The Buddha teaches on praise, presenting a fivefold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 5.116 Praise

“Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgatā bhikkhunī yathābhataṁ nikkhittā evaṁ niraye. Katamehi pañcahi? Ananuvicca apariyogāhetvā avaṇṇārahassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, ananuvicca apariyogāhetvā vaṇṇārahassa avaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, ananuvicca apariyogāhetvā appasādanīye ṭhāne pasādaṁ upadaṁseti, ananuvicca apariyogāhetvā pasādanīye ṭhāne appasādaṁ upadaṁseti, saddhādeyyaṁ vinipāteti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgatā bhikkhunī yathābhataṁ nikkhittā evaṁ niraye.

Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgatā bhikkhunī yathābhataṁ nikkhittā evaṁ sagge. Katamehi pañcahi? Anuvicca pariyogāhetvā avaṇṇārahassa avaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, anuvicca pariyogāhetvā vaṇṇārahassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, anuvicca pariyogāhetvā appasādanīye ṭhāne appasādaṁ upadaṁseti, anuvicca pariyogāhetvā pasādanīye ṭhāne pasādaṁ upadaṁseti, saddhādeyyaṁ na vinipāteti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgatā bhikkhunī yathābhataṁ nikkhittā evaṁ sagge”ti.

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgatā bhikkhunī yathābhataṁ nikkhittā evaṁ niraye.

“Mendicants, a nun with five qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there.

Katamehi pañcahi?

What five?

Ananuvicca apariyogāhetvā avaṇṇārahassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati,

Without examining or scrutinizing, she praises those deserving of criticism,

ananuvicca apariyogāhetvā vaṇṇārahassa avaṇṇaṁ bhāsati,

and criticizes those deserving of praise.

ananuvicca apariyogāhetvā appasādanīye ṭhāne pasādaṁ upadaṁseti,

She arouses faith in things that are dubious,

ananuvicca apariyogāhetvā pasādanīye ṭhāne appasādaṁ upadaṁseti,

and doesn’t arouse faith in things that are inspiring.

saddhādeyyaṁ vinipāteti.

And she wastes gifts given in faith.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgatā bhikkhunī yathābhataṁ nikkhittā evaṁ niraye.

A nun with these five qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there.

Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgatā bhikkhunī yathābhataṁ nikkhittā evaṁ sagge.

A nun with five qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there.

Katamehi pañcahi?

What five?

Anuvicca pariyogāhetvā avaṇṇārahassa avaṇṇaṁ bhāsati,

After examining and scrutinizing, she criticizes those deserving of criticism,

anuvicca pariyogāhetvā vaṇṇārahassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati,

and praises those deserving of praise.

anuvicca pariyogāhetvā appasādanīye ṭhāne appasādaṁ upadaṁseti,

She doesn’t arouse faith in things that are dubious,

anuvicca pariyogāhetvā pasādanīye ṭhāne pasādaṁ upadaṁseti,

and does arouse faith in things that are inspiring.

saddhādeyyaṁ na vinipāteti.

And she doesn’t waste gifts given in faith.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgatā bhikkhunī yathābhataṁ nikkhittā evaṁ sagge”ti.

A nun with these five qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there.”

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Qualities:

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
View all discourses →
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
View all discourses →

Last updated on July 27, 2026