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

AN 4.40 With Udāyī

Atha kho udāyī brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā …pe… ekamantaṁ nisinno kho udāyī brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “bhavampi no gotamo yaññaṁ vaṇṇetī”ti?

“Na kho ahaṁ, brāhmaṇa, sabbaṁ yaññaṁ vaṇṇemi; na panāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, sabbaṁ yaññaṁ na vaṇṇemi. Yathārūpe kho, brāhmaṇa, yaññe gāvo haññanti, ajeḷakā haññanti, kukkuṭasūkarā haññanti, vividhā pāṇā saṅghātaṁ āpajjanti; evarūpaṁ kho ahaṁ, brāhmaṇa, sārambhaṁ yaññaṁ na vaṇṇemi. Taṁ kissa hetu? Evarūpañhi, brāhmaṇa, sārambhaṁ yaññaṁ na upasaṅkamanti arahanto arahattamaggaṁ samāpannā.

Yathārūpe ca kho, brāhmaṇa, yaññe neva gāvo haññanti, na ajeḷakā haññanti, na kukkuṭasūkarā haññanti, na vividhā pāṇā saṅghātaṁ āpajjanti; evarūpaṁ kho ahaṁ, brāhmaṇa, nirārambhaṁ yaññaṁ vaṇṇemi, yadidaṁ niccadānaṁ anukulayaññaṁ. Taṁ kissa hetu? Evarūpañhi, brāhmaṇa, nirārambhaṁ yaññaṁ upasaṅkamanti arahanto arahattamaggaṁ samāpannāti.

Abhisaṅkhataṁ nirārambhaṁ,
yaññaṁ kālena kappiyaṁ;
Tādisaṁ upasaṁyanti,
saññatā brahmacārayo.

Vivaṭacchadā ye loke,
vītivattā kulaṁ gatiṁ;
Yaññametaṁ pasaṁsanti,
buddhā yaññassa kovidā.

Yaññe yadi saddhe,
habyaṁ katvā yathārahaṁ;
Pasannacitto yajati,
sukhette brahmacārisu.

Suhutaṁ suyiṭṭhaṁ suppattaṁ,
Dakkhiṇeyyesu yaṁ kataṁ;
Yañño ca vipulo hoti,
Pasīdanti ca devatā.

Evaṁ yajitvā medhāvī,
saddho muttena cetasā;
Abyābajjhaṁ sukhaṁ lokaṁ,
paṇḍito upapajjatī”ti.

Dasamaṁ.

Cakkavaggo catuttho.

Tassuddānaṁ

Cakko saṅgaho sīho,
Pasādo vassakārena pañcamaṁ;
Doṇo aparihāniyo patilīno,
Ujjayo udāyinā te dasāti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Atha kho udāyī brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā …pe… ekamantaṁ nisinno kho udāyī brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then Udāyī the brahmin went up to the Buddha, … and asked him,

“bhavampi no gotamo yaññaṁ vaṇṇetī”ti?

“Does the worthy Gotama praise sacrifice?”

“Na kho ahaṁ, brāhmaṇa, sabbaṁ yaññaṁ vaṇṇemi;

“Brahmin, I don’t praise all sacrifices.

na panāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, sabbaṁ yaññaṁ na vaṇṇemi.

Nor do I criticize all sacrifices. …

Yathārūpe kho, brāhmaṇa, yaññe gāvo haññanti, ajeḷakā haññanti, kukkuṭasūkarā haññanti, vividhā pāṇā saṅghātaṁ āpajjanti;

Take the kind of sacrifice where cattle, goats and sheep, chickens and pigs, and various kinds of animals are slaughtered.

evarūpaṁ kho ahaṁ, brāhmaṇa, sārambhaṁ yaññaṁ na vaṇṇemi.

I don’t praise that kind of violent sacrifice.

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Evarūpañhi, brāhmaṇa, sārambhaṁ yaññaṁ na upasaṅkamanti arahanto arahattamaggaṁ samāpannā.

