what is suitable. They take their medicine. Because their carer wants what’s best for them, they accurately report their symptoms by saying when they’re getting worse, getting better, or staying the same. And they can endure physical pain—sharp, severe, acute, unpleasant, disagreeable, and life-threatening. A patient with these five qualities is easy to care for.”

> Pali: Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato gilāno sūpaṭṭhāko hoti. Katamehi pañcahi? Sappāyakārī hoti, sappāye mattaṁ jānāti, bhesajjaṁ paṭisevitā hoti, atthakāmassa gilānupaṭṭhākassa yathābhūtaṁ ābādhaṁ āvikattā hoti abhikkamantaṁ vā abhikkamatīti paṭikkamantaṁ vā paṭikkamatīti ṭhitaṁ vā ṭhitoti, uppannānaṁ sārīrikānaṁ vedanānaṁ dukkhānaṁ tibbānaṁ kharānaṁ kaṭukānaṁ asātānaṁ amanāpānaṁ pāṇaharānaṁ adhivāsakajātiko hoti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato gilāno sūpaṭṭhāko hotī”ti.

[¶12] > Pali: Tatiyaṁ.

[¶13] AN 5.124 · A Carer (2nd)

> Pali: AN 5.124 · Dutiyaupaṭṭhākasutta

[¶14] “Mendicants, a carer with five qualities is not competent to care for a patient. What five? They’re unable to prepare medicine. They don’t know what is suitable and unsuitable, so they supply what is unsuitable and remove what is suitable. They care for the sick for the sake of material benefits, not out of love. They’re disgusted to remove feces, urine, vomit, or spit. They’re unable to educate, encourage, fire up, and inspire the patient with a Dhamma talk from time to time. A carer with these five qualities is not competent to care for a patient.

> Pali: “Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato gilānupaṭṭhāko nālaṁ gilānaṁ upaṭṭhātuṁ. Katamehi pañcahi? Nappaṭibalo hoti bhesajjaṁ saṁvidhātuṁ; sappāyāsappāyaṁ na jānāti, asappāyaṁ upanāmeti, sappāyaṁ apanāmeti; āmisantaro gilānaṁ upaṭṭhāti, no mettacitto; jegucchī hoti uccāraṁ vā passāvaṁ vā vantaṁ vā kheḷaṁ vā nīharituṁ; nappaṭibalo hoti gilānaṁ kālena kālaṁ dhammiyā kathāya sandassetuṁ samādapetuṁ samuttejetuṁ sampahaṁsetuṁ. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato gilānupaṭṭhāko nālaṁ gilānaṁ upaṭṭhātuṁ.

[¶15] A carer with five qualities is competent to care for a patient. What five? They’re able to prepare medicine. They know what is suitable and unsuitable, so they remove what is unsuitable and supply what is suitable. They care for the sick out of love, not for the sake of material benefits. They’re not disgusted to remove feces, urine, vomit, or spit. They’re able to educate, encourage, fire up, and inspire the patient with a Dhamma talk from time to time. A carer with these five qualities is competent to care for a patient.”

> Pali: Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato gilānupaṭṭhāko alaṁ gilānaṁ upaṭṭhātuṁ. Katamehi pañcahi? Paṭibalo hoti bhesajjaṁ saṁvidhātuṁ; sappāyāsappāyaṁ jānāti, asappāyaṁ apanāmeti, sappāyaṁ upanāmeti; mettacitto gilānaṁ upaṭṭhāti, no āmisantaro; ajegucchī hoti uccāraṁ vā passāvaṁ vā vantaṁ vā kheḷaṁ vā nīharituṁ; paṭibalo hoti gilānaṁ kālena kālaṁ dhammiyā kathāya sandassetuṁ samādapetuṁ samuttejetuṁ sampahaṁsetuṁ. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato gilānupaṭṭhāko alaṁ gilānaṁ upaṭṭhātun”ti.

[¶16] > Pali: Catutthaṁ.

[¶17] AN 5.125 · Longevity (1st)

> Pali: AN 5.125 · Paṭhamaanāyussāsutta

[¶18] “Mendicants, these five things impede longevity. What five? Doing what is unsuitable, not knowing moderation in what is suitable, eating food unfit for consumption, activity at unsuitable times, and unchastity. These are the five things that impede longevity.

