Assaparassasutta

Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.141

Numbered Discourses 3.141

14. Yodhājīvavagga

14. A Warrior

Assaparassasutta

Excellent Horses

“Tayo ca, bhikkhave, assaparasse desessāmi tayo ca purisaparasse.

“Mendicants, I will teach you the three excellent horses and the three excellent 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 assaparassā?

“What are the three excellent horses?

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

One excellent horse is fast, but not beautiful or well proportioned.

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

Another excellent horse is fast and beautiful, but not well proportioned.

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

While another excellent horse is fast, beautiful, and well proportioned.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo assaparassā.

These are the three excellent horses.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, tayo purisaparassā?

What are the three excellent people?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And how is an excellent person fast, but not beautiful or well proportioned?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā opapātiko hoti tattha parinibbāyī anāvattidhammo tasmā lokā.

It’s when a mendicant, with the ending of the five lower fetters, is reborn spontaneously. They’re extinguished there, and are not liable to return from that world.

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. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, purisaparasso javasampanno hoti;

This is how they’re not well proportioned, I say. This is how an excellent person is fast,

na vaṇṇasampanno, na ārohapariṇāhasampanno.

but not beautiful or well proportioned.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, purisaparasso javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca, na ārohapariṇāhasampanno?

And how is an excellent person fast and beautiful, but not well proportioned?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā opapātiko hoti tattha parinibbāyī anāvattidhammo tasmā lokā.

It’s when a mendicant, with the ending of the five lower fetters, is reborn spontaneously. They’re extinguished there, and are not liable to return from that world.

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 kho 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, purisaparasso javasampanno ca hoti; vaṇṇasampanno ca, na ārohapariṇāhasampanno.

This is how an excellent person is fast and beautiful, but not well proportioned.

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

And how is an excellent person fast, beautiful, and well proportioned?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā opapātiko hoti tattha parinibbāyī anāvattidhammo tasmā lokā.

It’s when a mendicant, with the ending of the five lower fetters, is reborn spontaneously. They’re extinguished there, and are not liable to return from that world.

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, purisaparasso javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca ārohapariṇāhasampanno ca.

This is how an excellent person is fast, beautiful, and well proportioned.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo purisaparassā”ti.

These are the three excellent people.”

Navamaṁ.