Potaliyasutta With Potaliya the Wanderer

Atha kho potaliyo paribbājako yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi. Then the wanderer Potaliya went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho potaliyaṁ paribbājakaṁ bhagavā etadavoca: When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side, and the Buddha said to him:

“Cattārome, potaliya, puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ. “Potaliya, these four individuals are found in the world. Katame cattāro? What four?

Idha, potaliya, ekacco puggalo avaṇṇārahassa avaṇṇaṁ bhāsitā hoti bhūtaṁ tacchaṁ kālena, no ca kho vaṇṇārahassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsitā hoti bhūtaṁ tacchaṁ kālena. One individual criticizes those deserving of criticism at the right time, truthfully and correctly. But they don’t praise those deserving of praise at the right time, truthfully and correctly.

Idha pana, potaliya, ekacco puggalo vaṇṇārahassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsitā hoti bhūtaṁ tacchaṁ kālena, no ca kho avaṇṇārahassa avaṇṇaṁ bhāsitā hoti bhūtaṁ tacchaṁ kālena. Another individual praises those deserving of praise … But they don’t criticize those deserving of criticism …

Idha pana, potaliya, ekacco puggalo neva avaṇṇārahassa avaṇṇaṁ bhāsitā hoti bhūtaṁ tacchaṁ kālena, no ca vaṇṇārahassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsitā hoti bhūtaṁ tacchaṁ kālena. Another individual doesn’t praise those deserving of praise … Nor do they criticize those deserving of criticism …

Idha pana, potaliya, ekacco puggalo avaṇṇārahassa ca avaṇṇaṁ bhāsitā hoti bhūtaṁ tacchaṁ kālena, vaṇṇārahassa ca vaṇṇaṁ bhāsitā hoti bhūtaṁ tacchaṁ kālena. Another individual criticizes those deserving of criticism at the right time, truthfully and correctly. And they praise those deserving of praise at the right time, truthfully and correctly.

Ime kho, potaliya, cattāro puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ. These are the four individuals found in the world. Imesaṁ kho, potaliya, catunnaṁ puggalānaṁ katamo te puggalo khamati abhikkantataro ca paṇītataro cā”ti? Of these four individuals, who do you believe to be the finest?”

“Cattārome, bho gotama, puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ. Katame cattāro? Idha, bho gotama, ekacco puggalo avaṇṇārahassa avaṇṇaṁ bhāsitā hoti bhūtaṁ tacchaṁ kālena, no ca kho vaṇṇārahassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsitā hoti bhūtaṁ tacchaṁ kālena. Idha pana, bho gotama, ekacco puggalo vaṇṇārahassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsitā hoti bhūtaṁ tacchaṁ kālena, no ca kho avaṇṇārahassa avaṇṇaṁ bhāsitā hoti bhūtaṁ tacchaṁ kālena. Idha pana, bho gotama, ekacco puggalo neva avaṇṇārahassa avaṇṇaṁ bhāsitā hoti bhūtaṁ tacchaṁ kālena, no ca vaṇṇārahassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsitā hoti bhūtaṁ tacchaṁ kālena. Idha pana, bho gotama, ekacco puggalo avaṇṇārahassa ca avaṇṇaṁ bhāsitā hoti bhūtaṁ tacchaṁ kālena, vaṇṇārahassa ca vaṇṇaṁ bhāsitā hoti bhūtaṁ tacchaṁ kālena. Ime kho, bho gotama, cattāro puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ. Imesaṁ, bho gotama, catunnaṁ puggalānaṁ yvāyaṁ puggalo neva avaṇṇārahassa avaṇṇaṁ bhāsitā hoti bhūtaṁ tacchaṁ kālena, no ca vaṇṇārahassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsitā hoti bhūtaṁ tacchaṁ kālena; “Mister Gotama, of these four individuals, it is the individual who neither praises those deserving of praise at the right time, truthfully and correctly; nor criticizes those deserving of criticism at the right time, truthfully and correctly. ayaṁ me puggalo khamati imesaṁ catunnaṁ puggalānaṁ abhikkantataro ca paṇītataro ca. That is the individual I believe to be the finest. Taṁ kissa hetu? Why is that? Abhikkantā hesā, bho gotama, yadidaṁ upekkhā”ti. Because, worthy Gotama, equanimity is the best.”

“Cattārome, potaliya, puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ. Katame cattāro …pe… ime kho, potaliya, cattāro puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ. Imesaṁ kho, potaliya, catunnaṁ puggalānaṁ yvāyaṁ puggalo avaṇṇārahassa ca avaṇṇaṁ bhāsitā hoti bhūtaṁ tacchaṁ kālena, vaṇṇārahassa ca vaṇṇaṁ bhāsitā hoti bhūtaṁ tacchaṁ kālena; “Potaliya, of these four individuals, it is the individual who criticizes those deserving of criticism at the right time, truthfully and correctly; and praises those deserving of praise at the right time, truthfully and correctly. ayaṁ imesaṁ catunnaṁ puggalānaṁ abhikkantataro ca paṇītataro ca. That is the individual I consider to be the finest. Taṁ kissa hetu? Why is that? Abhikkantā hesā, potaliya, yadidaṁ tattha tattha kālaññutā”ti. Because, Potaliya, understanding of time and context is the best.”

“Cattārome, bho gotama, puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ. Katame cattāro …pe… ime kho, bho gotama, cattāro puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ. Imesaṁ, bho gotama, catunnaṁ puggalānaṁ yvāyaṁ puggalo avaṇṇārahassa ca avaṇṇaṁ bhāsitā bhūtaṁ tacchaṁ kālena, vaṇṇārahassa ca vaṇṇaṁ bhāsitā bhūtaṁ tacchaṁ kālena; “Mister Gotama, of these four individuals, it is the individual who criticizes those deserving of criticism at the right time, truthfully and correctly; and praises those deserving of praise at the right time, truthfully and correctly. ayaṁ me puggalo khamati imesaṁ catunnaṁ puggalānaṁ abhikkantataro ca paṇītataro ca. That is the individual I believe to be the finest. Taṁ kissa hetu? Why is that? Abhikkantā hesā, bho gotama, yadidaṁ tattha tattha kālaññutā. Because, worthy Gotama, understanding of time and context is the best.

Abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama, abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama. Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! Seyyathāpi, bho gotama, nikkujjitaṁ vā ukkujjeyya, paṭicchannaṁ vā vivareyya, mūḷhassa vā maggaṁ ācikkheyya, andhakāre vā telapajjotaṁ dhāreyya: ‘cakkhumanto rūpāni dakkhantī’ti; evamevaṁ bhotā gotamena anekapariyāyena dhammo pakāsito. As if he were righting the overturned, or revealing the hidden, or pointing out the path to the lost, or lighting a lamp in the dark so people with clear eyes can see what’s there, worthy Gotama has made the teaching clear in many ways. Esāhaṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi dhammañca bhikkhusaṅghañca. I go for refuge to the worthy Gotama, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Saṅgha. Upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti. From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”

Dasamaṁ.

Asuravaggo pañcamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Asuro tayo samādhī, chavālātena pañcamaṁ; Rāgo nisanti attahitaṁ, sikkhā potaliyena cāti.

Dutiyo paṇṇāsako samatto.