AN 6 The Book of the Sixes – Chakkanipāta > AN 6.62 Knowledge of the Faculties of Persons

Numbered Discourses 6.62 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 6.62

6. The Great Chapter – 6. Mahāvagga

AN 6.62 Knowledge of the Faculties of Persons – Purisindriyañāṇasutta

1.1

So I have heard.

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

1.2

At one time the Buddha was wandering in the land of the Kosalans together with a large Saṅgha of bhikkhū when he arrived at a town of the Kosalans named Daṇḍakappaka.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kosalesu cārikaṁ caramāno mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ yena daṇḍakappakaṁ nāma kosalānaṁ nigamo tadavasari.

1.3

The Buddha left the road and sat at the root of a tree on the seat spread out.

Atha kho bhagavā maggā okkamma aññatarasmiṁ rukkhamūle paññatte āsane nisīdi.

1.4

The bhikkhū entered Daṇḍakappaka to look for a guest house.

Te ca bhikkhū daṇḍakappakaṁ pavisiṁsu āvasathaṁ pariyesituṁ.

2.1

Then Venerable Ānanda together with several bhikkhū went to the Aciravati River to bathe.

Atha kho āyasmā ānando sambahulehi bhikkhūhi saddhiṁ yena aciravatī nadī tenupasaṅkami gattāni parisiñcituṁ.

2.2

When he had bathed and emerged from the water he stood in one robe drying himself.

Aciravatiyā nadiyā gattāni parisiñcitvā paccuttaritvā ekacīvaro aṭṭhāsi gattāni pubbāpayamāno.

2.3

Then a certain bhikkhu went up to Venerable Ānanda, and said to him,

Atha kho aññataro bhikkhu yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etadavoca:

2.4

“Reverend Ānanda, when the Buddha declared that Devadatta was

“kiṁ nu kho, āvuso ānanda, sabbaṁ cetaso samannāharitvā nu kho devadatto bhagavatā byākato:

2.5

going to a place of loss, to hell, there to remain for an eon, irredeemable, did he do so after wholeheartedly deliberating, or was this just a way of speaking?”

‘āpāyiko devadatto nerayiko kappaṭṭho atekiccho’ti, udāhu kenacideva pariyāyenāti?

2.6

“You’re right, reverend, that’s how the Buddha declared it.”

Evaṁ kho panetaṁ, āvuso, bhagavatā byākatan”ti.

3.1

Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened.

Atha kho āyasmā ānando yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

3.2

“idhāhaṁ, bhante, sambahulehi bhikkhūhi saddhiṁ yena aciravatī nadī tenupasaṅkamiṁ gattāni parisiñcituṁ.

3.3

Aciravatiyā nadiyā gattāni parisiñcitvā paccuttaritvā ekacīvaro aṭṭhāsiṁ gattāni pubbāpayamāno.

3.4

Atha kho, bhante, aññataro bhikkhu yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā maṁ etadavoca:

3.5

‘kiṁ nu kho, āvuso ānanda, sabbaṁ cetaso samannāharitvā nu kho devadatto bhagavatā byākato—

3.6

āpāyiko devadatto nerayiko kappaṭṭho atekicchoti, udāhu kenacideva pariyāyenā’ti?

3.7

Evaṁ vutte, ahaṁ, bhante, taṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavocaṁ:

3.8

‘evaṁ kho panetaṁ, āvuso, bhagavatā byākatan’”ti.

4.1

“Ānanda, that bhikkhu must be junior, recently gone forth, or else a foolish, incompetent senior bhikkhu.

“So vā kho, ānanda, bhikkhu navo bhavissati acirapabbajito, thero vā pana bālo abyatto.

4.2

How on earth can he take something that I have declared definitively to be ambiguous?

Kathañhi nāma yaṁ mayā ekaṁsena byākataṁ tattha dvejjhaṁ āpajjissati.

