AN 4.139

Dhammakathikasutta

“Cattārome, bhikkhave, dhammakathikā. Katame cattāro? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco dhammakathiko appañca bhāsati asahitañca; parisā cassa na kusalā hoti sahitāsahitassa. Evarūpo, bhikkhave, dhammakathiko evarūpāya parisāya dhammakathikotveva saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

Dhamma Speakers

“Mendicants, there are these four Dhamma speakers. What four? One Dhamma speaker speaks little and off topic. And their assembly can’t tell what’s on topic and what’s off topic. Such an assembly regards such a Dhamma speaker simply as a Dhamma speaker.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco dhammakathiko appañca bhāsati sahitañca; parisā cassa kusalā hoti sahitāsahitassa. Evarūpo, bhikkhave, dhammakathiko evarūpāya parisāya dhammakathikotveva saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

One Dhamma speaker speaks little but stays on topic. And their assembly can tell what’s on topic and what’s off topic. Such an assembly regards such a Dhamma speaker simply as a Dhamma speaker.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco dhammakathiko bahuñca bhāsati asahitañca; parisā cassa na kusalā hoti sahitāsahitassa. Evarūpo, bhikkhave, dhammakathiko evarūpāya parisāya dhammakathikotveva saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

One Dhamma speaker speaks much but off topic. And their assembly can’t tell what’s on topic and what’s off topic. Such an assembly regards such a Dhamma speaker simply as a Dhamma speaker.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco dhammakathiko bahuñca bhāsati sahitañca; parisā cassa kusalā hoti sahitāsahitassa. Evarūpo, bhikkhave, dhammakathiko evarūpāya parisāya dhammakathikotveva saṅkhaṁ gacchati. Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro dhammakathikā”ti.

One Dhamma speaker speaks much and stays on topic. And their assembly can tell what’s on topic and what’s off topic. Such an assembly regards such a Dhamma speaker simply as a Dhamma speaker. These are the four Dhamma speakers.”