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

AN 5.178 Kings

“Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, api nu tumhehi diṭṭhaṁ sutaṁ vā: ‘ayaṁ puriso pāṇātipātaṁ pahāya pāṇātipātā paṭiviratoti. Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā pāṇātipātā veramaṇihetu hananti bandhanti pabbājenti yathāpaccayaṁ karontī’”ti?

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“Sādhu, bhikkhave. Mayāpi kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, neva diṭṭhaṁ na sutaṁ: ‘ayaṁ puriso pāṇātipātaṁ pahāya pāṇātipātā paṭiviratoti. Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā pāṇātipātā veramaṇihetu hananti bandhanti pabbājenti yathāpaccayaṁ karontī’ti. Api ca khvassa tatheva pāpakammaṁ pavedenti: ‘ayaṁ puriso itthiṁ purisaṁ jīvitā voropesīti. Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā pāṇātipātahetu hananti bandhanti pabbājenti yathāpaccayaṁ karonti. Api nu tumhehi evarūpaṁ diṭṭhaṁ sutaṁ vā’”ti?

“Diṭṭhañca no, bhante, sutañca suyyissati cā”ti.

“Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, api nu tumhehi diṭṭhaṁ sutaṁ vā: ‘ayaṁ puriso adinnādānaṁ pahāya adinnādānā paṭiviratoti. Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā adinnādānā veramaṇihetu hananti bandhanti pabbājenti yathāpaccayaṁ karontī’”ti?

“No hetaṁ bhante”.

“Sādhu, bhikkhave. Mayāpi kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, neva diṭṭhaṁ na sutaṁ: ‘ayaṁ puriso adinnādānaṁ pahāya adinnādānā paṭiviratoti. Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā adinnādānā veramaṇihetu hananti bandhanti pabbājenti yathāpaccayaṁ karontī’ti. Api ca khvassa tatheva pāpakammaṁ pavedenti: ‘ayaṁ puriso gāmā araññā adinnaṁ theyyasaṅkhātaṁ ādiyīti. Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā adinnādānahetu hananti bandhanti pabbājenti yathāpaccayaṁ karonti. Api nu tumhehi evarūpaṁ diṭṭhaṁ sutaṁ vā’”ti?

“Diṭṭhañca no, bhante, sutañca suyyissati cā”ti.

“Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, api nu tumhehi diṭṭhaṁ sutaṁ vā: ‘ayaṁ puriso kāmesumicchācāraṁ pahāya kāmesumicchācārā paṭiviratoti. Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā kāmesumicchācārā veramaṇihetu hananti bandhanti pabbājenti yathāpaccayaṁ karontī’”ti?

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“Sādhu, bhikkhave. Mayāpi kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, neva diṭṭhaṁ na sutaṁ: ‘ayaṁ puriso kāmesumicchācāraṁ pahāya kāmesumicchācārā paṭiviratoti. Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā kāmesumicchācārā veramaṇihetu hananti bandhanti pabbājenti yathāpaccayaṁ karontī’ti. Api ca khvassa tatheva pāpakammaṁ pavedenti: ‘ayaṁ puriso paritthīsu parakumārīsu cārittaṁ āpajjīti. Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā kāmesumicchācārahetu hananti bandhanti pabbājenti yathāpaccayaṁ karonti. Api nu tumhehi evarūpaṁ diṭṭhaṁ sutaṁ vā’”ti?

“Diṭṭhañca no, bhante, sutañca suyyissati cā”ti.

“Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, api nu tumhehi diṭṭhaṁ sutaṁ vā: ‘ayaṁ puriso musāvādaṁ pahāya musāvādā paṭiviratoti. Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā musāvādā veramaṇihetu hananti bandhanti pabbājenti yathāpaccayaṁ karontī’”ti?