> Pali: “Pañcime, bhikkhave, dhammā anāyussā. Katame pañca? Asappāyakārī hoti, sappāye mattaṁ na jānāti, apariṇatabhojī ca hoti, akālacārī ca hoti, abrahmacārī ca. Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca dhammā anāyussā.

[¶19] These five things promote longevity. What five? Doing what is suitable, knowing moderation in what is suitable, eating food fit for consumption, activity at suitable times, and chastity. These are the five things that promote longevity.”

> Pali: Pañcime, bhikkhave, dhammā āyussā. Katame pañca? Sappāyakārī hoti, sappāye mattaṁ jānāti, pariṇatabhojī ca hoti, kālacārī ca hoti, brahmacārī ca. Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca dhammā āyussā”ti.

[¶20] > Pali: Pañcamaṁ.

[¶21] AN 5.126 · Longevity (2nd)

> Pali: AN 5.126 · Dutiyaanāyussāsutta

[¶22] “Mendicants, these five things impede longevity. What five? Doing what is unsuitable, not knowing moderation in what is suitable, eating food unfit for consumption, unethical behavior, and bad friends. These are the five things that impede longevity.

> Pali: “Pañcime, bhikkhave, dhammā anāyussā. Katame pañca? Asappāyakārī hoti, sappāye mattaṁ na jānāti, apariṇatabhojī ca hoti, dussīlo ca, pāpamitto ca. Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca dhammā anāyussā.

[¶23] These five things promote longevity. What five? Doing what is suitable, knowing moderation in what is suitable, eating food fit for consumption, ethical conduct, and good friends. These are the five things that promote longevity.”

> Pali: Pañcime, bhikkhave, dhammā āyussā. Katame pañca? Sappāyakārī hoti, sappāye mattaṁ jānāti, pariṇatabhojī ca hoti, sīlavā ca, kalyāṇamitto ca. Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca dhammā āyussā”ti.

[¶24] > Pali: Chaṭṭhaṁ.

[¶25] AN 5.127 · Living Apart

> Pali: AN 5.127 · Vapakāsasutta

[¶26] “Mendicants, a mendicant with five qualities is not fit to live apart from a Saṅgha community. What five? It’s when a mendicant is not content with any kind of robe, almsfood, lodging, and medicines and supplies for the sick. And they have a lot of sensual thoughts. A mendicant with these five qualities is not fit to live apart from a Saṅgha community.

> Pali: “Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu nālaṁ saṅghamhā vapakāsituṁ. Katamehi pañcahi? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu asantuṭṭho hoti itarītarena cīvarena, asantuṭṭho hoti itarītarena piṇḍapātena, asantuṭṭho hoti itarītarena senāsanena, asantuṭṭho hoti itarītarena gilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārena, kāmasaṅkappabahulo ca viharati. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu nālaṁ saṅghamhā vapakāsituṁ.

[¶27] A mendicant with five qualities is fit to live apart from a Saṅgha community. What five? It’s when a mendicant is content with any kind of robe, almsfood, lodging, and medicines and supplies for the sick. And they think a lot about renunciation. A mendicant with these five qualities is fit to live apart from a Saṅgha community.”

> Pali: Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu alaṁ saṅghamhā vapakāsituṁ. Katamehi pañcahi? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu santuṭṭho hoti itarītarena cīvarena, santuṭṭho hoti itarītarena piṇḍapātena, santuṭṭho hoti itarītarena senāsanena, santuṭṭho hoti itarītarena gilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārena, nekkhammasaṅkappabahulo ca viharati. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu alaṁ saṅghamhā vapakāsitun”ti.

[¶28] > Pali: Sattamaṁ.

[¶29] AN 5.128 · An Ascetic’s Happiness

> Pali: AN 5.128 · Samaṇasukhasutta

[¶30] “Mendicants, there are these five kinds of suffering for an ascetic. What five? It’s when a mendicant is not content with any kind of robe, almsfood, lodging, and medicines and supplies for the sick. And they lead the spiritual life dissatisfied. These are five kinds of suffering for an ascetic.

