Aṅguttara Nikāya
Pañcaka Nipāta
9. Thera Vagga

The Book of the Fives

IX. The Elder

Sutta 86

Paṭisambidā-Patta Suttaṃ

Analysis

[89]

THUS have I heard:

Once the Exalted One was dwelling near Sāvatthī,
at Jeta Grove, in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park;
and there he addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

'Yes, lord,' they replied;
and the Exalted One said:

"Monks, possessed of five qualities,
among his fellows in the godly life
an elder becomes dear and pleasant,
respected and what he ought to become.

He is a master of logical analysis;
a master in analysing causal relations;
a master of grammatical analysis;
a master in analyzing things knowable;¹
what things have to be done by his fellow-men,
living the godly life,
either great or small,
therein he is able and active,
alive to investigating such matters;
ready to do and get them done.²

Monks, possessed of these five qualities,
among his fellows in the godly life
an elder becomes dear and pleasant,
respected and what he ought to become.

¹ See discussion on these terms at Pts. of Contr. 377 ff. On these terms our Comy. observes: pañcasu atthesu pabhedagatañāṇaṃ patto; catubbhidhe dhamme ...; dhamma-niruttisu ...; tesu tīṇi ñāṇesu ...