4.3

I do not see a single other person about whom I have given such whole-hearted deliberation before making a declaration as I did in the case of Devadatta.

Nāhaṁ, ānanda, aññaṁ ekapuggalampi samanupassāmi, yo evaṁ mayā sabbaṁ cetaso samannāharitvā byākato, yathayidaṁ devadatto.

4.4

As long as I saw even a fraction of a hair’s tip of goodness in Devadatta

Yāvakīvañcāhaṁ, ānanda, devadattassa vālaggakoṭinittudanamattampi sukkadhammaṁ addasaṁ;

4.5

I did not declare that he was

neva tāvāhaṁ devadattaṁ byākāsiṁ:

4.6

going to a place of loss, to hell, there to remain for an eon, irredeemable.

‘āpāyiko devadatto nerayiko kappaṭṭho atekiccho’ti.

4.7

But when I saw that there was not even a fraction of a hair’s tip of goodness in Devadatta

Yato ca kho ahaṁ, ānanda, devadattassa vālaggakoṭinittudanamattampi sukkadhammaṁ na addasaṁ;

4.8

I declared that he was

athāhaṁ devadattaṁ byākāsiṁ:

4.9

going to a place of loss, to hell, there to remain for an eon, irredeemable.

‘āpāyiko devadatto nerayiko kappaṭṭho atekiccho’ti.

5.1

Suppose there was a sewer deeper than a man’s height, full to the brim with feces,

Seyyathāpi, ānanda, gūthakūpo sādhikaporiso pūro gūthassa samatittiko.

5.2

and someone was sunk into it over their head.

Tatra puriso sasīsako nimuggo assa.

5.3

Then along comes a person who wants to help make them safe, who wants to lift them out of that sewer.

Tassa kocideva puriso uppajjeyya atthakāmo hitakāmo yogakkhemakāmo tamhā gūthakūpā uddharitukāmo.

5.4

But circling all around the sewer they couldn’t see even a fraction of a hair’s tip of that person that was not smeared with feces.

So taṁ gūthakūpaṁ samantānuparigacchanto neva passeyya tassa purisassa vālaggakoṭinittudanamattampi gūthena amakkhitaṁ, yattha taṁ gahetvā uddhareyya.

5.5

In the same way, when I saw that there was not even a fraction of a hair’s tip of goodness in Devadatta

Evamevaṁ kho ahaṁ, ānanda, yato devadattassa vālaggakoṭinittudanamattampi sukkadhammaṁ na addasaṁ;

5.6

I declared that he was

athāhaṁ devadattaṁ byākāsiṁ:

5.7

going to a place of loss, to hell, there to remain for an eon, irredeemable.

‘āpāyiko devadatto nerayiko kappaṭṭho atekiccho’ti.

5.8

Ānanda, if only you would all listen to the Realized One’s analysis of the knowledges of the faculties of individuals.”

Sace tumhe, ānanda, suṇeyyātha tathāgatassa purisindriyañāṇāni vibhajissāmī”ti?

6.1

“Now is the time, Blessed One! Now is the time, Holy One!

“Etassa, bhagavā, kālo; etassa, sugata, kālo

6.2

Let the Buddha analyze the faculties of persons. The bhikkhū will listen and remember it.”

yaṁ bhagavā purisindriyañāṇāni vibhajeyya. Bhagavato sutvā bhikkhū dhāressantī”ti.

6.3

“Well then, Ānanda, listen and pay close attention, I will speak.”

“Tenahānanda, suṇāhi, sādhukaṁ manasi karohi; bhāsissāmī”ti.

6.4

“Yes, sir,” Ānanda replied.

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho āyasmā ānando bhagavato paccassosi.

6.5

The Buddha said this:

Bhagavā etadavoca:

7.1

“Ānanda, when I’ve comprehended the mind of a person, I understand:

“Idhāhaṁ, ānanda, ekaccaṁ puggalaṁ evaṁ cetasā ceto paricca pajānāmi:

7.2

‘Both skillful and unskillful qualities are found in this person.’

