sutta » an » an7 » Aṅguttara Nikāya 7.68

Dhammaññūsutta

One Who Knows the Teachings

“Sattahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu āhuneyyo hoti …pe… anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassa.
“A mendicant with seven qualities is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of veneration with joined palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.

Katamehi sattahi?
What seven?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dhammaññū ca hoti atthaññū ca attaññū ca mattaññū ca kālaññū ca parisaññū ca puggalaparoparaññū ca.
It’s when a mendicant knows the teachings, knows the meaning, has self-knowledge, knows moderation, knows the right time, knows assemblies, and knows people high and low.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dhammaññū hoti?
And how is a mendicant one who knows the teachings?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dhammaṁ jānāti—
It’s when a mendicant knows the teachings:

suttaṁ geyyaṁ veyyākaraṇaṁ gāthaṁ udānaṁ itivuttakaṁ jātakaṁ abbhutadhammaṁ vedallaṁ.
statements, mixed prose & verse, discussions, verses, inspired exclamations, legends, stories of past lives, amazing stories, and elaborations.

No ce, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dhammaṁ jāneyya—
If a mendicant did not know these teachings,

suttaṁ geyyaṁ …pe… abbhutadhammaṁ vedallaṁ, nayidha ‘dhammaññū’ti vucceyya.
they would not be called ‘one who knows the teachings’.

Yasmā ca kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dhammaṁ jānāti—
But because they do know these teachings,

suttaṁ geyyaṁ …pe… abbhutadhammaṁ vedallaṁ, tasmā ‘dhammaññū’ti vuccati.
they are called ‘one who knows the teachings’.

Iti dhammaññū.
Such is the one who knows the teachings.

Atthaññū ca kathaṁ hoti?
And how are they one who knows the meaning?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu tassa tasseva bhāsitassa atthaṁ jānāti:
It’s when a mendicant knows the meaning of this or that statement:

‘ayaṁ imassa bhāsitassa attho, ayaṁ imassa bhāsitassa attho’ti.
‘This is what that statement means; that is what this statement means.’

No ce, bhikkhave, bhikkhu tassa tasseva bhāsitassa atthaṁ jāneyya:
If a mendicant did not know the meaning of this or that statement,

‘ayaṁ imassa bhāsitassa attho, ayaṁ imassa bhāsitassa attho’ti, nayidha ‘atthaññū’ti vucceyya.
they would not be called ‘one who knows the meaning’.

Yasmā ca kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu tassa tasseva bhāsitassa atthaṁ jānāti:
But because they do know the meaning of this or that statement,

‘ayaṁ imassa bhāsitassa attho, ayaṁ imassa bhāsitassa attho’ti, tasmā ‘atthaññū’ti vuccati.
they are called ‘one who knows the meaning’.

Iti dhammaññū, atthaññū.
Such is the one who knows the teachings and the one who knows the meaning.

Attaññū ca kathaṁ hoti?
And how are they one who has self-knowledge?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu attānaṁ jānāti:
It’s when a mendicant has self-knowledge:

‘ettakomhi saddhāya sīlena sutena cāgena paññāya paṭibhānenā’ti.
‘This is the extent of my faith, ethics, learning, generosity, wisdom, and eloquence.’

No ce, bhikkhave, bhikkhu attānaṁ jāneyya:
If a mendicant did not have self-knowledge,

‘ettakomhi saddhāya sīlena sutena cāgena paññāya paṭibhānenā’ti, nayidha ‘attaññū’ti vucceyya.
they would not be called ‘one who has self-knowledge’.

Yasmā ca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu attānaṁ jānāti:
But because they do have self-knowledge,

‘ettakomhi saddhāya sīlena sutena cāgena paññāya paṭibhānenā’ti, tasmā ‘attaññū’ti vuccati.
they are called ‘one who has self-knowledge’.

Iti dhammaññū, atthaññū, attaññū.
Such is the one who knows the teachings, the one who knows the meaning, and the one who has self-knowledge.

Mattaññū ca kathaṁ hoti?
And how are they one who knows moderation?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu mattaṁ jānāti cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ paṭiggahaṇāya.
It’s when a mendicant knows moderation when receiving robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.

No ce, bhikkhave, bhikkhu mattaṁ jāneyya cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ paṭiggahaṇāya, nayidha ‘mattaññū’ti vucceyya.
If a mendicant did not know moderation, they would not be called ‘one who knows moderation’.

Yasmā ca kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu mattaṁ jānāti cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ paṭiggahaṇāya, tasmā ‘mattaññū’ti vuccati.
But because they do know moderation, they are called ‘one who knows moderation’.

