Aṅguttara Nikāya
Chakka-Nipāta
I: Āhuneyya-Vagga

The Book of the Sixes

Chapter I: The Worthy

Sutta 5

Paṭhama Ājānīya Suttaṃ

The Thoroughbred (a)

[203]

Thus have I heard:

Once the Exalted One was dwelling near Sāvatthī,
at Jeta Grove,
in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.

There the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

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

"Monks,¹ a rajah's goodly thoroughbred
endowed with six points
is fit for a rajah,
is a rajah's asset,
is reckoned a rajah's portion.

What six?

Herein, monks, the goodly thoroughbred
endures forms,
sounds,
smells,
tastes,
touches,
and has beauty.

Monks, a rajah's thoroughbred
with these six points
is fit for a rajah,
is a rajah's asset,
is reckoned a rajah's portion.

Even so monks, a monk with six qualities
is worthy of offerings,
worthy of gifts,
worthy of oblations,
meet to be reverently saluted,
the world's peerless field for merit.

What six?

[204] Herein, monks, a monk endures² forms,
sounds,
smells,
tastes,
touches
and things of the mind.

Verily, monks, a monk with these six qualities
is worthy of offerings,
worthy of gifts,
worthy of oblations,
meet to be reverently saluted,
the world's peerless field for merit.'

¹ Cf. above V, § 139.