‘imassa kho puggalassa vijjamānā kusalāpi dhammā akusalāpi dhammā’ti.

7.3

After some time I comprehend their mind and understand:

Tamenaṁ aparena samayena evaṁ cetasā ceto paricca pajānāmi:

7.4

‘The skillful qualities of this person have vanished, but the unskillful qualities are still present.

‘imassa kho puggalassa kusalā dhammā antarahitā, akusalā dhammā sammukhībhūtā.

7.5

Nevertheless, their skillful root is unbroken, and from that the skillful will appear.

Atthi ca khvassa kusalamūlaṁ asamucchinnaṁ, tamhā tassa kusalā kusalaṁ pātubhavissati.

7.6

So this person is not liable to decline in the future.’

Evamayaṁ puggalo āyatiṁ aparihānadhammo bhavissatī’ti.

7.7

Suppose some seeds were intact, unspoiled, not weather-damaged, fertile, and well-kept. They’re sown in a well-prepared, productive field.

Seyyathāpi, ānanda, bījāni akhaṇḍāni apūtīni avātātapahatāni sāradāni sukhasayitāni sukhette suparikammakatāya bhūmiyā nikkhittāni.

7.8

Wouldn’t you know that those seeds would grow, increase, and mature?”

Jāneyyāsi tvaṁ, ānanda, imāni bījāni vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjissantī”ti?

7.9

“Yes, sir.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

7.10

“In the same way, when I’ve comprehended the mind of a person, I understand …

“Evamevaṁ kho ahaṁ, ānanda, idhekaccaṁ puggalaṁ evaṁ cetasā ceto paricca pajānāmi:

7.11

‘imassa kho puggalassa vijjamānā kusalāpi dhammā akusalāpi dhammā’ti.

7.12

Tamenaṁ aparena samayena evaṁ cetasā ceto paricca pajānāmi:

7.13

‘imassa kho puggalassa kusalā dhammā antarahitā, akusalā dhammā sammukhībhūtā.

7.14

Atthi ca khvassa kusalamūlaṁ asamucchinnaṁ, tamhā tassa kusalā kusalaṁ pātubhavissati.

7.15

This person is not liable to decline in the future …

Evamayaṁ puggalo āyatiṁ aparihānadhammo bhavissatī’ti.

7.16

This is how another individual is known to the Realized One by comprehending their mind.

Evampi kho, ānanda, tathāgatassa purisapuggalo cetasā ceto paricca vidito hoti.

7.17

And this is how the Realized One knows a person’s faculties by comprehending their mind.

Evampi kho, ānanda, tathāgatassa purisindriyañāṇaṁ cetasā ceto paricca viditaṁ hoti.

7.18

And this is how the Realized One knows the future origination of a person’s qualities by comprehending their mind.

Evampi kho, ānanda, tathāgatassa āyatiṁ dhammasamuppādo cetasā ceto paricca vidito hoti.

8.1

When I’ve comprehended the mind of a person, I understand:

Idha panāhaṁ, ānanda, ekaccaṁ puggalaṁ evaṁ cetasā ceto paricca pajānāmi:

8.2

‘Both skillful and unskillful qualities are found in this person.’

‘imassa kho puggalassa vijjamānā kusalāpi dhammā akusalāpi dhammā’ti.

8.3

After some time I comprehend their mind and understand:

Tamenaṁ aparena samayena evaṁ cetasā ceto paricca pajānāmi:

8.4

‘The unskillful qualities of this person have vanished, but the skillful qualities are still present.

‘imassa kho puggalassa akusalā dhammā antarahitā, kusalā dhammā sammukhībhūtā.

8.5

Nevertheless, their unskillful root is unbroken, and from that the unskillful will appear.

Atthi ca khvassa akusalamūlaṁ asamucchinnaṁ, tamhā tassa akusalā akusalaṁ pātubhavissati.

