The Buddha teaches on a judge, presenting a tenfold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 10.33 A Judge

“Katihi nu kho, bhante, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu ubbāhikāya sammannitabbo”ti?

“Dasahi kho, upāli, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu ubbāhikāya sammannitabbo. Katamehi dasahi? Idhupāli, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti; pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati ācāragocarasampanno aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu; bahussuto hoti sutadharo sutasannicayo, ye te dhammā ādikalyāṇā majjhekalyāṇā pariyosānakalyāṇā sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ abhivadanti, tathārūpāssa dhammā bahussutā honti dhātā vacasā paricitā manasānupekkhitā diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā; ubhayāni kho panassa pātimokkhāni vitthārena svāgatāni honti suvibhattāni suppavattīni suvinicchitāni suttaso anubyañjanaso; vinaye kho pana ṭhito hoti asaṁhīro; paṭibalo hoti ubho atthapaccatthike saññāpetuṁ paññāpetuṁ nijjhāpetuṁ pekkhetuṁ pasādetuṁ; adhikaraṇasamuppādavūpasamakusalo hoti adhikaraṇaṁ jānāti; adhikaraṇasamudayaṁ jānāti; adhikaraṇanirodhaṁ jānāti; adhikaraṇanirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ jānāti. Imehi kho, upāli, dasahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu ubbāhikāya sammannitabbo”ti.

Tatiyaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Katihi nu kho, bhante, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu ubbāhikāya sammannitabbo”ti?

“Sir, how many qualities should a mendicant have to be deemed a judge?”

“Dasahi kho, upāli, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu ubbāhikāya sammannitabbo.

“Upāli, a mendicant should have ten qualities to be deemed a judge.

Katamehi dasahi?

What ten?

Idhupāli, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti; pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati ācāragocarasampanno aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu;

It’s when a mendicant is ethical, restrained in the monastic code, conducting themselves well and resorting for alms in suitable places. Seeing danger in the slightest fault, they keep the rules they’ve undertaken.

bahussuto hoti sutadharo sutasannicayo, ye te dhammā ādikalyāṇā majjhekalyāṇā pariyosānakalyāṇā sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ abhivadanti, tathārūpāssa dhammā bahussutā honti dhātā vacasā paricitā manasānupekkhitā diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā;

They’re very learned, remembering and keeping what they’ve learned. These teachings are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased, describing a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. They are very learned in such teachings, remembering them, rehearsing them, mentally scrutinizing them, and penetrating them theoretically.

ubhayāni kho panassa pātimokkhāni vitthārena svāgatāni honti suvibhattāni suppavattīni suvinicchitāni suttaso anubyañjanaso;

Both monastic codes have been passed down to them in detail, well analyzed, well mastered, well evaluated in both the rules and accompanying material.

vinaye kho pana ṭhito hoti asaṁhīro;

They’re firm and unfaltering in the training.

paṭibalo hoti ubho atthapaccatthike saññāpetuṁ paññāpetuṁ nijjhāpetuṁ pekkhetuṁ pasādetuṁ;

When there are opposing parties, they’re able to persuade, advocate, and convince them, make them see the other side and trust each other.

adhikaraṇasamuppādavūpasamakusalo hoti

They’re skilled in the instigation and settlement of disciplinary issues.

adhikaraṇaṁ jānāti;

They know what a disciplinary issue is.

adhikaraṇasamudayaṁ jānāti;

They know how a disciplinary issue originates.

adhikaraṇanirodhaṁ jānāti;

They know how a disciplinary issue ceases.

adhikaraṇanirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ jānāti.

They know the practical way leading to the cessation of a disciplinary issue.

Imehi kho, upāli, dasahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu ubbāhikāya sammannitabbo”ti.

A mendicant should possess these ten qualities to be deemed a judge.”

Tatiyaṁ.

Qualities:

Ending

Ending

The complete exhaustion and ending of craving, aversion, and delusion—the three roots of suffering. It refers to both the gradual wearing away of defilements through practice and the final cessation that constitutes Nibbāna.

Also known as: cessation, exhaustion, gradual ending, wearing away
Pāli: khaya, khīṇa, nirodha
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Faith

Faith

Confidence in the Buddha's awakening and the efficacy of the path. It brightens and steadies the mind, removing doubt and inspiring energy toward wholesome practice. True faith rests on clarity and direct experience rather than mere belief.

Also known as: confidence, trust, belief, conviction, self-assurance
Pāli: saddha, pasanna
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Learning

Learning

One who has broad learning and retention of the Dhamma, gained through hearing, reciting, and carefully investigating the teachings. Such learning penetrates their meaning through discernment and serves as a strong support for practice.

Also known as: having knowledge, well studied
Pāli: bahussuta, suta
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Mindfulness

Mindfulness

Active presence of mind and lucid retention; the faculty that remembers the Dhamma, anchors attention to the chosen object or present experience, and guards the mind against unwholesome states.

Also known as: recollecting, remembering, keeping in mind, presence, awareness
Pāli: sati, anussati
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Tame

Tame

The quality of a mind that has been trained and disciplined, no longer wild or controlled by passions. Like a tamed thoroughbred, it is pliable, responsive, and fit for work.

Also known as: trained, mastered, subdued
Pāli: danta, dama
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Wholesome

Wholesome

Conducive to or suggestive of good health and mental well-being.

Also known as: blameless, skillful, beneficial, good, useful, healthy, nourishing, sustaining
Pāli: kusala
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Last updated on July 27, 2026