The Buddha describes the five qualities aspires to end the defilements—it’s when an anointed aristocratic king’s eldest son is well born on both his mother’s and father’s side, stemming from a clean vessel, with irrefutable and impeccable genealogy back to the seventh paternal generation, he is attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty, he is dear and beloved to his parents, and he is dear and beloved to the people of town and country, and he is trained and skilled in the arts of anointed aristocratic kings, such as elephant riding, horse riding, driving a chariot, archery, and swordsmanship.

AN 5.135 Aspiration (1st)

“Pañcahi, bhikkhave, aṅgehi samannāgato rañño khattiyassa muddhāvasittassa jeṭṭho putto rajjaṁ pattheti. Katamehi pañcahi?

Idha, bhikkhave, rañño khattiyassa muddhāvasittassa jeṭṭho putto ubhato sujāto hoti mātito ca pitito ca, saṁsuddhagahaṇiko, yāva sattamā pitāmahayugā akkhitto anupakkuṭṭho jātivādena;

abhirūpo hoti dassanīyo pāsādiko paramāya vaṇṇapokkharatāya samannāgato;

mātāpitūnaṁ piyo hoti manāpo;

negamajānapadassa piyo hoti manāpo;

yāni tāni raññaṁ khattiyānaṁ muddhāvasittānaṁ sippaṭṭhānāni hatthismiṁ assasmiṁ rathasmiṁ dhanusmiṁ tharusmiṁ tattha sikkhito hoti anavayo.

Tassa evaṁ hoti: ‘ahaṁ khomhi ubhato sujāto mātito ca pitito ca, saṁsuddhagahaṇiko, yāva sattamā pitāmahayugā akkhitto anupakkuṭṭho jātivādena. Kasmāhaṁ rajjaṁ na pattheyyaṁ. Ahaṁ khomhi abhirūpo dassanīyo pāsādiko paramāya vaṇṇapokkharatāya samannāgato. Kasmāhaṁ rajjaṁ na pattheyyaṁ. Ahaṁ khomhi mātāpitūnaṁ piyo manāpo. Kasmāhaṁ rajjaṁ na pattheyyaṁ. Ahaṁ khomhi negamajānapadassa piyo manāpo. Kasmāhaṁ rajjaṁ na pattheyyaṁ. Ahaṁ khomhi yāni tāni raññaṁ khattiyānaṁ muddhāvasittānaṁ sippaṭṭhānāni hatthismiṁ assasmiṁ rathasmiṁ dhanusmiṁ tharusmiṁ vā, tattha sikkhito anavayo. Kasmāhaṁ rajjaṁ na pattheyyan’ti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi aṅgehi samannāgato rañño khattiyassa muddhāvasittassa jeṭṭho putto rajjaṁ pattheti.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayaṁ pattheti. Katamehi pañcahi?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu saddho hoti, saddahati tathāgatassa bodhiṁ: ‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti.

Appābādho hoti appātaṅko, samavepākiniyā gahaṇiyā samannāgato nātisītāya nāccuṇhāya majjhimāya padhānakkhamāya;

asaṭho hoti amāyāvī, yathābhūtaṁ attānaṁ āvikattā satthari viññūsu sabrahmacārīsu;

āraddhavīriyo viharati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu;

paññavā hoti udayatthagāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammā dukkhakkhayagāminiyā.

Tassa evaṁ hoti: ‘ahaṁ khomhi saddho, saddahāmi tathāgatassa bodhiṁ: “itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā”ti. Kasmāhaṁ āsavānaṁ khayaṁ na pattheyyaṁ. Ahaṁ khomhi appābādho appātaṅko samavepākiniyā gahaṇiyā samannāgato nātisītāya nāccuṇhāya majjhimāya padhānakkhamāya. Kasmāhaṁ āsavānaṁ khayaṁ na pattheyyaṁ. Ahaṁ khomhi asaṭho amāyāvī yathābhūtaṁ attānaṁ āvikattā satthari viññūsu sabrahmacārīsu. Kasmāhaṁ āsavānaṁ khayaṁ na pattheyyaṁ. Ahaṁ khomhi āraddhavīriyo viharāmi akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu. Kasmāhaṁ āsavānaṁ khayaṁ na pattheyyaṁ. Ahaṁ khomhi paññavā udayatthagāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammā dukkhakkhayagāminiyā. Kasmāhaṁ āsavānaṁ khayaṁ na pattheyyan’ti.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayaṁ patthetī”ti.

Pañcamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Pañcahi, bhikkhave, aṅgehi samannāgato rañño khattiyassa muddhāvasittassa jeṭṭho putto rajjaṁ pattheti.

“Mendicants, an anointed aristocratic king’s eldest son with five factors aspires to kingship.

Katamehi pañcahi?

What five?

Idha, bhikkhave, rañño khattiyassa muddhāvasittassa jeṭṭho putto ubhato sujāto hoti mātito ca pitito ca, saṁsuddhagahaṇiko, yāva sattamā pitāmahayugā akkhitto anupakkuṭṭho jātivādena;

It’s when an anointed aristocratic king’s eldest son is well born on both his mother’s and father’s side, stemming from a clean vessel, with irrefutable and impeccable genealogy back to the seventh paternal generation.

abhirūpo hoti dassanīyo pāsādiko paramāya vaṇṇapokkharatāya samannāgato;

He is attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty.

mātāpitūnaṁ piyo hoti manāpo;

He is dear and beloved to his parents.

negamajānapadassa piyo hoti manāpo;

He is dear and beloved to the people of town and country.

yāni tāni raññaṁ khattiyānaṁ muddhāvasittānaṁ sippaṭṭhānāni hatthismiṁ assasmiṁ rathasmiṁ dhanusmiṁ tharusmiṁ tattha sikkhito hoti anavayo.

