The Buddha teaches on with upaka, presenting a fourfold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 4.188 With Upaka

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati gijjhakūṭe pabbate. Atha kho upako maṇḍikāputto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho upako maṇḍikāputto bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“Ahañhi, bhante, evaṁvādī evaṁdiṭṭhi: ‘yo koci parūpārambhaṁ vatteti, parūpārambhaṁ vattento sabbo so na upapādeti. Anupapādento gārayho hoti upavajjo’”ti.

“Parūpārambhañce, upaka, vatteti parūpārambhaṁ vattento na upapādeti, anupapādento gārayho hoti upavajjo. Tvaṁ kho, upaka, parūpārambhaṁ vattesi, parūpārambhaṁ vattento na upapādesi, anupapādento gārayho hosi upavajjo”ti.

“Seyyathāpi, bhante, ummujjamānakaṁyeva mahatā pāsena bandheyya; evamevaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhante, ummujjamānakoyeva bhagavatā mahatā vādapāsena baddho”ti.

“Idaṁ akusalanti kho, upaka, mayā paññattaṁ. Tattha aparimāṇā padā aparimāṇā byañjanā aparimāṇā tathāgatassa dhammadesanā itipidaṁ akusalanti. Taṁ kho panidaṁ akusalaṁ pahātabbanti kho, upaka, mayā paññattaṁ. Tattha aparimāṇā padā aparimāṇā byañjanā aparimāṇā tathāgatassa dhammadesanā itipidaṁ akusalaṁ pahātabbanti.

Idaṁ kusalanti kho, upaka, mayā paññattaṁ. Tattha aparimāṇā padā aparimāṇā byañjanā aparimāṇā tathāgatassa dhammadesanā itipidaṁ kusalanti. Taṁ kho panidaṁ kusalaṁ bhāvetabbanti kho, upaka, mayā paññattaṁ. Tattha aparimāṇā padā aparimāṇā byañjanā aparimāṇā tathāgatassa dhammadesanā itipidaṁ kusalaṁ bhāvetabban”ti.

Atha kho upako maṇḍikāputto bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā yena rājā māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā yāvatako ahosi bhagavatā saddhiṁ kathāsallāpo taṁ sabbaṁ rañño māgadhassa ajātasattussa vedehiputtassa ārocesi.

Evaṁ vutte, rājā māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto kupito anattamano upakaṁ maṇḍikāputtaṁ etadavoca: “yāva dhaṁsī vatāyaṁ loṇakāradārako yāva mukharo yāva pagabbo yatra hi nāma taṁ bhagavantaṁ arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhaṁ āsādetabbaṁ maññissati; apehi tvaṁ, upaka, vinassa, taṁ addasan”ti.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati gijjhakūṭe pabbate.

Once the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, on the Vulture’s Peak Mountain.

Atha kho upako maṇḍikāputto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho upako maṇḍikāputto bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then Upaka the son of Maṇḍikā went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

“Ahañhi, bhante, evaṁvādī evaṁdiṭṭhi:

“Sir, this is my doctrine and view:

‘yo koci parūpārambhaṁ vatteti, parūpārambhaṁ vattento sabbo so na upapādeti.

‘Whoever goes on complaining about others without giving any reasons

Anupapādento gārayho hoti upavajjo’”ti.

is reprehensible and at fault.’”

“Parūpārambhañce, upaka, vatteti parūpārambhaṁ vattento na upapādeti, anupapādento gārayho hoti upavajjo.

“Upaka, if someone goes on complaining about others without giving a reason, they’re reprehensible and at fault.

Tvaṁ kho, upaka, parūpārambhaṁ vattesi, parūpārambhaṁ vattento na upapādesi, anupapādento gārayho hosi upavajjo”ti.

But that’s what you do, so you’re reprehensible and at fault!”

“Seyyathāpi, bhante, ummujjamānakaṁyeva mahatā pāsena bandheyya;

“Sir, like a fish caught in a big trap just as it rises,

evamevaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhante, ummujjamānakoyeva bhagavatā mahatā vādapāsena baddho”ti.

so the Buddha caught me in a big trap of words just as I rose up.”

