Aṇguttara Nikāya
VIII. Aṭṭhaka Nipāta
II: Mahā Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Eights
II. The Great Chapter
Sutta 16
Dūteyya Suttaṃ
Messages
Translated from the Pali by E.M. Hare.
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Once the Exalted One was dwelling near Sāvatthī,
at Jeta Grove,
in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.
There the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," they replied, and the Exalted One said:
"Monks, a monk endowed with eight qualities is worthy to go with a message.
With what eight?
Herein, a monk is both a listener
and one who makes others [135] listen;
both a learner and an instructor;
both a knower and an expounder;
one skilled in (recognizing) non-conformity from conformity[1]
and not given to quarrelling.
Monks, endowed with these eight qualities,
he is worthy to go with a message.
§
Monks, Sāriputta is[2] endowed with eight qualities,
is worthy to go with a message.
With what eight?
Herein, a Sāriputta is both a listener and one who makes others listen;
both a learner and an instructor;
both a knower and an expounder;
one skilled in (recognizing) non-conformity from conformity
and not given to quarrelling.
Monks, endowed with these eight qualities,
Sāriputta is worthy to go with a message.
Who, to some high[3] assembled council come,
Wavers not,[4] nor in discourse fails, nor hides
The Master's word, nor speaks in doubtfulness,[5]
Whoso by question ne'er is moved to wrath -
Worthy to go with message is that monk.'
[1] Sahit-ā-sahita; cf. D. i, 8; A. ii, 138; Dial. i, 14 n.6. Comy. Knowing: This is conformity, this is non-conformity. Some of these terms recur at D. i, 56. Cf. S.B.E. xxi, 352 f. for what may be the Mahayana version of this sutta.
[2] The text repeats in full. [Ed.: Reconstructed for this edition.]
[3] S.e. with Vin. and v.l. (and as the metre requires?) reads ugga-.
[4] The text reads byaāhati. Comy. vedhati, glossing jambhati.
[5] The text reads asandiṭṭhaṃ. Comy. asandiddhaṃ (S.e. so), glossing vigatasaṇsayaṃ; cf. Vin. ii, 201 f., where these eight recur; the reading there is as our Comy., but the Comy. thereon (see p. 324) is as our text. P.E.D. translates 'husky,' deriving it from san + √DIH (deha). We may understand it as uncertainty in both speech and mind.
