Aṅguttara Nikāya
Pañcaka-Nipāta
XVII. Āghāta Vaggo

The Book of the Fives

Chapter XVII: Malice

Sutta 165

Pañha-Pucchā Suttaṃ

On Asking Questions

[141]

Thus have I heard:^ed1

Once the venerable Sāriputta addressed the monks, saying:

'Reverend sirs.'

'Reverend sir,' they replied;
and Sāriputta said:

'All who question another
are in five states (of mind)
or one of them.

What five?

One being foolish and blind
questions another;¹

■

one filled with evil desires and covetousness
questions another;

■

one contemptuously
questions another;

■

one seeking knowledge
questions another;

■

or one questions another uncertainly,² thinking:

If questioned by me
he explain rightly,
it is well;
but if questioned by me
he explain not rightly,
I will explain to him.

Reverend sirs, all who question another are in these five states or in one of them.

Reverend sirs, when I question another, verily I am thus minded:

If questioned by me
he explain rightly,
it is well;
but if questioned by me
he explain not rightly,
I will explain to him.'

¹ Cf. above, § 93.

² Pakuppanto, from √kup, to he agitated; cf. M. i, 187, of the elements; F. Dial. trsl., wroth. Cf. 1 Corinthians ix, 26, but just in the opposite way: 'I therefore so run, not as uncertainly.'