The Buddha describes the four individuals—a titan surrounded by titans,, a titan surrounded by gods,, a god surrounded by titans, and and.

AN 4.91 Titans

“Cattārome, bhikkhave, puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ. Katame cattāro?

Asuro asuraparivāro,

asuro devaparivāro,

devo asuraparivāro,

devo devaparivāro.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo asuro hoti asuraparivāro? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo dussīlo hoti pāpadhammo, parisāpissa hoti dussīlā pāpadhammā. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo asuro hoti asuraparivāro.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo asuro hoti devaparivāro? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo dussīlo hoti pāpadhammo, parisā ca khvassa hoti sīlavatī kalyāṇadhammā. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo asuro hoti devaparivāro.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo devo hoti asuraparivāro? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo sīlavā hoti kalyāṇadhammo, parisā ca khvassa hoti dussīlā pāpadhammā. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo devo hoti asuraparivāro.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo devo hoti devaparivāro? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo sīlavā hoti kalyāṇadhammo, parisāpissa hoti sīlavatī kalyāṇadhammā. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo devo hoti, devaparivāro.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmin”ti.

Paṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Cattārome, bhikkhave, puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ.

“Mendicants, these four individuals are found in the world.

Katame cattāro?

What four?

Asuro asuraparivāro,

A titan surrounded by titans,

asuro devaparivāro,

a titan surrounded by gods,

devo asuraparivāro,

a god surrounded by titans, and

devo devaparivāro.

a god surrounded by gods.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo asuro hoti asuraparivāro?

And how is an individual a titan surrounded by titans?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo dussīlo hoti pāpadhammo, parisāpissa hoti dussīlā pāpadhammā.

It’s when an individual is unethical, of bad character, and their followers are the same.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo asuro hoti asuraparivāro.

That’s how an individual is a titan surrounded by titans.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo asuro hoti devaparivāro?

And how is an individual a titan surrounded by gods?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo dussīlo hoti pāpadhammo, parisā ca khvassa hoti sīlavatī kalyāṇadhammā.

It’s when an individual is unethical, of bad character, but their followers are ethical, of good character.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo asuro hoti devaparivāro.

That’s how an individual is a titan surrounded by gods.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo devo hoti asuraparivāro?

And how is an individual a god surrounded by titans?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo sīlavā hoti kalyāṇadhammo, parisā ca khvassa hoti dussīlā pāpadhammā.

It’s when an individual is ethical, of good character, but their followers are unethical, of bad character.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo devo hoti asuraparivāro.

That’s how an individual is a god surrounded by titans.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo devo hoti devaparivāro?

And how is an individual a god surrounded by gods?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo sīlavā hoti kalyāṇadhammo, parisāpissa hoti sīlavatī kalyāṇadhammā.

It’s when an individual is ethical, of good character, and their followers are the same.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo devo hoti, devaparivāro.

That’s how an individual is a god surrounded by gods.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmin”ti.

These are the four individuals found in the world.”

Paṭhamaṁ.

Qualities:

Ethical conduct

Ethical conduct

A disciplined way of living grounded in harmlessness and integrity. Ethical conduct restrains the body and speech from harm, purifies behavior, and forms the foundation for collectedness and wisdom.

Also known as: moral integrity, right action, virtue
Pāli: sīla, sammākammanta
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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
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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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Last updated on July 27, 2026