Assakhaḷuṅkasutta

Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.140

Numbered Discourses 3.140

14. Yodhājīvavagga

14. A Warrior

Assakhaḷuṅkasutta

A Wild Colt

“Tayo ca, bhikkhave, assakhaḷuṅke desessāmi tayo ca purisakhaḷuṅke.

“Mendicants, I will teach you about three wild colts and three wild people.

Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.

Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.

“Yes, sir,” they replied.

Bhagavā etadavoca:

The Buddha said this:

“Katame ca, bhikkhave, tayo assakhaḷuṅkā?

“What are the three wild colts?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco assakhaḷuṅko javasampanno hoti; na vaṇṇasampanno, na ārohapariṇāhasampanno.

One wild colt is fast, but not beautiful or well proportioned.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco assakhaḷuṅko javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca; na ārohapariṇāhasampanno.

Another wild colt is fast and beautiful, but not well proportioned.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco assakhaḷuṅko javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca ārohapariṇāhasampanno ca.

While another wild colt is fast, beautiful, and well proportioned.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo assakhaḷuṅkā.

These are the three wild colts.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, tayo purisakhaḷuṅkā?

And what are the three wild people?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco purisakhaḷuṅko javasampanno hoti; na vaṇṇasampanno, na ārohapariṇāhasampanno.

One wild person is fast, but not beautiful or well proportioned.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco purisakhaḷuṅko javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca; na ārohapariṇāhasampanno.

Another wild person is fast and beautiful, but not well proportioned.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco purisakhaḷuṅko javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca ārohapariṇāhasampanno ca.

While another wild person is fast, beautiful, and well proportioned.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, purisakhaḷuṅko javasampanno hoti; na vaṇṇasampanno na ārohapariṇāhasampanno?

And how is a wild person fast, but not beautiful or well proportioned?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti.

It’s when a mendicant truly understands: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’.

Idamassa javasmiṁ vadāmi.

This is how they’re fast, I say.

Abhidhamme kho pana abhivinaye pañhaṁ puṭṭho saṁsādeti, no vissajjeti.

But when asked a question about the teaching or training, they falter without answering.

Idamassa na vaṇṇasmiṁ vadāmi.

This is how they’re not beautiful, I say.

Na kho pana lābhī hoti cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ.

And they don’t receive robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.

Idamassa na ārohapariṇāhasmiṁ vadāmi.

This is how they’re not well proportioned, I say.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, purisakhaḷuṅko javasampanno hoti; na vaṇṇasampanno, na ārohapariṇāhasampanno.

This is how a wild person is fast, but not beautiful or well proportioned.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, purisakhaḷuṅko javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca; na ārohapariṇāhasampanno?

And how is a wild person fast and beautiful, but not well proportioned?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti.

It’s when a mendicant truly understands: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’.

Idamassa javasmiṁ vadāmi.

This is how they’re fast, I say.

Abhidhamme kho pana abhivinaye pañhaṁ puṭṭho vissajjeti, no saṁsādeti.

When asked a question about the teaching or training, they answer without faltering.

Idamassa vaṇṇasmiṁ vadāmi.

This is how they’re beautiful, I say.

Na pana lābhī hoti cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ.

But they don’t receive robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.

Idamassa na ārohapariṇāhasmiṁ vadāmi.

This is how they’re not well proportioned, I say.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, purisakhaḷuṅko javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca; na ārohapariṇāhasampanno.

This is how a wild person is fast and beautiful, but not well proportioned.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, purisakhaḷuṅko javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca ārohapariṇāhasampanno ca?

And how is a wild person fast, beautiful, and well proportioned?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti.

It’s when a mendicant truly understands: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’.

Idamassa javasmiṁ vadāmi.

This is how they’re fast, I say.

Abhidhamme kho pana abhivinaye pañhaṁ puṭṭho vissajjeti, no saṁsādeti.

When asked a question about the teaching or training, they answer without faltering.

Idamassa vaṇṇasmiṁ vadāmi.

This is how they’re beautiful, I say.

Lābhī kho pana hoti cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ.

They receive robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.

Idamassa ārohapariṇāhasmiṁ vadāmi.

This is how they’re well proportioned, I say.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, purisakhaḷuṅko javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca ārohapariṇāhasampanno ca.

This is how a wild person is fast, beautiful, and well proportioned.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo purisakhaḷuṅkā”ti.

These are the three wild people.”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.