Aṅguttara Nikāya
VIII. Aṭṭhaka Nipāta
III: Gahapati-Vagga

The Book of the Eights

III: On Householders

Sutta 27

Bala suttaṃ

Attributes (a)

[223] [150]

'Monks, there are these eight attributes.¹

What eight?

The attribute of children is crying;
of women-folk, scolding;
of thieves, fighting;²
of rajahs, rule;
of fools, contention;³
of wise men, suavity;
of the learned, scrutiny;⁴
of recluse and godly man, patience.

These, monks, are the eight attributes.'

¹ Bala, generally 'power,' as above, p.2.

² Āvudha, lit. weapon.

³ Ujjhatti. Comy. ujjhāna; cf. Dhp. 253; Proverbs xviii, 6.