AN 3.142

Assājānīyasutta

“Tayo ca, bhikkhave, bhadre assājānīye desessāmi tayo ca bhadre purisājānīye. Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti. “Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:

The Thoroughbred

“Mendicants, I will teach you the three fine thoroughbred horses, and the three fine thoroughbred people. Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.” “Yes, sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:

“Katame ca, bhikkhave, tayo bhadrā assājānīyā? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco bhadro assājānīyo …pe… javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca ārohapariṇāhasampanno ca. Ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo bhadrā assājānīyā.

“What are the three fine thoroughbred horses? One fine thoroughbred horse … is fast, beautiful, and well proportioned. These are the three fine thoroughbred horses.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, tayo bhadrā purisājānīyā? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco bhadro purisājānīyo …pe… javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca ārohapariṇāhasampanno ca.

And what are the three fine thoroughbred people? One fine thoroughbred person … is fast, beautiful, and well proportioned.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhadro purisājānīyo …pe… javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca ārohapariṇāhasampanno ca? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati. Idamassa javasmiṁ vadāmi. Abhidhamme kho pana abhivinaye pañhaṁ puṭṭho vissajjeti, no saṁsādeti. Idamassa vaṇṇasmiṁ vadāmi. Lābhī kho pana hoti cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ. Idamassa ārohapariṇāhasmiṁ vadāmi. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhadro purisājānīyo javasampanno ca hoti vaṇṇasampanno ca ārohapariṇāhasampanno ca. Ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo bhadrā purisājānīyā”ti.

And how is a fine thoroughbred person … fast, beautiful, and well proportioned? It’s when a mendicant realizes the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom. And they live having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements. This is how they’re fast, I say. When asked a question about the teaching or training, they answer without faltering. This is how they’re beautiful, I say. They receive robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. This is how they’re well proportioned, I say. This is how a fine thoroughbred person is fast, beautiful, and well proportioned. These are the three fine thoroughbred people.”