Aṅguttara Nikāya
VIII. Aṭṭhaka Nipāta
VI. Gotamī Vagga

VIII. The Book of the Eights

VI: The Gotamid

Sutta 59

Paṭhama Aṭṭha-Puggala Suttaṃ

The Eight Persons (a)

[193]

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 eight¹ persons worthy of offerings,
worthy of gifts,
worthy of oblations,
meet to be reverently saluted,
the world's peerless field for merit.

What eight?

The Streamwinner,

■

he who attains to the realization of the fruit of Streamwinning,

■

the Once-returner,

■

he who attains to the realization of the fruit of the Once-returner,

■

the Non-returner,

■

he who attains to the realization of the fruit of the Non-returner,

■

the Arahant,

■

and he who attains to to the realization of the fruit of Arahantship.^ed1

[194]Monks, these are the eight persons worthy of offerings
worthy of gifts,
worthy of oblations,
meet to be reverently saluted,
the world's peerless field for merit.

Lo! Four there are who travel [on the Way],
And there are four who in fruition stand:
This the community,² upright become,
In virtue and in wisdom wholly trained.
A gift to this community by men
Bestowing alms, by mortals seeking good,
Performing deeds of merit, which ensures
Rebirth³ (as man), is very rich in fruit.'

¹ This set recurs at D. iii, 255; cf. K.S. i, 297 for the gāthā.

² Esa sangho ujubhūto.

³ Opadhika.