The Buddha describes the four dhamma speakers—one dhamma speaker speaks little and off topic, and their assembly can’t tell what’s on topic and what’s off topic, and such an assembly regards such a dhamma speaker simply as a dhamma speaker.

AN 4.139 Dhamma Speakers

“Cattārome, bhikkhave, dhammakathikā. Katame cattāro?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco dhammakathiko appañca bhāsati asahitañca; parisā cassa na kusalā hoti sahitāsahitassa. Evarūpo, bhikkhave, dhammakathiko evarūpāya parisāya dhammakathikotveva saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco dhammakathiko appañca bhāsati sahitañca; parisā cassa kusalā hoti sahitāsahitassa. Evarūpo, bhikkhave, dhammakathiko evarūpāya parisāya dhammakathikotveva saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco dhammakathiko bahuñca bhāsati asahitañca; parisā cassa na kusalā hoti sahitāsahitassa. Evarūpo, bhikkhave, dhammakathiko evarūpāya parisāya dhammakathikotveva saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco dhammakathiko bahuñca bhāsati sahitañca; parisā cassa kusalā hoti sahitāsahitassa. Evarūpo, bhikkhave, dhammakathiko evarūpāya parisāya dhammakathikotveva saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro dhammakathikā”ti.

Navamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Cattārome, bhikkhave, dhammakathikā.

“Mendicants, there are these four Dhamma speakers.

Katame cattāro?

What four?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco dhammakathiko appañca bhāsati asahitañca;

One Dhamma speaker speaks little and off topic.

parisā cassa na kusalā hoti sahitāsahitassa.

And their assembly can’t tell what’s on topic and what’s off topic.

Evarūpo, bhikkhave, dhammakathiko evarūpāya parisāya dhammakathikotveva saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

Such an assembly regards such a Dhamma speaker simply as a Dhamma speaker.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco dhammakathiko appañca bhāsati sahitañca;

One Dhamma speaker speaks little but stays on topic.

parisā cassa kusalā hoti sahitāsahitassa.

And their assembly can tell what’s on topic and what’s off topic.

Evarūpo, bhikkhave, dhammakathiko evarūpāya parisāya dhammakathikotveva saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

Such an assembly regards such a Dhamma speaker simply as a Dhamma speaker.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco dhammakathiko bahuñca bhāsati asahitañca;

One Dhamma speaker speaks much but off topic.

parisā cassa na kusalā hoti sahitāsahitassa.

And their assembly can’t tell what’s on topic and what’s off topic.

Evarūpo, bhikkhave, dhammakathiko evarūpāya parisāya dhammakathikotveva saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

Such an assembly regards such a Dhamma speaker simply as a Dhamma speaker.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco dhammakathiko bahuñca bhāsati sahitañca;

One Dhamma speaker speaks much and stays on topic.

parisā cassa kusalā hoti sahitāsahitassa.

And their assembly can tell what’s on topic and what’s off topic.

Evarūpo, bhikkhave, dhammakathiko evarūpāya parisāya dhammakathikotveva saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

Such an assembly regards such a Dhamma speaker simply as a Dhamma speaker.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro dhammakathikā”ti.

These are the four Dhamma speakers.”

Navamaṁ.

Qualities:

Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita, asammūḷha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026