Yathārūpe ca kho, brāhmaṇa, yaññe neva gāvo haññanti, na ajeḷakā haññanti, na kukkuṭasūkarā haññanti, na vividhā pāṇā saṅghātaṁ āpajjanti;

But take the kind of sacrifice where cattle, goats and sheep, chickens and pigs, and various kinds of animals are not slaughtered.

evarūpaṁ kho ahaṁ, brāhmaṇa, nirārambhaṁ yaññaṁ vaṇṇemi, yadidaṁ niccadānaṁ anukulayaññaṁ.

I do praise that kind of non-violent sacrifice; for example, a regular gift as an propitious sacrifice.

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Evarūpañhi, brāhmaṇa, nirārambhaṁ yaññaṁ upasaṅkamanti arahanto arahattamaggaṁ samāpannāti.

Abhisaṅkhataṁ nirārambhaṁ,

Well-prepared and non-violent,

yaññaṁ kālena kappiyaṁ;

a sacrifice that’s allowable and timely,

Tādisaṁ upasaṁyanti,

is attended by

saññatā brahmacārayo.

disciplined spiritual practitioners.

Vivaṭacchadā ye loke,

The Buddhas—who have cast off the veil from the world,

vītivattā kulaṁ gatiṁ;

passing beyond time and rebirth—

Yaññametaṁ pasaṁsanti,

praise this sacrifice,

buddhā yaññassa kovidā.

as they are expert in sacrifice.

Yaññe yadi saddhe,

When you’ve prepared a suitable offering,

habyaṁ katvā yathārahaṁ;

whether as sacrifice or for ancestors,

Pasannacitto yajati,

sacrifice it with confident heart,

sukhette brahmacārisu.

in the fertile field of spiritual practitioners.

Suhutaṁ suyiṭṭhaṁ suppattaṁ,

When it’s well-gotten, well-offered, and well-sacrificed,

Dakkhiṇeyyesu yaṁ kataṁ;

to those worthy of a religious donation,

Yañño ca vipulo hoti,

a sacrifice is truly abundant,

Pasīdanti ca devatā.

and even the deities are pleased.

Evaṁ yajitvā medhāvī,

When an intelligent, faithful person,

saddho muttena cetasā;

sacrifices like this, with a mind of letting go,

Abyābajjhaṁ sukhaṁ lokaṁ,

that astute one is reborn

paṇḍito upapajjatī”ti.

in a happy, pleasing world.”

Dasamaṁ.

Cakkavaggo catuttho.

Tassuddānaṁ

Cakko saṅgaho sīho,

Pasādo vassakārena pañcamaṁ;

Doṇo aparihāniyo patilīno,

Ujjayo udāyinā te dasāti.

Qualities:

Dearness

Dearness

A mental quality of holding something or someone as 'dear' through attachment, which binds the mind with craving and possessiveness. It is the external fixation upon what the mind clings to, often giving rise to envy, quarrels, and sorrow.

Also known as: beloved, cherished, pleasing
Pāli: piya
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Faith

Faith

Confidence in the Buddha's awakening and the efficacy of the path. It brightens and steadies the mind, removing doubt and inspiring energy toward wholesome practice. True faith rests on clarity and direct experience rather than mere belief.

Also known as: confidence, trust, belief, conviction, self-assurance
Pāli: saddha, pasanna
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Giving up

Giving up

The mental quality of renunciation and release from attachment. It delights in simplicity and freedom rather than in sensual pleasure. Giving up is not loss but the joyful abandoning of burden, opening the way to peace and insight.

Also known as: renunciation, relinquishment, letting go, abandonment
Pāli: nekkhamma
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Recollection of the Buddha

Recollection of the Buddha

A mental quality of reflecting on the qualities of the Buddha, which counters doubt and strengthens faith.

Also known as: recollection of Buddha, mindfulness of the Buddha, reflection on the qualities of the Buddha
Pāli: buddhānussati, buddhānusmṛti
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Last updated on July 27, 2026