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“Sādhu, bhikkhave. Mayāpi kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, neva diṭṭhaṁ na sutaṁ: ‘ayaṁ puriso musāvādaṁ pahāya musāvādā paṭiviratoti. Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā musāvādā veramaṇihetu hananti bandhanti pabbājenti yathāpaccayaṁ karontī’ti. Api ca khvassa tatheva pāpakammaṁ pavedenti: ‘ayaṁ puriso gahapatissa gahapatiputtassa musāvādena atthaṁ pabhañjīti. Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā musāvādahetu hananti bandhanti pabbājenti yathāpaccayaṁ karonti. Api nu tumhehi evarūpaṁ diṭṭhaṁ sutaṁ vā’”ti?

“Diṭṭhañca no, bhante, sutañca suyyissati cā”ti.

“Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, api nu tumhehi diṭṭhaṁ sutaṁ vā: ‘ayaṁ puriso surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānaṁ pahāya surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭiviratoti. Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā veramaṇihetu hananti bandhanti pabbājenti yathāpaccayaṁ karontī’”ti?

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“Sādhu, bhikkhave. Mayāpi kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, neva diṭṭhaṁ na sutaṁ: ‘ayaṁ puriso surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānaṁ pahāya surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭiviratoti. Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā veramaṇihetu hananti bandhanti pabbājenti yathāpaccayaṁ karontī’ti. Api ca khvassa tatheva pāpakammaṁ pavedenti: ‘ayaṁ puriso surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānaṁ anuyutto itthiṁ purisaṁ jīvitā voropesi; ayaṁ puriso surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānaṁ anuyutto gāmā araññā adinnaṁ theyyasaṅkhātaṁ ādiyi; ayaṁ puriso surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānaṁ anuyutto paritthīsu parakumārīsu cārittaṁ āpajji; ayaṁ puriso surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānaṁ anuyutto gahapatissa gahapatiputtassa musāvādena atthaṁ pabhañjīti. Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānahetu hananti bandhanti pabbājenti yathāpaccayaṁ karonti. Api nu tumhehi evarūpaṁ diṭṭhaṁ sutaṁ vā’”ti?

“Diṭṭhañca no, bhante, sutañca suyyissati cā”ti.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave,

“What do you think, mendicants?

api nu tumhehi diṭṭhaṁ sutaṁ vā:

Have you ever seen or heard

‘ayaṁ puriso pāṇātipātaṁ pahāya pāṇātipātā paṭiviratoti.

of a person who has given up killing living creatures,

Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā pāṇātipātā veramaṇihetu hananti bandhanti pabbājenti yathāpaccayaṁ karontī’”ti?

and the kings have them arrested for that, and execute, imprison, or banish them, or do what the case requires?”

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“No, sir.”

“Sādhu, bhikkhave.

“Good, mendicants!

Mayāpi kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, neva diṭṭhaṁ na sutaṁ:

I too have never seen or heard of such a thing.

‘ayaṁ puriso pāṇātipātaṁ pahāya pāṇātipātā paṭiviratoti.

Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā pāṇātipātā veramaṇihetu hananti bandhanti pabbājenti yathāpaccayaṁ karontī’ti.

Api ca khvassa tatheva pāpakammaṁ pavedenti:

Rather, the kings are informed of someone’s bad deed:

‘ayaṁ puriso itthiṁ purisaṁ jīvitā voropesīti.

‘This person has murdered a man or a woman.’

Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā pāṇātipātahetu hananti bandhanti pabbājenti yathāpaccayaṁ karonti.

The kings have them arrested for killing, and execute, imprison, or banish them, or do what the case requires.

Api nu tumhehi evarūpaṁ diṭṭhaṁ sutaṁ vā’”ti?

Have you ever seen or heard of such a case?”

“Diṭṭhañca no, bhante, sutañca suyyissati cā”ti.

“Sir, we have seen it and heard of it, and we will hear of it again.”

“Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave,

“What do you think, mendicants?

api nu tumhehi diṭṭhaṁ sutaṁ vā:

Have you ever seen or heard

‘ayaṁ puriso adinnādānaṁ pahāya adinnādānā paṭiviratoti.

of a person who has given up stealing,

Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā adinnādānā veramaṇihetu hananti bandhanti pabbājenti yathāpaccayaṁ karontī’”ti?

and the kings have them arrested for that …?”

