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SN 1.14PTS (1st ed) SN 1.61 min read

Aristocrats

Khattiyasutta

A god’s worldly values are improved by the Buddha’s version.

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral

  • 0.1Saṁyutta Nikāya 1.14Linked Discourses 1.14
  • 0.22. Nandanavagga2. The Garden of Delight

0.3KhattiyasuttaAristocrats

1.1“Khattiyo dvipadaṁ seṭṭho,“An aristocrat is the best of bipeds,11.2balībaddo catuppadaṁ;an ox is the best of quadrupeds,21.3Komārī seṭṭhā bhariyānaṁ,a maiden is the best of wives,1.4yo ca puttāna pubbajo”ti.and a first-born the best of sons.”

2.1“Sambuddho dvipadaṁ seṭṭho,“A Buddha is the best of bipeds,2.2ājānīyo catuppadaṁ;a thoroughbred, the best of quadrupeds,2.3Sussūsā seṭṭhā bhariyānaṁ,a good listener is the best of wives,32.4yo ca puttānamassavo”ti.and the best of sons is loyal.”

Translator’s notes

  1. Where the setting is omitted, it is assumed that a deity speaks and the Buddha answers.

    ↩ sn1.14:1.1

  2. A loyal ox labors hard.

    ↩ sn1.14:1.2

  3. Sussusati, literally “wanting to listen” is a precursor for wisdom (Snp 1.10:11.3), and is normally used of mendicants who want to learn the Dhamma (MN 122:26.4).

    ↩ sn1.14:2.3