The Buddha teaches on a meal assigner, presenting a fourfold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 4.20 A Meal Assigner

“Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhattuddesako yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye. Katamehi catūhi? Chandāgatiṁ gacchati, dosāgatiṁ gacchati, mohāgatiṁ gacchati, bhayāgatiṁ gacchati imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato bhattuddesako yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye.

Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhattuddesako yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ sagge. Katamehi catūhi? Na chandāgatiṁ gacchati, na dosāgatiṁ gacchati, na mohāgatiṁ gacchati, na bhayāgatiṁ gacchati imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato bhattuddesako yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ saggeti.

Ye keci kāmesu asaññatā janā,
Adhammikā honti adhammagāravā;
Chandā dosā mohā ca bhayā gāmino,
Parisākasaṭo ca panesa vuccati.

Evañhi vuttaṁ samaṇena jānatā,
Tasmā hi te sappurisā pasaṁsiyā;
Dhamme ṭhitā ye na karonti pāpakaṁ,
Na chandā na dosā na mohā na bhayā ca gāmino;
Parisāya maṇḍo ca panesa vuccati,
Evañhi vuttaṁ samaṇena jānatā”ti.

Dasamaṁ.

Caravaggo dutiyo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Caraṁ sīlaṁ padhānāni,
saṁvaraṁ paññatti pañcamaṁ;
Sokhummaṁ tayo agatī,
bhattuddesena te dasāti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhattuddesako yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye.

“Mendicants, a meal assigner who has four qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there.

Katamehi catūhi?

What four?

Chandāgatiṁ gacchati, dosāgatiṁ gacchati, mohāgatiṁ gacchati, bhayāgatiṁ gacchati

They make decisions prejudiced by favoritism, hostility, stupidity, and cowardice.

imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato bhattuddesako yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye.

A meal assigner who has these four qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there.

Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhattuddesako yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ sagge.

A meal designator who has four qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there.

Katamehi catūhi?

What four?

Na chandāgatiṁ gacchati, na dosāgatiṁ gacchati, na mohāgatiṁ gacchati, na bhayāgatiṁ gacchati

They make decisions unprejudiced by favoritism, hostility, stupidity, and cowardice.

imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato bhattuddesako yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ saggeti.

A meal assigner who has these four qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there.

Ye keci kāmesu asaññatā janā,

All those people with unbridled sensuality,

Adhammikā honti adhammagāravā;

unprincipled, with no respect for principle,

Chandā dosā mohā ca bhayā gāmino,

led astray by favoritism, hostility, stupidity, or cowardice,

Parisākasaṭo ca panesa vuccati.

are called ‘an assembly of the dregs’:

Evañhi vuttaṁ samaṇena jānatā,

that’s what was said by the ascetic who knows.

Tasmā hi te sappurisā pasaṁsiyā;

And so those praiseworthy true persons,

Dhamme ṭhitā ye na karonti pāpakaṁ,

standing on principle, doing nothing wrong,

Na chandā na dosā na mohā na bhayā ca gāmino;

not led astray by favoritism, hostility, stupidity, or cowardice,

Parisāya maṇḍo ca panesa vuccati,

are called ‘an assembly of the cream’:

Evañhi vuttaṁ samaṇena jānatā”ti.

that’s what was said by the ascetic who knows.”

Dasamaṁ.

Caravaggo dutiyo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Caraṁ sīlaṁ padhānāni,

saṁvaraṁ paññatti pañcamaṁ;

Sokhummaṁ tayo agatī,

bhattuddesena te dasāti.

Qualities:

Aggressiveness

Aggressiveness

A pushing, forceful mental stance that seeks to overpower, threaten, or injure—physically or verbally. It often rides on anger and the urge to win, destroying safety and trust for oneself and others.

Also known as: hostility, antagonism, belligerence, combativeness, pugnacity, violence, injury causing behavior
Pāli: sārambha, caṇḍa
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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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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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Sensual desire

Sensual desire

A mental quality of desiring sensory gratification. It pulls the mind’s attention toward sights, sounds, smells, tastes, or touches in a search for satisfaction.

Also known as: craving for sensuality, passion for sensual pleasures, lust, pull toward enticing sense objects
Pāli: kāmacchanda
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Last updated on July 27, 2026