Iti dhammaññū, atthaññū, attaññū, mattaññū.
Such is the one who knows the teachings, the one who knows the meaning, the one who has self-knowledge, and the one who knows moderation.

Kālaññū ca kathaṁ hoti?
And how are they one who knows the right time?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kālaṁ jānāti:
It’s when a mendicant knows the right time:

‘ayaṁ kālo uddesassa, ayaṁ kālo paripucchāya, ayaṁ kālo yogassa, ayaṁ kālo paṭisallānassā’ti.
‘This is the time for recitation; this is the time for questioning; this is the time for meditation; this is the time for retreat.’

No ce, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kālaṁ jāneyya:
If a mendicant did not know the right time,

‘ayaṁ kālo uddesassa, ayaṁ kālo paripucchāya, ayaṁ kālo yogassa, ayaṁ kālo paṭisallānassā’ti, nayidha ‘kālaññū’ti vucceyya.
they would not be called ‘one who knows the right time’.

Yasmā ca kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kālaṁ jānāti:
But because they do know the right time,

‘ayaṁ kālo uddesassa, ayaṁ kālo paripucchāya, ayaṁ kālo yogassa, ayaṁ kālo paṭisallānassā’ti, tasmā ‘kālaññū’ti vuccati.
they are called ‘one who knows the right time’.

Iti dhammaññū, atthaññū, attaññū, mattaññū, kālaññū.
Such is the one who knows the teachings, the one who knows the meaning, the one who has self-knowledge, the one who knows moderation, and the one who knows the right time.

Parisaññū ca kathaṁ hoti?
And how are they one who knows assemblies?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu parisaṁ jānāti:
It’s when a mendicant knows assemblies:

‘ayaṁ khattiyaparisā, ayaṁ brāhmaṇaparisā, ayaṁ gahapatiparisā, ayaṁ samaṇaparisā.
‘This is an assembly of aristocrats, of brahmins, of householders, or of ascetics.

Tattha evaṁ upasaṅkamitabbaṁ, evaṁ ṭhātabbaṁ, evaṁ kattabbaṁ, evaṁ nisīditabbaṁ, evaṁ bhāsitabbaṁ, evaṁ tuṇhī bhavitabban’ti.
This one should be approached in this way. This is how to stand, to act, to sit, to speak, or to stay silent when there.’

No ce, bhikkhave, bhikkhu parisaṁ jāneyya:
If a mendicant did not know assemblies,

‘ayaṁ khattiyaparisā …pe…

evaṁ tuṇhī bhavitabban’ti, nayidha ‘parisaññū’ti vucceyya.
they would not be called ‘one who knows assemblies’.

Yasmā ca kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu parisaṁ jānāti:
But because they do know assemblies,

‘ayaṁ khattiyaparisā, ayaṁ brāhmaṇaparisā, ayaṁ gahapatiparisā, ayaṁ samaṇaparisā.

Tattha evaṁ upasaṅkamitabbaṁ, evaṁ ṭhātabbaṁ, evaṁ kattabbaṁ, evaṁ nisīditabbaṁ, evaṁ bhāsitabbaṁ, evaṁ tuṇhī bhavitabban’ti, tasmā ‘parisaññū’ti vuccati.
they are called ‘one who knows assemblies’.

Iti dhammaññū, atthaññū, attaññū, mattaññū, kālaññū, parisaññū.
Such is the one who knows the teachings, the one who knows the meaning, the one who has self-knowledge, the one who knows moderation, the one who knows the right time, and the one who knows assemblies.

Puggalaparoparaññū ca kathaṁ hoti?
And how are they one who knows people high and low?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno dvayena puggalā viditā honti.
It’s when a mendicant understands people in terms of pairs.

Dve puggalā—
Two people:

eko ariyānaṁ dassanakāmo, eko ariyānaṁ na dassanakāmo.
one likes to see the noble ones, one does not.

Yvāyaṁ puggalo ariyānaṁ na dassanakāmo,
The person who doesn’t like to see the noble ones

evaṁ so tenaṅgena gārayho.
is reprehensible in that respect.

Yvāyaṁ puggalo ariyānaṁ dassanakāmo,
The person who does like to see the noble ones

evaṁ so tenaṅgena pāsaṁso. .1
is praiseworthy in that respect.

Dve puggalā ariyānaṁ dassanakāmā—
Two people like to see the noble ones:

eko saddhammaṁ sotukāmo, eko saddhammaṁ na sotukāmo.
one likes to hear the true teaching, one does not.