> Pali: “Pañcimāni, bhikkhave, samaṇadukkhāni. Katamāni pañca? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu asantuṭṭho hoti itarītarena cīvarena, asantuṭṭho hoti itarītarena piṇḍapātena, asantuṭṭho hoti itarītarena senāsanena, asantuṭṭho hoti itarītarena gilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārena, anabhirato ca brahmacariyaṁ carati. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, pañca samaṇadukkhāni.

[¶31] There are these five kinds of happiness for an ascetic. What five? It’s when a mendicant is content with any kind of robe, almsfood, lodging, and medicines and supplies for the sick. And they lead the spiritual life satisfied. These are five kinds of happiness for an ascetic.”

> Pali: Pañcimāni, bhikkhave, samaṇasukhāni. Katamāni pañca? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu santuṭṭho hoti itarītarena cīvarena, santuṭṭho hoti itarītarena piṇḍapātena, santuṭṭho hoti itarītarena senāsanena, santuṭṭho hoti itarītarena gilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārena, abhirato ca brahmacariyaṁ carati. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, pañca samaṇasukhānī”ti.

[¶32] > Pali: Aṭṭhamaṁ.

[¶33] AN 5.129 · Fatal Wounds

> Pali: AN 5.129 · Parikuppasutta

[¶34] “Mendicants, these five fatal wounds lead to a place of loss, to hell. What five? Murdering your mother or father or a perfected one; maliciously shedding the blood of a Realized One; and causing a schism in the Saṅgha. These five fatal wounds lead to a place of loss, to hell.”

> Pali: “Pañcime, bhikkhave, āpāyikā nerayikā parikuppā atekicchā. Katame pañca? Mātā jīvitā voropitā hoti, pitā jīvitā voropito hoti, arahaṁ jīvitā voropito hoti, tathāgatassa duṭṭhena cittena lohitaṁ uppāditaṁ hoti, saṅgho bhinno hoti. Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca āpāyikā nerayikā parikuppā atekicchā”ti.

[¶35] > Pali: Navamaṁ.

[¶36] AN 5.130 · Loss

> Pali: AN 5.130 · Byasanasutta

[¶37] “Mendicants, there are these five losses. What five? Loss of relatives, wealth, health, ethics, and view. It is not because of loss of relatives, wealth, or health that sentient beings, when their body breaks up, after death, are reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. It is because of loss of ethics or view that sentient beings, when their body breaks up, after death, are reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. These are the five losses.

> Pali: “Pañcimāni, bhikkhave, byasanāni. Katamāni pañca? Ñātibyasanaṁ, bhogabyasanaṁ, rogabyasanaṁ, sīlabyasanaṁ, diṭṭhibyasanaṁ. Na, bhikkhave, sattā ñātibyasanahetu vā bhogabyasanahetu vā rogabyasanahetu vā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjanti. Sīlabyasanahetu vā, bhikkhave, sattā diṭṭhibyasanahetu vā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjanti. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, pañca byasanāni.

[¶38] There are these five endowments. What five? Endowment with relatives, wealth, health, ethics, and view. It is not because of endowment with relatives, wealth, or health that sentient beings, when their body breaks up, after death, are reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm. It is because of endowment with ethics or view that sentient beings, when their body breaks up, after death, are reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm. These are the five endowments.”

> Pali: Pañcimā, bhikkhave, sampadā. Katamā pañca? Ñātisampadā, bhogasampadā, ārogyasampadā, sīlasampadā, diṭṭhisampadā. Na, bhikkhave, sattā ñātisampadāhetu vā bhogasampadāhetu vā ārogyasampadāhetu vā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjanti. Sīlasampadāhetu vā, bhikkhave, sattā diṭṭhisampadāhetu vā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjanti. Imā kho, bhikkhave, pañca sampadā”ti.

[¶39] > Pali: Dasamaṁ.

[¶40] > Pali: Gilānavaggo tatiyo.

[¶41] > Pali: Tassuddānaṁ

[¶42] > Pali: Gilāno satisūpaṭṭhi,
Dve upaṭṭhākā duvāyusā;
Vapakāsasamaṇasukhā,
Parikuppaṁ byasanena cāti.