Excellent Horses Assaparassasutta

“Mendicants, I will teach you the three excellent horses and the three excellent people. “Tayo ca, bhikkhave, assaparasse desessāmi tayo ca purisaparasse. Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.” Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.

“Yes, sir,” they replied. “Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. The Buddha said this: Bhagavā etadavoca:

“What are the three excellent horses? “Katame ca, bhikkhave, tayo assaparassā? One excellent horse is fast, but not beautiful or well proportioned. Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco assaparasso javasampanno hoti; na vaṇṇasampanno na ārohapariṇāhasampanno. Another excellent horse is fast and beautiful, but not well proportioned. Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco assaparasso javasampanno hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca; na ārohapariṇāhasampanno. While another excellent horse is fast, beautiful, and well proportioned. Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco assaparasso javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca ārohapariṇāhasampanno ca.

These are the three excellent horses. Ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo assaparassā.

What are the three excellent people? Katame ca, bhikkhave, tayo purisaparassā? One excellent person is fast, but not beautiful or well proportioned. Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco purisaparasso javasampanno hoti; na vaṇṇasampanno na ārohapariṇāhasampanno. Another excellent person is fast and beautiful, but not well proportioned. Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco purisaparasso javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca; na ārohapariṇāhasampanno. While another excellent person is fast, beautiful, and well proportioned. Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco purisaparasso javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca ārohapariṇāhasampanno ca.

And how is an excellent person fast, but not beautiful or well proportioned? Kathañca, bhikkhave, purisaparasso javasampanno hoti; na vaṇṇasampanno, na ārohapariṇāhasampanno? It’s when a mendicant, with the ending of the five lower fetters, is reborn spontaneously. They’re extinguished there, and are not liable to return from that world. Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā opapātiko hoti tattha parinibbāyī anāvattidhammo tasmā lokā. This is how they’re fast, I say. Idamassa javasmiṁ vadāmi. But when asked a question about the teaching or training, they falter without answering. Abhidhamme kho pana abhivinaye pañhaṁ puṭṭho saṁsādeti, no vissajjeti. This is how they’re not beautiful, I say. Idamassa na vaṇṇasmiṁ vadāmi. And they don’t receive robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. Na kho pana lābhī hoti cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ. This is how they’re not well proportioned, I say. This is how an excellent person is fast, Idamassa na ārohapariṇāhasmiṁ vadāmi. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, purisaparasso javasampanno hoti; but not beautiful or well proportioned. na vaṇṇasampanno, na ārohapariṇāhasampanno.

And how is an excellent person fast and beautiful, but not well proportioned? Kathañca, bhikkhave, purisaparasso javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca, na ārohapariṇāhasampanno? It’s when a mendicant, with the ending of the five lower fetters, is reborn spontaneously. They’re extinguished there, and are not liable to return from that world. Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā opapātiko hoti tattha parinibbāyī anāvattidhammo tasmā lokā. This is how they’re fast, I say. Idamassa javasmiṁ vadāmi. When asked a question about the teaching or training, they answer without faltering. Abhidhamme kho pana abhivinaye pañhaṁ puṭṭho vissajjeti, no saṁsādeti. This is how they’re beautiful, I say. Idamassa vaṇṇasmiṁ vadāmi. But they don’t receive robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. Na kho pana lābhī hoti cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ. This is how they’re not well proportioned, I say. Idamassa na ārohapariṇāhasmiṁ vadāmi. This is how an excellent person is fast and beautiful, but not well proportioned. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, purisaparasso javasampanno ca hoti; vaṇṇasampanno ca, na ārohapariṇāhasampanno.

And how is an excellent person fast, beautiful, and well proportioned? Kathañca, bhikkhave, purisaparasso javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca ārohapariṇāhasampanno ca? It’s when a mendicant, with the ending of the five lower fetters, is reborn spontaneously. They’re extinguished there, and are not liable to return from that world. Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā opapātiko hoti tattha parinibbāyī anāvattidhammo tasmā lokā. This is how they’re fast, I say. Idamassa javasmiṁ vadāmi. When asked a question about the teaching or training, they answer without faltering. Abhidhamme kho pana abhivinaye pañhaṁ puṭṭho vissajjeti, no saṁsādeti. This is how they’re beautiful, I say. Idamassa vaṇṇasmiṁ vadāmi. They receive robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. Lābhī kho pana hoti cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ. This is how they’re well proportioned, I say. Idamassa ārohapariṇāhasmiṁ vadāmi. This is how an excellent person is fast, beautiful, and well proportioned. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, purisaparasso javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca ārohapariṇāhasampanno ca.

These are the three excellent people.” Ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo purisaparassā”ti.