“No hetaṁ bhante”.

“No, sir.”

“Sādhu, bhikkhave.

“Good, mendicants!

Mayāpi kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, neva diṭṭhaṁ na sutaṁ:

I too have never seen or heard of such a thing.

‘ayaṁ puriso adinnādānaṁ pahāya adinnādānā paṭiviratoti.

Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā adinnādānā veramaṇihetu hananti bandhanti pabbājenti yathāpaccayaṁ karontī’ti.

Api ca khvassa tatheva pāpakammaṁ pavedenti:

Rather, the kings are informed of someone’s bad deed:

‘ayaṁ puriso gāmā araññā adinnaṁ theyyasaṅkhātaṁ ādiyīti.

‘This person took something from a village or wilderness, with the intention to commit theft.’

Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā adinnādānahetu hananti bandhanti pabbājenti yathāpaccayaṁ karonti.

The kings have them arrested for stealing …

Api nu tumhehi evarūpaṁ diṭṭhaṁ sutaṁ vā’”ti?

Have you ever seen or heard of such a case?”

“Diṭṭhañca no, bhante, sutañca suyyissati cā”ti.

“Sir, we have seen it and heard of it, and we will hear of it again.”

“Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave,

“What do you think, mendicants?

api nu tumhehi diṭṭhaṁ sutaṁ vā:

Have you ever seen or heard

‘ayaṁ puriso kāmesumicchācāraṁ pahāya kāmesumicchācārā paṭiviratoti.

of a person who has given up sexual misconduct,

Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā kāmesumicchācārā veramaṇihetu hananti bandhanti pabbājenti yathāpaccayaṁ karontī’”ti?

and the kings have them arrested for that …?”

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“No, sir.”

“Sādhu, bhikkhave.

“Good, mendicants!

Mayāpi kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, neva diṭṭhaṁ na sutaṁ:

I too have never seen or heard of such a thing.

‘ayaṁ puriso kāmesumicchācāraṁ pahāya kāmesumicchācārā paṭiviratoti.

Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā kāmesumicchācārā veramaṇihetu hananti bandhanti pabbājenti yathāpaccayaṁ karontī’ti.

Api ca khvassa tatheva pāpakammaṁ pavedenti:

Rather, the kings are informed of someone’s bad deed:

‘ayaṁ puriso paritthīsu parakumārīsu cārittaṁ āpajjīti.

‘This person had sexual relations with women or maidens under someone else’s protection.’

Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā kāmesumicchācārahetu hananti bandhanti pabbājenti yathāpaccayaṁ karonti.

The kings have them arrested for that …

Api nu tumhehi evarūpaṁ diṭṭhaṁ sutaṁ vā’”ti?

Have you ever seen or heard of such a case?”

“Diṭṭhañca no, bhante, sutañca suyyissati cā”ti.

“Sir, we have seen it and heard of it, and we will hear of it again.”

“Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave,

“What do you think, mendicants?

api nu tumhehi diṭṭhaṁ sutaṁ vā:

Have you ever seen or heard

‘ayaṁ puriso musāvādaṁ pahāya musāvādā paṭiviratoti.

of a person who has given up lying,

Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā musāvādā veramaṇihetu hananti bandhanti pabbājenti yathāpaccayaṁ karontī’”ti?

and the kings have them arrested for that …?”

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“No, sir.”

“Sādhu, bhikkhave.

“Good, mendicants!

Mayāpi kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, neva diṭṭhaṁ na sutaṁ:

I too have never seen or heard of such a thing.

‘ayaṁ puriso musāvādaṁ pahāya musāvādā paṭiviratoti.

Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā musāvādā veramaṇihetu hananti bandhanti pabbājenti yathāpaccayaṁ karontī’ti.

Api ca khvassa tatheva pāpakammaṁ pavedenti:

Rather, the kings are informed of someone’s bad deed:

‘ayaṁ puriso gahapatissa gahapatiputtassa musāvādena atthaṁ pabhañjīti.