He is trained and skilled in the arts of anointed aristocratic kings, such as elephant riding, horse riding, driving a chariot, archery, and swordsmanship.

Tassa evaṁ hoti:

He thinks:

‘ahaṁ khomhi ubhato sujāto mātito ca pitito ca, saṁsuddhagahaṇiko, yāva sattamā pitāmahayugā akkhitto anupakkuṭṭho jātivādena.

‘I’m well born on both my mother’s and father’s side, stemming from a clean vessel, with irrefutable and impeccable genealogy back to the seventh paternal generation.

Kasmāhaṁ rajjaṁ na pattheyyaṁ.

Why shouldn’t I aspire to kingship?

Ahaṁ khomhi abhirūpo dassanīyo pāsādiko paramāya vaṇṇapokkharatāya samannāgato.

I’m attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty.

Kasmāhaṁ rajjaṁ na pattheyyaṁ.

Why shouldn’t I aspire to kingship?

Ahaṁ khomhi mātāpitūnaṁ piyo manāpo.

I’m dear and beloved to my parents.

Kasmāhaṁ rajjaṁ na pattheyyaṁ.

Why shouldn’t I aspire to kingship?

Ahaṁ khomhi negamajānapadassa piyo manāpo.

I’m dear and beloved to the people of town and country.

Kasmāhaṁ rajjaṁ na pattheyyaṁ.

Why shouldn’t I aspire to kingship?

Ahaṁ khomhi yāni tāni raññaṁ khattiyānaṁ muddhāvasittānaṁ sippaṭṭhānāni hatthismiṁ assasmiṁ rathasmiṁ dhanusmiṁ tharusmiṁ vā, tattha sikkhito anavayo.

I’m trained and skilled in the arts of anointed aristocratic kings, such as elephant riding, horse riding, driving a chariot, archery, and swordsmanship.

Kasmāhaṁ rajjaṁ na pattheyyan’ti.

Why shouldn’t I aspire to kingship?’

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi aṅgehi samannāgato rañño khattiyassa muddhāvasittassa jeṭṭho putto rajjaṁ pattheti.

An anointed aristocratic king’s eldest son with these five factors aspires to kingship.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayaṁ pattheti.

In the same way, a mendicant with five qualities aspires to end the defilements.

Katamehi pañcahi?

What five?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu saddho hoti, saddahati tathāgatassa bodhiṁ:

It’s when a mendicant has faith in the Realized One’s awakening:

‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti.

‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’

Appābādho hoti appātaṅko, samavepākiniyā gahaṇiyā samannāgato nātisītāya nāccuṇhāya majjhimāya padhānakkhamāya;

They are rarely ill or unwell. Their stomach digests well, being neither too hot nor too cold, but just right, and fit for meditation.

asaṭho hoti amāyāvī, yathābhūtaṁ attānaṁ āvikattā satthari viññūsu sabrahmacārīsu;

They’re not devious or deceitful. They reveal themselves honestly to the Teacher or sensible spiritual companions.

āraddhavīriyo viharati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu;

They live with energy roused up for giving up unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities. They’re strong, staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing skillful qualities.

paññavā hoti udayatthagāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammā dukkhakkhayagāminiyā.

They’re wise. They have the wisdom of arising and passing away which is noble, penetrative, and leads to the complete ending of suffering.

Tassa evaṁ hoti:

They think:

‘ahaṁ khomhi saddho, saddahāmi tathāgatassa bodhiṁ:

‘I am a person of faith; I have faith in the Realized One’s awakening …

“itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā”ti.

Kasmāhaṁ āsavānaṁ khayaṁ na pattheyyaṁ.

Why shouldn’t I aspire to end the defilements?

Ahaṁ khomhi appābādho appātaṅko samavepākiniyā gahaṇiyā samannāgato nātisītāya nāccuṇhāya majjhimāya padhānakkhamāya.

I’m rarely ill or unwell. My stomach digests well, being neither too hot nor too cold, but just right, and fit for meditation.

Kasmāhaṁ āsavānaṁ khayaṁ na pattheyyaṁ.

Why shouldn’t I aspire to end the defilements?

Ahaṁ khomhi asaṭho amāyāvī yathābhūtaṁ attānaṁ āvikattā satthari viññūsu sabrahmacārīsu.

I’m not devious or deceitful. I reveal myself honestly to the Teacher or sensible spiritual companions.

Kasmāhaṁ āsavānaṁ khayaṁ na pattheyyaṁ.

Why shouldn’t I aspire to end the defilements?

Ahaṁ khomhi āraddhavīriyo viharāmi akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu.

I live with energy roused up for giving up unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities. I’m strong, staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing skillful qualities.

Kasmāhaṁ āsavānaṁ khayaṁ na pattheyyaṁ.

Why shouldn’t I aspire to end the defilements?

Ahaṁ khomhi paññavā udayatthagāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammā dukkhakkhayagāminiyā.

I’m wise. I have the wisdom of arising and passing away which is noble, penetrative, and leads to the complete ending of suffering.

Kasmāhaṁ āsavānaṁ khayaṁ na pattheyyan’ti.

Why shouldn’t I aspire to end the defilements?’

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayaṁ patthetī”ti.

A mendicant with these five qualities aspires to end the defilements.”

Pañcamaṁ.

Topics & 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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Ending

Ending

The complete exhaustion and ending of craving, aversion, and delusion—the three roots of suffering. It refers to both the gradual wearing away of defilements through practice and the final cessation that constitutes Nibbāna.

Also known as: cessation, exhaustion, gradual ending, wearing away
Pāli: khaya, khīṇa, nirodha
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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

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
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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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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