“Idaṁ akusalanti kho, upaka, mayā paññattaṁ.

“Upaka, I’ve declared: ‘This is unskillful.’

Tattha aparimāṇā padā aparimāṇā byañjanā aparimāṇā tathāgatassa dhammadesanā

And for that there are limitless words, phrasings, and teachings of the Realized One:

itipidaṁ akusalanti.

‘This is another way of saying that this is unskillful.’

Taṁ kho panidaṁ akusalaṁ pahātabbanti kho, upaka, mayā paññattaṁ.

I’ve declared: ‘The unskillful should be given up.’

Tattha aparimāṇā padā aparimāṇā byañjanā aparimāṇā tathāgatassa dhammadesanā

And for that there are limitless words, phrasings, and teachings of the Realized One:

itipidaṁ akusalaṁ pahātabbanti.

‘This is another way of saying that the unskillful should be given up.’

Idaṁ kusalanti kho, upaka, mayā paññattaṁ.

I’ve declared that: ‘This is skillful.’

Tattha aparimāṇā padā aparimāṇā byañjanā aparimāṇā tathāgatassa dhammadesanā

And for that there are limitless words, phrasings, and teachings of the Realized One:

itipidaṁ kusalanti.

‘This is another way of saying that this is skillful.’

Taṁ kho panidaṁ kusalaṁ bhāvetabbanti kho, upaka, mayā paññattaṁ.

I’ve declared: ‘The skillful should be developed.’

Tattha aparimāṇā padā aparimāṇā byañjanā aparimāṇā tathāgatassa dhammadesanā

And for that there are limitless words, phrasings, and teachings of the Realized One:

itipidaṁ kusalaṁ bhāvetabban”ti.

‘This is another way of saying that the skillful should be developed.’”

Atha kho upako maṇḍikāputto bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā yena rājā māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā yāvatako ahosi bhagavatā saddhiṁ kathāsallāpo taṁ sabbaṁ rañño māgadhassa ajātasattussa vedehiputtassa ārocesi.

And then Upaka son of Maṇḍikā approved and agreed with what the Buddha said. He rose from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right. Then he went up to King Ajātasattu of Magadha, son of the princess of Videha. He told the King of all they had discussed.

Evaṁ vutte, rājā māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto kupito anattamano upakaṁ maṇḍikāputtaṁ etadavoca:

But Ajātasattu became angry and upset, and said to Upaka,

“yāva dhaṁsī vatāyaṁ loṇakāradārako yāva mukharo yāva pagabbo yatra hi nāma taṁ bhagavantaṁ arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhaṁ āsādetabbaṁ maññissati;

“How rude of this salt-maker’s boy! How scurrilous and impudent of him to imagine he could attack the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha!

apehi tvaṁ, upaka, vinassa, taṁ addasan”ti.

Get out, Upaka, go away! Don’t let me see you again.”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Aversion

Aversion

A rejecting mental quality rooted in perception, where one instinctively turns away from or resists unpleasant experiences or objects; it manifests as a tendency to push away discomfort, obstructing patience and acceptance.

Also known as: animosity, hate, hostility, fault-finding mindset, upset
Pāli: dosa, paṭighasaññā, vera
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Craving

Craving

A driving ‘thirst’ that reaches out toward experiences, identities, or outcomes as the place to find satisfaction—“if only I had that.” It spins stories of lack, binds the mind to becoming, and invariably leads to suffering.

Also known as: wanting, yearning, longing, lit. thirst
Pāli: taṇha, abhijjhā
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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 →
Unwholesome

Unwholesome

Conducive to or suggestive of poor health and mental well-being.

Also known as: blameworthy, unhealthy, unskillful, unbeneficial, karmically unprofitable
Pāli: akusala
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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
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Wrong view

Wrong view

A distorted understanding that sees permanence in the impermanent, satisfaction in the unsatisfactory, or self in the not-self. Wrong view guides action by delusion, obscuring cause and effect, and closes the door to wisdom and release.

Also known as: distorted or inverted perception, untrue view, false belief
Pāli: micchādiṭṭhi
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Last updated on July 27, 2026