Yvāyaṁ puggalo saddhammaṁ na sotukāmo,
The person who doesn’t like to hear the true teaching

evaṁ so tenaṅgena gārayho.
is reprehensible in that respect.

Yvāyaṁ puggalo saddhammaṁ sotukāmo,
The person who does like to hear the true teaching

evaṁ so tenaṅgena pāsaṁso. .2
is praiseworthy in that respect.

Dve puggalā saddhammaṁ sotukāmā—
Two people like to hear the true teaching:

eko ohitasoto dhammaṁ suṇāti, eko anohitasoto dhammaṁ suṇāti.
one actively listens to the teaching, one does not.

Yvāyaṁ puggalo anohitasoto dhammaṁ suṇāti,
The person who doesn’t actively listen to the teaching

evaṁ so tenaṅgena gārayho.
is reprehensible in that respect.

Yvāyaṁ puggalo ohitasoto dhammaṁ suṇāti,
The person who does actively listen to the teaching

evaṁ so tenaṅgena pāsaṁso. .3
is praiseworthy in that respect.

Dve puggalā ohitasotā dhammaṁ suṇanti—
Two people actively listen to the teaching:

eko sutvā dhammaṁ dhāreti, eko sutvā dhammaṁ na dhāreti.
one remembers the teaching they’ve heard, one does not.

Yvāyaṁ puggalo sutvā na dhammaṁ dhāreti,
The person who doesn’t remember the teaching they’ve heard

evaṁ so tenaṅgena gārayho.
is reprehensible in that respect.

Yvāyaṁ puggalo sutvā dhammaṁ dhāreti,
The person who does remember the teaching they’ve heard

evaṁ so tenaṅgena pāsaṁso. .4
is praiseworthy in that respect.

Dve puggalā sutvā dhammaṁ dhārenti—
Two people remember the teaching they’ve heard:

eko dhātānaṁ dhammānaṁ atthaṁ upaparikkhati, eko dhātānaṁ dhammānaṁ atthaṁ na upaparikkhati.
one reflects on the meaning of the teachings they have remembered, one does not.

Yvāyaṁ puggalo dhātānaṁ dhammānaṁ atthaṁ na upaparikkhati,
The person who does not reflect on the meaning of the teachings they have remembered

evaṁ so tenaṅgena gārayho.
is reprehensible in that respect.

Yvāyaṁ puggalo dhātānaṁ dhammānaṁ atthaṁ upaparikkhati,
The person who does reflect on the meaning of the teachings they have remembered

evaṁ so tenaṅgena pāsaṁso. .5
is praiseworthy in that respect.

Dve puggalā dhātānaṁ dhammānaṁ atthaṁ upaparikkhanti—
Two people reflect on the meaning of the teachings they have remembered:

eko atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammappaṭipanno, eko atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya na dhammānudhammappaṭipanno.
one understands the meaning and the teaching and practices accordingly, one understands the meaning and the teaching but does not practice accordingly.

Yvāyaṁ puggalo atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya na dhammānudhammappaṭipanno,
The person who understands the meaning and the teaching but does not practice accordingly

evaṁ so tenaṅgena gārayho.
is reprehensible in that respect.

Yvāyaṁ puggalo atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammappaṭipanno,
The person who understands the meaning and the teaching and practices accordingly

evaṁ so tenaṅgena pāsaṁso. .6
is praiseworthy in that respect.

Dve puggalā atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammappaṭipannā—
Two people understand the meaning and the teaching and practice accordingly:

eko attahitāya paṭipanno no parahitāya, eko attahitāya ca paṭipanno parahitāya ca.
one practices to benefit themselves but not others, and one practices to benefit both themselves and others.

Yvāyaṁ puggalo attahitāya paṭipanno no parahitāya,
The person who practices to benefit themselves but not others

evaṁ so tenaṅgena gārayho.
is reprehensible in that respect.

Yvāyaṁ puggalo attahitāya ca paṭipanno parahitāya ca,
The person who practices to benefit both themselves and others

evaṁ so tenaṅgena pāsaṁso. .7
is praiseworthy in that respect.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno dvayena puggalā viditā honti.
That’s how a mendicant understands people in terms of pairs.

Evaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu puggalaparoparaññū hoti.
That’s how a mendicant is one who knows people high and low.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, sattahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu āhuneyyo hoti pāhuneyyo …pe… anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassā”ti.
A mendicant with these seven qualities is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of veneration with joined palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.”

Catutthaṁ.