8.6

So this person is still liable to decline in the future.’

Evamayaṁ puggalo āyatiṁ parihānadhammo bhavissatī’ti.

8.7

Suppose some seeds were intact, unspoiled, not weather-damaged, fertile, and well-kept. And they were sown on a broad rock.

Seyyathāpi, ānanda, bījāni akhaṇḍāni apūtīni avātātapahatāni sāradāni sukhasayitāni puthusilāya nikkhittāni.

8.8

Wouldn’t you know that those seeds would not grow, increase, and mature?”

Jāneyyāsi tvaṁ, ānanda, nayimāni bījāni vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjissantī”ti?

8.9

“Yes, sir.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

8.10

“In the same way, when I’ve comprehended the mind of a person, I understand …

“Evamevaṁ kho ahaṁ, ānanda, idhekaccaṁ puggalaṁ evaṁ cetasā ceto paricca pajānāmi:

8.11

‘imassa kho puggalassa vijjamānā kusalāpi dhammā akusalāpi dhammā’ti.

8.12

Tamenaṁ aparena samayena evaṁ cetasā ceto paricca pajānāmi:

8.13

‘imassa kho puggalassa akusalā dhammā antarahitā, kusalā dhammā sammukhībhūtā.

8.14

Atthi ca khvassa akusalamūlaṁ asamucchinnaṁ, tamhā tassa akusalā akusalaṁ pātubhavissati.

8.15

This person is still liable to decline in the future …

Evamayaṁ puggalo āyatiṁ parihānadhammo bhavissatī’ti.

8.16

This is how another individual is known to the Realized One …

Evampi kho, ānanda, tathāgatassa purisapuggalo cetasā ceto paricca vidito hoti.

8.17

Evampi kho, ānanda, tathāgatassa purisindriyañāṇaṁ cetasā ceto paricca viditaṁ hoti.

8.18

Evampi kho, ānanda, tathāgatassa āyatiṁ dhammasamuppādo cetasā ceto paricca vidito hoti.

9.1

When I’ve comprehended the mind of a person, I understand:

Idha panāhaṁ, ānanda, ekaccaṁ puggalaṁ evaṁ cetasā ceto paricca pajānāmi:

9.2

‘Both skillful and unskillful qualities are found in this person.’

‘imassa kho puggalassa vijjamānā kusalāpi dhammā akusalāpi dhammā’ti.

9.3

After some time I comprehend their mind and understand:

Tamenaṁ aparena samayena evaṁ cetasā ceto paricca pajānāmi:

9.4

‘This person has not even a fraction of a hair’s tip of goodness. They have exclusively dark, unskillful qualities. When their body breaks up, after death, they will be reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.’

‘natthi imassa puggalassa vālaggakoṭinittudanamattopi sukko dhammo, samannāgatoyaṁ puggalo ekantakāḷakehi akusalehi dhammehi, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjissatī’ti.

9.5

Suppose some seeds were broken, spoiled, weather-damaged. They’re sown in a well-prepared, productive field.

Seyyathāpi, ānanda, bījāni khaṇḍāni pūtīni vātātapahatāni sukhette suparikammakatāya bhūmiyā nikkhittāni.

9.6

Wouldn’t you know that those seeds would not grow, increase, and mature?”

Jāneyyāsi tvaṁ, ānanda, nayimāni bījāni vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjissantī”ti?

9.7

“Yes, sir.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

9.8

“In the same way, when I’ve comprehended the mind of a person, I understand …

“Evamevaṁ kho ahaṁ, ānanda, idhekaccaṁ puggalaṁ evaṁ cetasā ceto paricca pajānāmi:

9.9

‘imassa kho puggalassa vijjamānā kusalāpi dhammā akusalāpi dhammā’ti.

9.10

Tamenaṁ aparena samayena evaṁ cetasā ceto paricca pajānāmi:

9.11

9.12

Evampi kho, ānanda, tathāgatassa purisapuggalo cetasā ceto paricca vidito hoti.

