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

AN 10.77 A Crow

“Dasahi, bhikkhave, asaddhammehi samannāgato kāko. Katamehi dasahi? Dhaṁsī ca, pagabbho ca, tintiṇo ca, mahagghaso ca, luddo ca, akāruṇiko ca, dubbalo ca, oravitā ca, muṭṭhassati ca, necayiko ca imehi kho, bhikkhave, dasahi asaddhammehi samannāgato kāko. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, dasahi asaddhammehi samannāgato pāpabhikkhu. Katamehi dasahi? Dhaṁsī ca, pagabbho ca, tintiṇo ca, mahagghaso ca, luddo ca, akāruṇiko ca, dubbalo ca, oravitā ca, muṭṭhassati ca, necayiko ca imehi kho, bhikkhave, dasahi asaddhammehi samannāgato pāpabhikkhū”ti.

Sattamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Dasahi, bhikkhave, asaddhammehi samannāgato kāko.

“Mendicants, a crow has ten bad qualities.

Katamehi dasahi?

What ten?

Dhaṁsī ca, pagabbho ca, tintiṇo ca, mahagghaso ca, luddo ca, akāruṇiko ca, dubbalo ca, oravitā ca, muṭṭhassati ca, necayiko ca

They’re rude and impudent, gluttonous and voracious, cruel and pitiless, weak and raucous, unmindful and acquisitive.

imehi kho, bhikkhave, dasahi asaddhammehi samannāgato kāko.

A crow possesses these ten bad qualities.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, dasahi asaddhammehi samannāgato pāpabhikkhu.

In the same way, a bad mendicant possesses these ten bad qualities.

Katamehi dasahi?

What ten?

Dhaṁsī ca, pagabbho ca, tintiṇo ca, mahagghaso ca, luddo ca, akāruṇiko ca, dubbalo ca, oravitā ca, muṭṭhassati ca, necayiko ca

They’re rude and impudent, gluttonous and voracious, cruel and pitiless, weak and raucous, unmindful and acquisitive.

imehi kho, bhikkhave, dasahi asaddhammehi samannāgato pāpabhikkhū”ti.

A bad mendicant possesses these ten bad qualities.”

Sattamaṁ.

Qualities:

Harm

Harm

Intention or action that causes injury or suffering to oneself or others. It arises from aversion and heedlessness and destroys trust and safety. The opposite of non-harm, it obscures compassion and leads to regret.

Also known as: injury causing behavior, destructiveness, bad, evil
Pāli: pāpaka
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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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Last updated on July 27, 2026