1.1Atha kho āyasmā ānando pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena migasālāya upāsikāya nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi.Then Venerable Ānanda robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to the home of the laywoman Migasālā, where he sat down on the seat spread out.

1.2Atha kho migasālā upāsikā yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho migasālā upāsikā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etadavoca:Then the laywoman Migasālā went up to Ānanda, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,2.1PTS 3.348“Kathaṁ kathaṁ nāmāyaṁ, bhante ānanda, bhagavatā dhammo desito aññeyyo, yatra hi nāma brahmacārī ca abrahmacārī ca ubho samasamagatikā bhavissanti abhisamparāyaṁ?“Honorable Ānanda, how on earth are we supposed to understand the teaching taught by the Buddha, when the chaste and the unchaste are both reborn in exactly the same place in the next life?

2.2Pitā me, bhante, purāṇo brahmacārī ahosi ārācārī virato methunā gāmadhammā.My father Purāṇa was chaste, set apart, refraining from the vulgar act of sex.2.3So kālaṅkato bhagavatā byākato sakadāgāmī satto tusitaṁ kāyaṁ upapannoti.When he passed away the Buddha declared that, since he was a once-returner, he was reborn in the host of joyful gods.

2.4Petteyyopi me, bhante, isidatto abrahmacārī ahosi sadārasantuṭṭho.But my uncle Isidatta was not chaste; he lived content with his wife.2.5Sopi kālaṅkato bhagavatā byākato sakadāgāmipatto tusitaṁ kāyaṁ upapannoti.When he passed away the Buddha declared that, since he too was a once-returner, he was reborn in the host of joyful gods.

2.6Kathaṁ kathaṁ nāmāyaṁ, bhante ānanda, bhagavatā dhammo desito aññeyyo, yatra hi nāma brahmacārī ca abrahmacārī ca ubho samasamagatikā bhavissanti abhisamparāyan”ti?How on earth are we supposed to understand the teaching taught by the Buddha, when the chaste and the unchaste are both reborn in exactly the same place in the next life?”

2.7“Evaṁ kho panetaṁ, bhagini, bhagavatā byākatan”ti.“You’re right, sister, but that’s how the Buddha declared it.”

3.1Atha kho āyasmā ānando migasālāya upāsikāya nivesane piṇḍapātaṁ gahetvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkāmi.Then Ānanda, after receiving almsfood at Migasālā’s home, rose from his seat and left.3.2Atha kho āyasmā ānando pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:Then after the meal, on his return from almsround, Ānanda went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened.

4.1PTS 3.349“Idhāhaṁ, bhante, pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena migasālāya upāsikāya nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkamiṁ; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdiṁ.4.2Atha kho, bhante, migasālā upāsikā yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā maṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho, bhante, migasālā upāsikā maṁ etadavoca:4.3‘kathaṁ kathaṁ nāmāyaṁ, bhante ānanda, bhagavatā dhammo desito aññeyyo, yatra hi nāma brahmacārī ca abrahmacārī ca ubho samasamagatikā bhavissanti abhisamparāyaṁ.4.4Pitā me, bhante, purāṇo brahmacārī ahosi ārācārī virato methunā gāmadhammā.4.5So kālaṅkato bhagavatā byākato sakadāgāmipatto tusitaṁ kāyaṁ upapannoti.4.6Petteyyopi me, bhante, isidatto abrahmacārī ahosi sadārasantuṭṭho.4.7Sopi kālaṅkato bhagavatā byākato sakadāgāmipatto tusitaṁ kāyaṁ upapannoti.4.8Kathaṁ kathaṁ nāmāyaṁ, bhante ānanda, bhagavatā dhammo desito aññeyyo, yatra hi nāma brahmacārī ca abrahmacārī ca ubho samasamagatikā bhavissanti abhisamparāyan’ti?4.9Evaṁ vutte, ahaṁ, bhante, migasālaṁ upāsikaṁ etadavocaṁ:4.10‘evaṁ kho panetaṁ, bhagini, bhagavatā byākatan’”ti.

5.1“Kā cānanda, migasālā upāsikā bālā abyattā ammakā ammakapaññā, ke ca purisapuggalaparopariyañāṇe?“Ānanda, who is this laywoman Migasālā, a foolish incompetent aunty, with an aunty’s wit? And who is it that knows how to assess individual persons?5.2Chayime, ānanda, puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ.These six individuals are found in the world.6.1Katame cha?What six?