9.13

Evampi kho, ānanda, tathāgatassa purisindriyañāṇaṁ cetasā ceto paricca viditaṁ hoti.

9.14

Evampi kho, ānanda, tathāgatassa āyatiṁ dhammasamuppādo cetasā ceto paricca vidito hotī”ti.

10.1

When he said this, Venerable Ānanda said to the Buddha,

Evaṁ vutte, āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

10.2

“Sir, can you describe three other persons who are counterparts of these three?”

“sakkā nu kho, bhante, imesaṁ tiṇṇaṁ puggalānaṁ aparepi tayo puggalā sappaṭibhāgā paññāpetun”ti?

10.3

“I can, Ānanda,” said the Buddha.

“Sakkā, ānandā”ti bhagavā avoca:

10.4

“Ānanda, when I’ve comprehended the mind of a person, I understand:

“idhāhaṁ, ānanda, ekaccaṁ puggalaṁ evaṁ cetasā ceto paricca pajānāmi:

10.5

‘Both skillful and unskillful qualities are found in this person.’

‘imassa kho puggalassa vijjamānā kusalāpi dhammā akusalāpi dhammā’ti.

10.6

After some time I comprehend their mind and understand:

Tamenaṁ aparena samayena evaṁ cetasā ceto paricca pajānāmi:

10.7

‘The skillful qualities of this person have vanished, but the unskillful qualities are still present.

‘imassa kho puggalassa kusalā dhammā antarahitā, akusalā dhammā sammukhībhūtā.

10.8

Nevertheless, their skillful root is unbroken, but it’s about to be totally destroyed.

Atthi ca khvassa kusalamūlaṁ asamucchinnaṁ, tampi sabbena sabbaṁ samugghātaṁ gacchati.

10.9

So this person is still liable to decline in the future.’

Evamayaṁ puggalo āyatiṁ parihānadhammo bhavissatī’ti.

10.10

Suppose that there were some burning coals, blazing and glowing. And they were placed on a broad rock.

Seyyathāpi, ānanda, aṅgārāni ādittāni sampajjalitāni sajotibhūtāni puthusilāya nikkhittāni.

10.11

Wouldn’t you know that those coals would not grow, increase, and spread?”

Jāneyyāsi tvaṁ, ānanda, nayimāni aṅgārāni vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjissantī”ti?

10.12

“Yes, sir.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

10.13

“Or suppose it was the late afternoon and the sun was going down. Wouldn’t you know that the light was about to vanish and darkness appear?”

“Seyyathāpi vā pana, ānanda, sāyanhasamayaṁ sūriye ogacchante, jāneyyāsi tvaṁ, ānanda, āloko antaradhāyissati andhakāro pātubhavissatī”ti?

10.14

“Yes, sir.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

10.15

“Or suppose that it’s nearly time for the midnight meal. Wouldn’t you know that the light had vanished and the darkness appeared?”

“Seyyathāpi vā, panānanda, abhido addharattaṁ bhattakālasamaye, jāneyyāsi tvaṁ, ānanda, āloko antarahito andhakāro pātubhūto”ti?

10.16

“Yes, sir.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

10.17

“In the same way, when I’ve comprehended the mind of a person, I understand …

“Evamevaṁ kho ahaṁ, ānanda, idhekaccaṁ puggalaṁ evaṁ cetasā ceto paricca pajānāmi:

10.18

‘imassa kho puggalassa vijjamānā kusalāpi dhammā akusalāpi dhammā’ti.

10.19

Tamenaṁ aparena samayena evaṁ cetasā ceto paricca pajānāmi:

10.20

‘imassa kho puggalassa kusalā dhammā antarahitā, akusalā dhammā sammukhībhūtā.

10.21

Atthi ca khvassa kusalamūlaṁ asamucchinnaṁ, tampi sabbena sabbaṁ samugghātaṁ gacchati.

