AN 4 The Book of the Fours – Catukkanipāta > AN 4.3 Broken (1st)

Numbered Discourses 4.3 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.3

1. At Bhaṇḍa Village – 1. Bhaṇḍagāmavagga

AN 4.3 Broken (1st) – Paṭhamakhatasutta

1.1

“When a foolish, incompetent bad person has four qualities they keep themselves broken and damaged. They deserve to be blamed and criticized by sensible people, and they make much bad karma.

“Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bālo abyatto asappuriso khataṁ upahataṁ attānaṁ pariharati, sāvajjo ca hoti sānuvajjo ca viññūnaṁ, bahuñca apuññaṁ pasavati.

1.2

What four?

Katamehi catūhi?

1.3

Without examining or scrutinizing, they praise those deserving of criticism,

Ananuvicca apariyogāhetvā avaṇṇārahassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati,

1.4

and they criticize those deserving of praise.

ananuvicca apariyogāhetvā vaṇṇārahassa avaṇṇaṁ bhāsati,

1.5

They arouse faith in things that are dubious,

ananuvicca apariyogāhetvā appasādanīye ṭhāne pasādaṁ upadaṁseti,

1.6

and they don’t arouse faith in things that are inspiring.

ananuvicca apariyogāhetvā pasādanīye ṭhāne appasādaṁ upadaṁseti—

1.7

When a foolish, incompetent bad person has these four qualities they keep themselves broken and damaged. They deserve to be blamed and criticized by sensible people, and they make much bad karma.

imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato bālo abyatto asappuriso khataṁ upahataṁ attānaṁ pariharati, sāvajjo ca hoti sānuvajjo ca viññūnaṁ, bahuñca apuññaṁ pasavati.

2.1

When an astute, competent good person has four qualities they keep themselves healthy and whole. They don’t deserve to be blamed and criticized by sensible people, and they make much merit.

Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato paṇḍito viyatto sappuriso akkhataṁ anupahataṁ attānaṁ pariharati, anavajjo ca hoti ananuvajjo ca viññūnaṁ, bahuñca puññaṁ pasavati.

2.2

What four?

Katamehi catūhi?

2.3

After examining and scrutinizing, they criticize those deserving of criticism,

Anuvicca pariyogāhetvā avaṇṇārahassa avaṇṇaṁ bhāsati,

2.4

and they praise those deserving of praise.

anuvicca pariyogāhetvā vaṇṇārahassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati,

2.5

They don’t arouse faith in things that are dubious,

anuvicca pariyogāhetvā appasādanīye ṭhāne appasādaṁ upadaṁseti,

2.6

and they do arouse faith in things that are inspiring.

anuvicca pariyogāhetvā pasādanīye ṭhāne pasādaṁ upadaṁseti—

2.7

When an astute, competent good person has these four qualities they keep themselves healthy and whole. They don’t deserve to be blamed and criticized by sensible people, and they make much merit.

imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato paṇḍito viyatto sappuriso akkhataṁ anupahataṁ attānaṁ pariharati, anavajjo ca hoti ananuvajjo ca viññūnaṁ, bahuñca puññaṁ pasavatīti.

3.1

When you praise someone worthy of criticism,

Yo nindiyaṁ pasaṁsati,

3.2

or criticize someone worthy of praise,

Taṁ vā nindati yo pasaṁsiyo;

3.3

you choose bad luck with your own mouth:

Vicināti mukhena so kaliṁ,

3.4

you’ll never find happiness that way.

Kalinā tena sukhaṁ na vindati.

4.1

Bad luck at dice is a trivial thing,

Appamatto ayaṁ kali,

4.2

if all you lose is your money

Yo akkhesu dhanaparājayo;

4.3

and all you own, even yourself.

Sabbassāpi sahāpi attanā,

4.4

What’s really terrible luck

Ayameva mahantataro kali;

4.5

is to hate the holy ones.

Yo sugatesu manaṁ padosaye.

5.1

For more than two quinquadecillion years,

Sataṁ sahassānaṁ nirabbudānaṁ,

5.2

and another five quattuordecillion years,

Chattiṁsatī pañca ca abbudāni;

5.3

a slanderer of noble ones goes to hell,

Yamariyagarahī nirayaṁ upeti,

5.4

having aimed bad words and thoughts at them.”

Vācaṁ manañca paṇidhāya pāpakan”ti.

5.5

Tatiyaṁ.