6.2Idhānanda, ekacco puggalo sorato hoti sukhasaṁvāso, abhinandanti sabrahmacārī ekattavāsena.Take a certain individual who is gentle and pleasant to be with. And spiritual companions enjoy living together with them.6.3Tassa savanenapi akataṁ hoti, bāhusaccenapi akataṁ hoti, diṭṭhiyāpi appaṭividdhaṁ hoti, sāmāyikampi vimuttiṁ na labhati.And they’ve not listened or learned or penetrated theoretically or found even temporary freedom.6.4So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā hānāya pareti no visesāya, hānagāmīyeva hoti no visesagāmī.When their body breaks up, after death, they depart for a lower place, not a higher. They’re going to a lower place, not a higher.

7.1Idha panānanda, ekacco puggalo sorato hoti sukhasaṁvāso, abhinandanti sabrahmacārī ekattavāsena.Take another individual who is gentle and pleasant to be with. And spiritual companions enjoy living together with them.7.2Tassa savanenapi kataṁ hoti, bāhusaccenapi kataṁ hoti, diṭṭhiyāpi paṭividdhaṁ hoti, sāmāyikampi vimuttiṁ labhati.And they’ve listened and learned and penetrated theoretically and found temporary freedom.7.3So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā visesāya pareti no hānāya, visesagāmīyeva hoti no hānagāmī.When their body breaks up, after death, they depart for a higher place, not a lower. They’re going to a higher place, not a lower.

8.1Tatrānanda, pamāṇikā pamiṇanti:Judgmental people compare them, saying:8.2‘imassapi teva dhammā aparassapi teva dhammā, kasmā tesaṁ eko hīno eko paṇīto’ti.‘This one has just the same qualities as the other, so why is one worse and one better?’8.3Tañhi tesaṁ, ānanda, hoti dīgharattaṁ ahitāya dukkhāya.This will be for their lasting harm and suffering.

9.1PTS 3.350Tatrānanda, yvāyaṁ puggalo sorato hoti sukhasaṁvāso, abhinandanti sabrahmacārī ekattavāsena, tassa savanenapi kataṁ hoti, bāhusaccenapi kataṁ hoti, diṭṭhiyāpi paṭividdhaṁ hoti, sāmāyikampi vimuttiṁ labhati.In this case, the individual who is gentle … and has listened, learned, penetrated theoretically, and found temporary freedom9.2Ayaṁ, ānanda, puggalo amunā purimena puggalena abhikkantataro ca paṇītataro ca.is better and finer than the other individual.9.3Taṁ kissa hetu?Why is that?9.4Imaṁ hānanda, puggalaṁ dhammasoto nibbahati,Because the stream of the teaching carries them along.9.5tadantaraṁ ko jāneyya aññatra tathāgatena.But who knows the difference between them except a Realized One?

9.6Tasmātihānanda, mā puggalesu pamāṇikā ahuvattha;So, Ānanda, don’t be judgmental about individuals.9.7mā puggalesu pamāṇaṁ gaṇhittha.Don’t pass judgment on individuals.9.8Khaññati hānanda, puggalesu pamāṇaṁ gaṇhanto.Those who pass judgment on individuals harm themselves.9.9Ahaṁ vā, ānanda, puggalesu pamāṇaṁ gaṇheyyaṁ, yo vā panassa mādiso.I, or someone like me, may pass judgment on individuals.

10.1Idha panānanda, ekaccassa puggalassa kodhamāno adhigato hoti, samayena samayañcassa lobhadhammā uppajjanti.Take another individual who is angry and conceited, and from time to time has greedy thoughts.10.2Tassa savanenapi akataṁ hoti, bāhusaccenapi akataṁ hoti, diṭṭhiyāpi appaṭividdhaṁ hoti, sāmāyikampi vimuttiṁ na labhati.And they’ve not listened or learned or penetrated theoretically or found even temporary freedom.10.3So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā hānāya pareti no visesāya, hānagāmīyeva hoti no visesagāmī.When their body breaks up, after death, they depart for a lower place, not a higher. They’re going to a lower place, not a higher.

11.1Idha panānanda, ekaccassa puggalassa kodhamāno adhigato hoti, samayena samayañcassa lobhadhammā uppajjanti.Take another individual who is angry and conceited, and from time to time has greedy thoughts. …11.2Tassa savanenapi kataṁ hoti …pe…Because the stream of the teaching carries them along. …11.3no hānagāmī.When their body breaks up, after death, they depart for a higher place, not a lower. They’re going to a higher place, not a lower.

12.1Tatrānanda, pamāṇikā pamiṇanti …pe…Judgmental people compare them …

12.2yo vā panassa mādiso.I, or someone like me, may pass judgment on people.