‘This person has ruined a householder or householder’s child by lying.’

Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā musāvādahetu hananti bandhanti pabbājenti yathāpaccayaṁ karonti.

The kings have them arrested for that …

Api nu tumhehi evarūpaṁ diṭṭhaṁ sutaṁ vā’”ti?

Have you ever seen or heard of such a case?”

“Diṭṭhañca no, bhante, sutañca suyyissati cā”ti.

“Sir, we have seen it and heard of it, and we will hear of it again.”

“Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave,

“What do you think, mendicants?

api nu tumhehi diṭṭhaṁ sutaṁ vā:

Have you ever seen or heard

‘ayaṁ puriso surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānaṁ pahāya surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭiviratoti.

of a person who has given up intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor,

Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā veramaṇihetu hananti bandhanti pabbājenti yathāpaccayaṁ karontī’”ti?

and the kings have them arrested for that, and execute, imprison, or banish them, or do what the case requires?”

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“No, sir.”

“Sādhu, bhikkhave.

“Good, mendicants!

Mayāpi kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, neva diṭṭhaṁ na sutaṁ:

I too have never seen or heard of such a thing.

‘ayaṁ puriso surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānaṁ pahāya surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭiviratoti.

Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā veramaṇihetu hananti bandhanti pabbājenti yathāpaccayaṁ karontī’ti.

Api ca khvassa tatheva pāpakammaṁ pavedenti:

Rather, the kings are informed of someone’s bad deed:

‘ayaṁ puriso surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānaṁ anuyutto itthiṁ purisaṁ jīvitā voropesi;

‘While under the influence of intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor, this person murdered a woman or a man.

ayaṁ puriso surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānaṁ anuyutto gāmā araññā adinnaṁ theyyasaṅkhātaṁ ādiyi;

Or they stole something from a village or wilderness.

ayaṁ puriso surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānaṁ anuyutto paritthīsu parakumārīsu cārittaṁ āpajji;

Or they had sexual relations with women or maidens under someone else’s protection.

ayaṁ puriso surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānaṁ anuyutto gahapatissa gahapatiputtassa musāvādena atthaṁ pabhañjīti.

Or they ruined a householder or householder’s child by lying.’

Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānahetu hananti bandhanti pabbājenti yathāpaccayaṁ karonti.

The kings have them arrested for being under the influence of intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor, and execute, imprison, or banish them, or do what the case requires.

Api nu tumhehi evarūpaṁ diṭṭhaṁ sutaṁ vā’”ti?

Have you ever seen or heard of such a case?”

“Diṭṭhañca no, bhante, sutañca suyyissati cā”ti.

“Sir, we have seen it and heard of it, and we will hear of it again.”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Qualities:

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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Sexual misconduct

Sexual misconduct

Transgression of boundaries in intimate relations—acting on desire in ways that betray trust, cause harm, or violate the commitments of oneself or others.

Also known as: crossing boundaries, infidelity, inappropriate sexual behavior, unfaithfulness to one's partner
Pāli: kāmesumicchācāra
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Slaughtering

Slaughtering

The deliberate killing of a living being, carried out with the intention of ending its life while disregarding its natural drive to continue living.

Also known as: killing, murdering, taking life
Pāli: pāṇātipāta
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Stealing

Stealing

Also known as: theft, taking what is not given, taking what is not offerred, dishonesty regarding possessions
Pāli: adinnādānā
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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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Wrong speech

Wrong speech

Speech that deceives, divides, wounds, or wastes. It includes lying, slander, harshness, and idle chatter. Such speech distorts truth, breaks trust, and stirs the mind toward harm and discord.

Also known as: false speech, lying, divisive, slanderous or defamatory or malicious speech, abusive or rude or unkind way of speaking, meaningless talk or idle chatter or gossip
Pāli: musāvāda, pisuṇavācā, pharusāvācā, samphappalāpa
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Last updated on July 27, 2026