AN 4 The Book of the Fours – Catukkanipāta > AN 4.42 Ways of Answering Questions

Numbered Discourses 4.42 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.42

5. With Rohitassa – 5. Rohitassavagga

AN 4.42 Ways of Answering Questions – Pañhabyākaraṇasutta

1.1

“Bhikkhū, there are these four ways of answering questions.

“Cattārimāni, bhikkhave, pañhabyākaraṇāni.

1.2

What four?

Katamāni cattāri?

1.3

There is a question that should be answered definitively.

Atthi, bhikkhave, pañho ekaṁsabyākaraṇīyo;

1.4

There is a question that should be answered analytically.

atthi, bhikkhave, pañho vibhajjabyākaraṇīyo;

1.5

There is a question that should be answered with a counter-question.

atthi, bhikkhave, pañho paṭipucchābyākaraṇīyo;

1.6

There is a question that should be set aside.

atthi, bhikkhave, pañho ṭhapanīyo.

1.7

These are the four ways of answering questions.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, cattāri pañhabyākaraṇānīti.

2.1

One is stated definitively,

Ekaṁsavacanaṁ ekaṁ,

2.2

another analytically,

vibhajjavacanāparaṁ;

2.3

a third with a counter-question,

Tatiyaṁ paṭipuccheyya,

2.4

while a fourth is set aside.

catutthaṁ pana ṭhāpaye.

3.1

A bhikkhu who knows each of these,

Yo ca tesaṁ tattha tattha,

3.2

in line with good dhamma,

jānāti anudhammataṁ;

3.3

is said to be skilled

Catupañhassa kusalo,

3.4

in the four kinds of questions.

āhu bhikkhuṁ tathāvidhaṁ.

4.1

They’re intimidating, hard to defeat,

Durāsado duppasaho,

4.2

deep, and hard to crush.

gambhīro duppadhaṁsiyo;

4.3

They’re expert in both

Atho atthe anatthe ca,

4.4

what the meaning is and what it isn’t.

ubhayassa hoti kovido.

5.1

Rejecting what is not the meaning,

Anatthaṁ parivajjeti,

5.2

an astute person grasps the meaning.

atthaṁ gaṇhāti paṇḍito;

5.3

A wise one, comprehending the meaning,

Atthābhisamayā dhīro,

5.4

is said to be astute.”

paṇḍitoti pavuccatī”ti.

5.5

Dutiyaṁ.