DiscoverANAN 5AN 5.219

The Buddha describes the five drawbacks of a fire.

AN 5.219 Fire

“Pañcime, bhikkhave, ādīnavā aggismiṁ. Katame pañca? Acakkhusso, dubbaṇṇakaraṇo, dubbalakaraṇo, saṅgaṇikāpavaḍḍhano, tiracchānakathāpavattaniko hoti. Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca ādīnavā aggismin”ti.

Navamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Pañcime, bhikkhave, ādīnavā aggismiṁ.

“Mendicants, there are these five drawbacks of a fire.

Katame pañca?

What five?

Acakkhusso, dubbaṇṇakaraṇo, dubbalakaraṇo, saṅgaṇikāpavaḍḍhano, tiracchānakathāpavattaniko hoti.

It’s bad for your eyes. It’s bad for your complexion. It makes you weak. It draws in groups. And it encourages low talk.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca ādīnavā aggismin”ti.

These are the five drawbacks of a fire.”

Navamaṁ.

Qualities:

Harm

Harm

☁️ dark quality

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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Wisdom

Wisdom

☀️ bright quality

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
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Last updated on July 27, 2026

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