The Buddha teaches on a warrior, presenting a threefold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 3.133 A Warrior

“Tīhi, bhikkhave, aṅgehi samannāgato yodhājīvo rājāraho hoti rājabhoggo, rañño aṅganteva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati. Katamehi tīhi? Idha, bhikkhave, yodhājīvo dūre pātī ca hoti akkhaṇavedhī ca mahato ca kāyassa padāletā. Imehi, kho, bhikkhave, tīhi aṅgehi samannāgato yodhājīvo rājāraho hoti rājabhoggo, rañño aṅganteva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tīhi aṅgehi samannāgato bhikkhu āhuneyyo hoti …pe… anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassa. Katamehi tīhi? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dūre pātī ca hoti akkhaṇavedhī ca mahato ca kāyassa padāletā.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dūre pātī hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yaṁ kiñci rūpaṁ atītānāgatapaccuppannaṁ ajjhattaṁ bahiddhā oḷārikaṁ sukhumaṁ hīnaṁ paṇītaṁ yaṁ dūre santike vā, sabbaṁ rūpaṁ: ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya passati. kāci vedanā atītānāgatapaccuppannā ajjhattā bahiddhā oḷārikā sukhumā hīnā paṇītā dūre santike vā, sabbaṁ vedanaṁ: ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya passati. kāci saññā atītānāgatapaccuppannā ajjhattā bahiddhā oḷārikā sukhumā hīnā paṇītā dūre santike vā, sabbaṁ saññaṁ: ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya passati. Ye keci saṅkhārā atītānāgatapaccuppannā ajjhattā bahiddhā oḷārikā sukhumā hīnā paṇītā ye dūre santike vā, sabbe saṅkhāre: ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya passati. Yaṁ kiñci viññāṇaṁ atītānāgatapaccuppannaṁ ajjhattaṁ bahiddhā oḷārikaṁ sukhumaṁ hīnaṁ paṇītaṁ yaṁ dūre santike vā, sabbaṁ viññāṇaṁ: ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya passati. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dūre pātī hoti.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu akkhaṇavedhī hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti; ‘ayaṁ dukkhasamudayo’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti; ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodho’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti; ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu akkhaṇavedhī hoti.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu mahato kāyassa padāletā hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu mahantaṁ avijjākkhandhaṁ padāleti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu mahato kāyassa padāletā hoti.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu āhuneyyo hoti …pe… anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassā”ti.

Paṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Tīhi, bhikkhave, aṅgehi samannāgato yodhājīvo rājāraho hoti rājabhoggo, rañño aṅganteva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati.

“Mendicants, a warrior with three factors is worthy of a king, fit to serve a king, and is reckoned as a factor of kingship.

Katamehi tīhi?

What three?

Idha, bhikkhave, yodhājīvo dūre pātī ca hoti akkhaṇavedhī ca mahato ca kāyassa padāletā.

He’s a long-distance shooter, a marksman, one who shatters large objects.

Imehi, kho, bhikkhave, tīhi aṅgehi samannāgato yodhājīvo rājāraho hoti rājabhoggo, rañño aṅganteva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati.

A warrior with these three factors is worthy of a king, fit to serve a king, and is reckoned as a factor of kingship.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tīhi aṅgehi samannāgato bhikkhu āhuneyyo hoti …pe… anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassa.

In the same way, a mendicant with three factors is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of veneration with cupped palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.

Katamehi tīhi?

What three?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dūre pātī ca hoti akkhaṇavedhī ca mahato ca kāyassa padāletā.

They’re a long-distance shooter, a marksman, and one who shatters large objects.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dūre pātī hoti?

And how is a mendicant a long-distance shooter?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yaṁ kiñci rūpaṁ atītānāgatapaccuppannaṁ ajjhattaṁ bahiddhā oḷārikaṁ sukhumaṁ hīnaṁ paṇītaṁ yaṁ dūre santike vā, sabbaṁ rūpaṁ: ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya passati.

It’s when a mendicant truly sees any kind of form at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near: all form—with right understanding: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’

kāci vedanā atītānāgatapaccuppannā ajjhattā bahiddhā oḷārikā sukhumā hīnā paṇītā dūre santike vā, sabbaṁ vedanaṁ: ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya passati.

They truly see any kind of feeling at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near: all feeling—with right understanding: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’

kāci saññā atītānāgatapaccuppannā ajjhattā bahiddhā oḷārikā sukhumā hīnā paṇītā dūre santike vā, sabbaṁ saññaṁ: ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya passati.

They truly see any kind of perception at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near: all perception—with right understanding: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’

Ye keci saṅkhārā atītānāgatapaccuppannā ajjhattā bahiddhā oḷārikā sukhumā hīnā paṇītā ye dūre santike vā, sabbe saṅkhāre: ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya passati.

They truly see any kind of choices at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near: all choices—with right understanding: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’

Yaṁ kiñci viññāṇaṁ atītānāgatapaccuppannaṁ ajjhattaṁ bahiddhā oḷārikaṁ sukhumaṁ hīnaṁ paṇītaṁ yaṁ dūre santike vā, sabbaṁ viññāṇaṁ: ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya passati.

They truly see any kind of consciousness at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near, all consciousness—with right understanding: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dūre pātī hoti.

That’s how a mendicant is a long-distance shooter.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu akkhaṇavedhī hoti?

And how is a mendicant a marksman?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti; ‘ayaṁ dukkhasamudayo’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti; ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodho’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti; ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti.

It’s when a mendicant truly understands: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu akkhaṇavedhī hoti.

That’s how a mendicant is a marksman.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu mahato kāyassa padāletā hoti?

And how does a mendicant shatter large objects?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu mahantaṁ avijjākkhandhaṁ padāleti.

It’s when a mendicant shatters the great mass of ignorance.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu mahato kāyassa padāletā hoti.

That’s how a mendicant shatters large objects.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu āhuneyyo hoti …pe… anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassā”ti.

A mendicant with these three qualities is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of veneration with cupped palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.”

Paṭhamaṁ.

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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Ignorance

Ignorance

A fundamental blindness to the true nature of reality. It is not merely a lack of information, but an active misperception that views the transient as permanent and the unsatisfactory as a source of happiness, thereby fueling the cycle of suffering.

Also known as: illusion of knowing, fundamental unawareness of the true nature of reality, misunderstanding of how things have come to be, not knowing the four noble truths
Pāli: avijjā
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Merit

Merit

Wholesome result of good conduct, generosity, and right intention. Merit brightens the mind and supports happiness and favorable conditions for practice.

Also known as: good deeds, spiritual wealth
Pāli: puñña, kalyāṇa
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Respect

Respect

A mental attitude of reverent attentiveness that values goodness and wisdom in oneself and others. It steadies conduct and opens the mind to learning and humility.

Also known as: reverence, veneration, regard, admiration, appreciation, deference, honour, attentiveness
Pāli: gārava, pūjā, sakkāra
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Right view

Right view

View that is in line with the Dhamma — teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth.

Also known as: right understanding, right belief, view that is inline with the Dhamma
Pāli: sammādiṭṭhi
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Suffering

Suffering

Unpleasantness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, i.e. mild or intense suffering that is inherent in conditioned existence.

Also known as: discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentedness, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, distress, affliction
Pāli: dukkha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026