Aṅguttara Nikāya
Sattaka Nipāta
Dhana Vaggo

The Book of the Sevens

Chapter I: Treasures

Sutta 3

Saṅkhitta Satta-Bala Suttaṃ

Powers in Brief

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, these are the seven powers.

What seven?

The power of faith,
energy,
conscientiousness,
fear of blame,
mindfulness,
concentration
and wisdom.¹

Verily, monks, these are the seven.

Faith, energy, conscientiousness, fear of blame,
Mindfulness, concentration, wisdom seventh -
Well-armed with such the wise monk dwells at ease,
Tests Dhamma's moulding,² wisdom's goal discerns,
And, as a quenched flame,³ is freed in heart.

¹ D. iii, 253; M. ii, 12; S. v, 193; Dh.S. trsl. 20; for other sets of powers, see below, pp. 150 and 241; cf. also D. iii, 229; A. ii, 141; iii, 10.

² S. i, 34, yoniso vicine dhammaṃ.