10.22

This person is still liable to decline in the future …

Evamayaṁ puggalo āyatiṁ parihānadhammo bhavissatī’ti.

10.23

Evampi kho, ānanda, tathāgatassa purisapuggalo cetasā ceto paricca vidito hoti.

10.24

Evampi kho, ānanda, tathāgatassa purisindriyañāṇaṁ cetasā ceto paricca viditaṁ hoti.

10.25

Evampi kho, ānanda, tathāgatassa āyatiṁ dhammasamuppādo cetasā ceto paricca vidito hoti.

11.1

When I’ve comprehended the mind of a person, I understand:

Idha panāhaṁ, ānanda, ekaccaṁ puggalaṁ evaṁ cetasā ceto paricca pajānāmi:

11.2

‘Both skillful and unskillful qualities are found in this person.’

‘imassa kho puggalassa vijjamānā kusalāpi dhammā akusalāpi dhammā’ti.

11.3

After some time I comprehend their mind and understand:

Tamenaṁ aparena samayena evaṁ cetasā ceto paricca pajānāmi:

11.4

‘The unskillful qualities of this person have vanished, but the skillful qualities are still present.

‘imassa kho puggalassa akusalā dhammā antarahitā, kusalā dhammā sammukhībhūtā.

11.5

Nevertheless, their unskillful root is unbroken, but it’s about to be totally destroyed.

Atthi ca khvassa akusalamūlaṁ asamucchinnaṁ, tampi sabbena sabbaṁ samugghātaṁ gacchati.

11.6

So this person is not liable to decline in the future.’

Evamayaṁ puggalo āyatiṁ aparihānadhammo bhavissatī’ti.

11.7

Suppose that there were some burning coals, blazing and glowing. They were placed on a pile of grass or timber.

Seyyathāpi, ānanda, aṅgārāni ādittāni sampajjalitāni sajotibhūtāni sukkhe tiṇapuñje vā kaṭṭhapuñje vā nikkhittāni.

11.8

Wouldn’t you know that those coals would grow, increase, and spread?”

Jāneyyāsi tvaṁ, ānanda, imāni aṅgārāni vuḍḍhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjissantī”ti?

11.9

“Yes, sir.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

11.10

“Suppose it’s the crack of dawn and the sun is rising. Wouldn’t you know that the dark will vanish and the light appear?”

“Seyyathāpi vā panānanda, rattiyā paccūsasamayaṁ sūriye uggacchante, jāneyyāsi tvaṁ, ānanda, andhakāro antaradhāyissati, āloko pātubhavissatī”ti?

11.11

“Yes, sir.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

11.12

“Or suppose that it’s nearly time for the midday meal. Wouldn’t you know that the dark had vanished and the light appeared?”

“Seyyathāpi vā panānanda, abhido majjhanhike bhattakālasamaye, jāneyyāsi tvaṁ, ānanda, andhakāro antarahito āloko pātubhūto”ti?

11.13

“Yes, sir.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

11.14

“In the same way, when I’ve comprehended the mind of a person, I understand …

“Evamevaṁ kho ahaṁ, ānanda, idhekaccaṁ puggalaṁ evaṁ cetasā ceto paricca pajānāmi:

11.15

‘imassa kho puggalassa vijjamānā kusalāpi dhammā akusalāpi dhammā’ti.

11.16

Tamenaṁ aparena samayena evaṁ cetasā ceto paricca pajānāmi:

11.17

‘imassa kho puggalassa akusalā dhammā antarahitā, kusalā dhammā sammukhībhūtā.

11.18

Atthi ca khvassa akusalamūlaṁ asamucchinnaṁ, tampi sabbena sabbaṁ samugghātaṁ gacchati.

11.19

This person is not liable to decline in the future …

Evamayaṁ puggalo āyatiṁ aparihānadhammo bhavissatī’ti.

11.20

Evampi kho, ānanda, tathāgatassa purisapuggalo cetasā ceto paricca vidito hoti.

