Aṅguttara Nikāya
VIII. Aṭṭhaka Nipāta
II: Mahā Vagga

The Book of the Eights

II. The Great Chapter

Sutta 15

Mala Suttaṃ

The Stains

[195] [134]

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:

2. 'Monks, there are these eight stains.

What eight?

Monks, non-repeating is the mantras' stain;
not rising¹ is the stain of houses;
sluggishness is the stain of beauty;
carelessness is the stain of a guard;
misconduct is the stain of a woman;
stint is the stain in giving;
evil and unrighteous states
are stains in this world and the next;
but there is a greater stain than these,
ignorance is the greatest stain.

Monks, these are the eight stains.

In non-repeating lies the mantras' stain;
Not rising, that of homes; and sluggishness
Is beauty's stain; a guard's is carelessness;
Misconduct is a woman's stain; in gifts
The stain is stint. In sooth, all sins are stains
Hereafter and on earth. But greater stain
Than these is ignorance, the greatest stain.²

¹ Aniṭṭhāna.