AN 4 The Book of the Fours – Catukkanipāta > AN 4.97 Quick-witted

Numbered Discourses 4.97 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.97

10. Demons – 10. Asuravagga

AN 4.97 Quick-witted – Khippanisantisutta

1.1

“Bhikkhū, these four people are found in the world.

“Cattārome, bhikkhave, puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ.

1.2

What four?

Katame cattāro?

1.3

One who practices to benefit themselves, but not others;

attahitāya paṭipanno no parahitāya,

1.4

one who practices to benefit others, but not themselves;

parahitāya paṭipanno no attahitāya,

1.5

one who practices to benefit neither themselves nor others; and

nevattahitāya paṭipanno no parahitāya,

1.6

one who practices to benefit both themselves and others.

attahitāya ceva paṭipanno parahitāya ca.

2.1

And how does a person practice to benefit themselves, but not others?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo attahitāya paṭipanno hoti, no parahitāya?

2.2

It’s when a person is quick-witted when it comes to skillful teachings. They readily memorize the teachings they’ve heard. They examine the meaning of teachings they’ve memorized. Understanding the meaning and the teaching, they practice accordingly.

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo khippanisantī ca hoti kusalesu dhammesu, sutānañca dhammānaṁ dhārakajātiko hoti, dhātānañca dhammānaṁ atthūpaparikkhī hoti atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya, dhammānudhammappaṭipanno hoti;

2.3

But they’re not a good speaker. Their voice isn’t polished, clear, articulate, and doesn’t express the meaning. They don’t educate, encourage, fire up, and inspire their spiritual companions.

no ca kalyāṇavāco hoti kalyāṇavākkaraṇo poriyā vācāya samannāgato vissaṭṭhāya anelagalāya atthassa viññāpaniyā, no ca sandassako hoti samādapako samuttejako sampahaṁsako sabrahmacārīnaṁ.

2.4

That’s how a person practices to benefit themselves, but not others.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo attahitāya paṭipanno hoti, no parahitāya.

3.1

And how does a person practice to benefit others, but not themselves?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo parahitāya paṭipanno hoti, no attahitāya?

3.2

It’s when a person is not quick-witted when it comes to skillful teachings. …

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo na heva kho khippanisantī hoti kusalesu dhammesu, no ca sutānaṁ dhammānaṁ dhārakajātiko hoti, no ca dhātānaṁ dhammānaṁ atthūpaparikkhī hoti, no ca atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammappaṭipanno hoti;

3.3

But they’re a good speaker. …

kalyāṇavāco ca hoti kalyāṇavākkaraṇo poriyā vācāya samannāgato vissaṭṭhāya anelagalāya atthassa viññāpaniyā, sandassako ca hoti samādapako samuttejako sampahaṁsako sabrahmacārīnaṁ.

3.4

That’s how a person practices to benefit others, but not themselves.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo parahitāya paṭipanno hoti, no attahitāya.

4.1

And how does a person practice to benefit neither themselves nor others?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo nevattahitāya paṭipanno hoti, no parahitāya?

4.2

It’s when a person is not quick-witted when it comes to skillful teachings. …

4.3

Nor are they a good speaker. …

4.4

That’s how a person practices to benefit neither themselves nor others.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo nevattahitāya paṭipanno hoti, no parahitāya.

5.1

And how does a person practice to benefit both themselves and others?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo attahitāya ceva paṭipanno hoti parahitāya ca?

5.2

It’s when a person is quick-witted when it comes to skillful teachings. …

5.3

And they’re a good speaker. …

5.4

That’s how a person practices to benefit both themselves and others.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo attahitāya ceva paṭipanno hoti parahitāya ca.

5.5

These are the four people found in the world.”

Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmin”ti.

5.6

Sattamaṁ.