13.1Idha panānanda, ekaccassa puggalassa kodhamāno adhigato hoti, samayena samayañcassa vacīsaṅkhārā uppajjanti.Take another individual who is angry and conceited, and from time to time has the impulse to speak inappropriately.13.2Tassa savanenapi akataṁ hoti …pe… sāmāyikampi vimuttiṁ na labhati.And they’ve not listened or learned or penetrated theoretically or found even temporary freedom.13.3So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā hānāya pareti no visesāya, hānagāmīyeva hoti no visesagāmī.When their body breaks up, after death, they depart for a lower place, not a higher. They’re going to a lower place, not a higher.

14.1PTS 3.351Idha panānanda, ekaccassa puggalassa kodhamāno adhigato hoti, samayena samayañcassa vacīsaṅkhārā uppajjanti.Take another individual who is angry and conceited, and from time to time has the impulse to speak inappropriately.14.2Tassa savanenapi kataṁ hoti, bāhusaccenapi kataṁ hoti, diṭṭhiyāpi paṭividdhaṁ hoti, sāmāyikampi vimuttiṁ labhati.But they’ve listened and learned and penetrated theoretically and found temporary freedom.14.3So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā visesāya pareti no hānāya, visesagāmīyeva hoti no hānagāmī.When their body breaks up, after death, they depart for a higher place, not a lower. They’re going to a higher place, not a lower.

15.1Tatrānanda, pamāṇikā pamiṇanti:Judgmental people compare them, saying:15.2‘imassapi teva dhammā, aparassapi teva dhammā. Kasmā tesaṁ eko hīno, eko paṇīto’ti?‘This one has just the same qualities as the other, so why is one worse and one better?’15.3Tañhi tesaṁ, ānanda, hoti dīgharattaṁ ahitāya dukkhāya.This will be for their lasting harm and suffering.

16.1Tatrānanda, yassa puggalassa kodhamāno adhigato hoti, samayena samayañcassa vacīsaṅkhārā uppajjanti, tassa savanenapi kataṁ hoti, bāhusaccenapi kataṁ hoti, diṭṭhiyāpi paṭividdhaṁ hoti, sāmāyikampi vimuttiṁ labhati.In this case, the individual who is angry and conceited, but has listened, learned, penetrated theoretically, and found temporary freedom16.2Ayaṁ, ānanda, puggalo amunā purimena puggalena abhikkantataro ca paṇītataro ca.is better and finer than the other individual.16.3Taṁ kissa hetu?Why is that?16.4Imaṁ hānanda, puggalaṁ dhammasoto nibbahati.Because the stream of the teaching carries them along.16.5Tadantaraṁ ko jāneyya aññatra tathāgatena.But who knows the difference between them except a Realized One?

16.6Tasmātihānanda, mā puggalesu pamāṇikā ahuvattha;So, Ānanda, don’t be judgmental about individuals.16.7mā puggalesu pamāṇaṁ gaṇhittha.Don’t pass judgment on individuals.16.8Khaññati hānanda, puggalesu pamāṇaṁ gaṇhanto.Those who pass judgment on individuals harm themselves.16.9Ahaṁ vā, ānanda, puggalesu pamāṇaṁ gaṇheyyaṁ, yo vā panassa mādiso.I, or someone like me, may pass judgment on individuals.

17.1Kā cānanda, migasālā upāsikā bālā abyattā ammakā ammakapaññā, ke ca purisapuggalaparopariyañāṇe.Who is this laywoman Migasālā, a foolish incompetent aunty, with an aunty’s wit? And who is it that knows how to assess individual persons?17.2Ime kho, ānanda, cha puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ.These six individuals are found in the world.

18.1Yathārūpena, ānanda, sīlena purāṇo samannāgato ahosi, tathārūpena sīlena isidatto samannāgato abhavissa. Nayidha purāṇo isidattassa gatimpi aññassa.If Isidatta had achieved Purāṇa’s level of ethical conduct, Purāṇa could not have even known Isidatta’s destination.18.2Yathārūpāya ca, ānanda, paññāya isidatto samannāgato ahosi, tathārūpāya paññāya purāṇo samannāgato abhavissa. Nayidha isidatto purāṇassa gatimpi aññassa.And if Purāṇa had achieved Isidatta’s level of wisdom, Isidatta could not have even known Purāṇa’s destination.18.3Iti kho, ānanda, ime puggalā ubho ekaṅgahīnā”ti.So both individuals were lacking in one respect.”

18.4Dutiyaṁ.