Aṅguttara Nikāya
IV. Catukka Nipāta
II. Cara Vagga

The Book of the Fours

Chapter II: Deportment

Sutta 20

Bhattuddesa Suttaṃ

The Food-Steward

[19] [19]

Thus have I heard:

On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.

Then the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," they replied, and the Exalted One said:

"Monks, possessed of four qualities
a food-steward is put into Purgatory
according to his deserts.¹

What are the four?

He goes to the no-bourn through desire,
he goes to the no-bourn through ill-will,
he goes to the no-bourn through delusion,
he goes to the no-bourn through fear.

Possessed of these four qualities,
a food-steward is put into Purgatory
according to his deserts.

Monks, possessed of four qualities
a food-steward is put into Heaven
according to his deserts.

What four?

He goes not to the no-bourn through desire,
he goes not to the no-bourn through ill-will,
he goes not to the no-bourn through delusion,
he goes not to the no-bourn through fear.

Whatever folk are unrestrained in lusts,
Not led by Dhamma or respect for Dhamma,²
Led by desire, ill-will and fear they go:³
"A blemish to the company"⁴ they're called.
Thus was it said by the Samana who knows.⁵

Therefore those worthy ones and worthy praise
Who, fixed in Dhamma, do no evil deed,
Not going by desire, ill-will and fear, -
"Cream of the company" such ones are called.
Thus was it said by the Samana who knows.'

¹ Yathābhataṃ. Cf. A. i, 8; G.S. i, 6 n.; infra, Ch. VII, 4. For the food-steward or almoner (bhattuddesako) cf. Vin. i, 58; A. iii, 274; JA. i, 5. There were evidently 'unjust stewards' in those days.

² Dhammika seems to be the equivalent of 'conscientious.'

³ The gāthās omit the third quality, moha.

⁴ Parisa-kkasāvo. Cf. infra, text 225 (p. dussana) and Dhp. v. 9. Kasāva is an astringent, opp. to maṇḍa below; Comy. paraphr. by p-hacavara (dust-heap).