The Buddha describes the three things—going forth,, and and taking care of your mother and father.

AN 3.45 Recommended by the Astute

“Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, paṇḍitapaññattāni sappurisapaññattāni. Katamāni tīṇi? Dānaṁ, bhikkhave, paṇḍitapaññattaṁ sappurisapaññattaṁ. Pabbajjā, bhikkhave, paṇḍitapaññattā sappurisapaññattā. Mātāpitūnaṁ, bhikkhave, upaṭṭhānaṁ paṇḍitapaññattaṁ sappurisapaññattaṁ. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi paṇḍitapaññattāni sappurisapaññattānīti.

Sabbhi dānaṁ upaññattaṁ,
ahiṁsā saṁyamo damo;
Mātāpitu upaṭṭhānaṁ,
santānaṁ brahmacārinaṁ.

Sataṁ etāni ṭhānāni,
yāni sevetha paṇḍito;
Ariyo dassanasampanno,
sa lokaṁ bhajate sivan”ti.

Pañcamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, paṇḍitapaññattāni sappurisapaññattāni.

“Mendicants, these three things are recommended by astute true persons.

Katamāni tīṇi?

What three?

Dānaṁ, bhikkhave, paṇḍitapaññattaṁ sappurisapaññattaṁ.

Giving,

Pabbajjā, bhikkhave, paṇḍitapaññattā sappurisapaññattā.

going forth,

Mātāpitūnaṁ, bhikkhave, upaṭṭhānaṁ paṇḍitapaññattaṁ sappurisapaññattaṁ.

and taking care of your mother and father.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi paṇḍitapaññattāni sappurisapaññattānīti.

These are the three things recommended by astute true persons.

Sabbhi dānaṁ upaññattaṁ,

The virtuous recommend giving,

ahiṁsā saṁyamo damo;

harmlessness, restraint, and self-control;

Mātāpitu upaṭṭhānaṁ,

caring for mother and father,

santānaṁ brahmacārinaṁ.

and peaceful spiritual practitioners.

Sataṁ etāni ṭhānāni,

These are the things recommended by the good,

yāni sevetha paṇḍito;

which the astute should cultivate.

Ariyo dassanasampanno,

A noble one, having vision,

sa lokaṁ bhajate sivan”ti.

will enjoy a world of grace.”

Pañcamaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Giving

Giving

The act of generosity, sharing, or offering to others without expecting anything in return. Giving is considered a foundational virtue in Buddhist practice, fostering selflessness and compassion.

Also known as: generosity, charity, donation, almsgiving, donating, philanthropy, providing with, gift with
Pāli: dāna
View all discourses →
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
View all discourses →
Non-harm

Non-harm

The intention of harmlessness, rooted in the understanding that all beings tremble at violence and fear death.

Also known as: non-violence, non-injury, harmlessness, non-killing, non-hurting
Pāli: avihiṃsā, ahiṁsa
View all discourses →
Self-control

Self-control

A quality of mastering one’s impulses and responses through restraint.

Also known as: self-restraint, self-mastery
Pāli: saṃvara, saññata, saṃvuta, saṁyama
View all discourses →
Vision

Vision

The corrective clarity that clearly sees into the true nature of things as they actually are.

Also known as: knowledge and vision, seeing clearly, seeing things as they are, seeing the truth, seeing the dhamma
Pāli: dassana, ñāṇadassana, yathābhūtañāṇadassana
View all discourses →
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
View all discourses →

Last updated on July 27, 2026