The Buddha describes the five drawbacks of madhurā.

AN 5.220 About Madhurā

“Pañcime, bhikkhave, ādīnavā madhurāyaṁ. Katame pañca? Visamā, bahurajā, caṇḍasunakhā, vāḷayakkhā, dullabhapiṇḍā. Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca ādīnavā madhurāyan”ti.

Dasamaṁ.

Akkosakavaggo dutiyo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Akkosabhaṇḍanasīlaṁ,
bahubhāṇī dve akhantiyo;
Apāsādikā dve vuttā,
aggismiṁ madhurena cāti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Pañcime, bhikkhave, ādīnavā madhurāyaṁ.

“Mendicants, there are these five drawbacks of Madhurā.

Katame pañca?

What five?

Visamā, bahurajā, caṇḍasunakhā, vāḷayakkhā, dullabhapiṇḍā.

The ground is uneven and dusty, the hounds are fierce, the native spirits are vicious, and it’s hard to get almsfood.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca ādīnavā madhurāyan”ti.

These are the five drawbacks of Madhurā.”

Dasamaṁ.

Akkosakavaggo dutiyo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Akkosabhaṇḍanasīlaṁ,

bahubhāṇī dve akhantiyo;

Apāsādikā dve vuttā,

aggismiṁ madhurena cāti.

Qualities:

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
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Last updated on July 27, 2026