Aṅguttara Nikāya
Catukka Nipāta
XIV: Puggala Vagga

The Book of the Fours

XIV: On Persons

Sutta 140

Vādī Suttaṃ

Expounder

 

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[142]

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, there are these four expounders.

What four?

There is the expounder
who is at a loss¹ as regards the meaning
but not the letter (of a passage).

There is the expounder
who is at a loss as regards the letter
but not the meaning (of a passage).

There is the expounder
who is at a loss as regards the meaning
and the letter (of a passage).

And there is the expounder
who is not at a loss either as regards the meaning
or as regards the letter (of a passage).

These are the four.

Monks, it is unlikely,
it is impossible
that one possessed of the four analytical powers²
should be at a loss
both in the meaning
and in the letter.'

 

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¹ Pariyādānaṃ gacchati, 'when asked for exegesis he comes to a stand. Cf. Pugg. 13.

² The four pattsambhida are: analysis of meaning (attha), of reasons (dhamma), of definitions (nirutti), of wisdom (paṭibhāna). Cf. § 173.