11.21

Evampi kho, ānanda, tathāgatassa purisindriyañāṇaṁ cetasā ceto paricca viditaṁ hoti.

11.22

Evampi kho, ānanda, tathāgatassa āyatiṁ dhammasamuppādo cetasā ceto paricca vidito hoti.

12.1

When I’ve comprehended the mind of a person, I understand:

Idha panāhaṁ, ānanda, ekaccaṁ puggalaṁ cetasā ceto paricca pajānāmi:

12.2

‘Both skillful and unskillful qualities are found in this person.’

‘imassa kho puggalassa vijjamānā kusalāpi dhammā akusalāpi dhammā’ti.

12.3

After some time I comprehend their mind and understand:

Tamenaṁ aparena samayena evaṁ cetasā ceto paricca pajānāmi:

12.4

‘This person has not even a fraction of a hair’s tip of unskillful qualities. They have exclusively bright, blameless qualities. They will become extinguished in this very life.’

‘natthi imassa puggalassa vālaggakoṭinittudanamattopi akusalo dhammo, samannāgatoyaṁ puggalo ekantasukkehi anavajjehi dhammehi, diṭṭheva dhamme parinibbāyissatī’ti.

12.5

Suppose that there were some cool, extinguished coals. They were placed on a pile of grass or timber.

Seyyathāpi, ānanda, aṅgārāni sītāni nibbutāni sukkhe tiṇapuñje vā kaṭṭhapuñje vā nikkhittāni.

12.6

Wouldn’t you know that those coals would not grow, increase, and spread?”

Jāneyyāsi tvaṁ, ānanda, nayimāni aṅgārāni vuḍḍhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjissantī”ti?

12.7

“Yes, sir.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

12.8

“In the same way, when I’ve comprehended the mind of a person, I understand …

“Evamevaṁ kho ahaṁ, ānanda, idhekaccaṁ puggalaṁ evaṁ cetasā ceto paricca pajānāmi:

12.9

‘imassa kho puggalassa vijjamānā kusalāpi dhammā akusalāpi dhammā’ti.

12.10

Tamenaṁ aparena samayena evaṁ cetasā ceto paricca pajānāmi:

12.11

‘This person has not even a fraction of a hair’s tip of unskillful qualities. They have exclusively bright, blameless qualities. They will become extinguished in this very life.’

‘natthi imassa puggalassa vālaggakoṭinittudanamattopi akusalo dhammo, samannāgatoyaṁ puggalo ekantasukkehi anavajjehi dhammehi, diṭṭheva dhamme parinibbāyissatī’ti.

12.12

This is how another individual is known to the Realized One by comprehending their mind.

Evampi kho, ānanda, tathāgatassa purisapuggalo cetasā ceto paricca vidito hoti.

12.13

And this is how the Realized One knows a person’s faculties by comprehending their mind.

Evampi kho, ānanda, tathāgatassa purisindriyañāṇaṁ cetasā ceto paricca viditaṁ hoti.

12.14

And this is how the Realized One knows the future origination of a person’s qualities by comprehending their mind.

Evampi kho, ānanda, tathāgatassa āyatiṁ dhammasamuppādo cetasā ceto paricca vidito hoti.

13.1

And so, Ānanda, of the first three people one is not liable to decline, one is liable to decline, and one is bound for a place of loss, hell.

Tatrānanda, ye te purimā tayo puggalā tesaṁ tiṇṇaṁ puggalānaṁ eko aparihānadhammo, eko parihānadhammo, eko āpāyiko nerayiko.

13.2

And of the second three people, one is liable to decline, one is not liable to decline, and one is bound to become extinguished.”

Tatrānanda, yeme pacchimā tayo puggalā imesaṁ tiṇṇaṁ puggalānaṁ eko parihānadhammo, eko aparihānadhammo, eko parinibbānadhammo”ti.

13.3

Aṭṭhamaṁ.