The Buddha describes three persons based on how they respond to anger. One person is like a line etched on rock, another like a line etched on ground, and the third like a line etched on water.
“Tayome, bhikkhave, puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ. Katame tayo? Pāsāṇalekhūpamo puggalo, pathavilekhūpamo puggalo, udakalekhūpamo puggalo.
“Bhikkhus, there are these three kinds of persons found existing in the world. What three? The person who is like |a line etched on rock::an inscription on rock [pāsāṇalekhūpama]|, the person who is like a line etched on ground, and the person who is like a line etched on water.
Katamo ca, bhikkhave, pāsāṇalekhūpamo puggalo? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo abhiṇhaṁ kujjhati. So ca khvassa kodho dīgharattaṁ anuseti. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, pāsāṇe lekhā na khippaṁ lujjati vātena vā udakena vā, ciraṭṭhitikā hoti; evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, idhekacco puggalo abhiṇhaṁ kujjhati. So ca khvassa kodho dīgharattaṁ anuseti. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, pāsāṇalekhūpamo puggalo.
1.) And what, bhikkhus, is the person who is like a line etched on rock? Here, bhikkhus, a certain person frequently gets angry, and his anger persists for a long time. Just as a line etched on rock is not quickly eroded by wind or water but persists for a long time, in the same way, such a person frequently gets angry, and his anger persists for a long time. This, bhikkhus, is called the person who is like a line etched on rock.
Katamo ca, bhikkhave, pathavilekhūpamo puggalo? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo abhiṇhaṁ kujjhati. So ca khvassa kodho na dīgharattaṁ anuseti. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, pathaviyā lekhā khippaṁ lujjati vātena vā udakena vā, na ciraṭṭhitikā hoti; evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, idhekacco puggalo abhiṇhaṁ kujjhati. So ca khvassa kodho na dīgharattaṁ anuseti. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, pathavilekhūpamo puggalo.
2.) And what, bhikkhus, is the person who is like a line etched on ground? Here, bhikkhus, a certain person frequently gets angry, but his anger does not persist for a long time. Just as a line etched on ground is quickly eroded by wind or water and does not persist for a long time, in the same way, such a person frequently gets angry, but his anger does not persist for a long time. This, bhikkhus, is called the person who is like a line etched on ground.
Katamo ca, bhikkhave, udakalekhūpamo puggalo? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo āgāḷhenapi vuccamāno pharusenapi vuccamāno amanāpenapi vuccamāno sandhiyatimeva saṁsandatimeva sammodatimeva. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, udake lekhā khippaṁyeva paṭivigacchati, na ciraṭṭhitikā hoti; evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, idhekacco puggalo āgāḷhenapi vuccamāno pharusenapi vuccamāno amanāpenapi vuccamāno sandhiyatimeva saṁsandatimeva sammodatimeva. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, udakalekhūpamo puggalo.
3.) And what, bhikkhus, is the person who is like a line etched on water? Here, bhikkhus, a certain person, even when spoken to harshly, offensively, or unpleasantly; |reconciles::remains connected [sandhiyati]|, |interacts::harmonizes [saṃsandati]|, and |responds amicably::is cordial [sammodati]|. Just as a line etched on water quickly disappears and does not persist for a long time, in the same way, such a person, even when spoken to harshly, offensively, or unpleasantly, immediately reconciles, harmonizes and responds amicably. This, bhikkhus, is called the person who is like a line etched on water.
Ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmin”ti.
These, bhikkhus, are the three kinds of persons found existing in the world.”
“Bhikkhus, there are these three kinds of persons found existing in the world. What three? The person who is like |a line etched on rock::an inscription on rock [pāsāṇalekhūpama]|, the person who is like a line etched on ground, and the person who is like a line etched on water.
1.) And what, bhikkhus, is the person who is like a line etched on rock? Here, bhikkhus, a certain person frequently gets angry, and his anger persists for a long time. Just as a line etched on rock is not quickly eroded by wind or water but persists for a long time, in the same way, such a person frequently gets angry, and his anger persists for a long time. This, bhikkhus, is called the person who is like a line etched on rock.
2.) And what, bhikkhus, is the person who is like a line etched on ground? Here, bhikkhus, a certain person frequently gets angry, but his anger does not persist for a long time. Just as a line etched on ground is quickly eroded by wind or water and does not persist for a long time, in the same way, such a person frequently gets angry, but his anger does not persist for a long time. This, bhikkhus, is called the person who is like a line etched on ground.
3.) And what, bhikkhus, is the person who is like a line etched on water? Here, bhikkhus, a certain person, even when spoken to harshly, offensively, or unpleasantly; |reconciles::remains connected [sandhiyati]|, |interacts::harmonizes [saṃsandati]|, and |responds amicably::is cordial [sammodati]|. Just as a line etched on water quickly disappears and does not persist for a long time, in the same way, such a person, even when spoken to harshly, offensively, or unpleasantly, immediately reconciles, harmonizes and responds amicably. This, bhikkhus, is called the person who is like a line etched on water.
These, bhikkhus, are the three kinds of persons found existing in the world.”
“Tayome, bhikkhave, puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ. Katame tayo? Pāsāṇalekhūpamo puggalo, pathavilekhūpamo puggalo, udakalekhūpamo puggalo.
Katamo ca, bhikkhave, pāsāṇalekhūpamo puggalo? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo abhiṇhaṁ kujjhati. So ca khvassa kodho dīgharattaṁ anuseti. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, pāsāṇe lekhā na khippaṁ lujjati vātena vā udakena vā, ciraṭṭhitikā hoti; evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, idhekacco puggalo abhiṇhaṁ kujjhati. So ca khvassa kodho dīgharattaṁ anuseti. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, pāsāṇalekhūpamo puggalo.
Katamo ca, bhikkhave, pathavilekhūpamo puggalo? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo abhiṇhaṁ kujjhati. So ca khvassa kodho na dīgharattaṁ anuseti. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, pathaviyā lekhā khippaṁ lujjati vātena vā udakena vā, na ciraṭṭhitikā hoti; evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, idhekacco puggalo abhiṇhaṁ kujjhati. So ca khvassa kodho na dīgharattaṁ anuseti. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, pathavilekhūpamo puggalo.
Katamo ca, bhikkhave, udakalekhūpamo puggalo? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo āgāḷhenapi vuccamāno pharusenapi vuccamāno amanāpenapi vuccamāno sandhiyatimeva saṁsandatimeva sammodatimeva. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, udake lekhā khippaṁyeva paṭivigacchati, na ciraṭṭhitikā hoti; evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, idhekacco puggalo āgāḷhenapi vuccamāno pharusenapi vuccamāno amanāpenapi vuccamāno sandhiyatimeva saṁsandatimeva sammodatimeva. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, udakalekhūpamo puggalo.
Ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmin”ti.