The Buddha presents a repeated fivefold teaching on a nun in this grouped discourse.

AN 5.287-292 A Nun

“Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgatā bhikkhunī …pe… sikkhamānāsāmaṇerosāmaṇerīupāsakoupāsikā yathābhataṁ nikkhittā evaṁ niraye. Katamehi pañcahi? Pāṇātipātinī hoti, adinnādāyinī hoti, kāmesumicchācārinī hoti, musāvādinī hoti, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhāyinī hoti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgatā upāsikā yathābhataṁ nikkhittā evaṁ niraye.

Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgatā upāsikā yathābhataṁ nikkhittā evaṁ sagge. Katamehi pañcahi? Pāṇātipātā paṭiviratā hoti, adinnādānā paṭiviratā hoti, kāmesumicchācārā paṭiviratā hoti, musāvādā paṭiviratā hoti, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭiviratā hoti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgatā upāsikā yathābhataṁ nikkhittā evaṁ sagge”ti.

Sattamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

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

“A nun … trainee nun … novice monk … novice nun … layman … laywoman … with five qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there.

Katamehi pañcahi?

What five?

Pāṇātipātinī hoti, adinnādāyinī hoti, kāmesumicchācārinī hoti, musāvādinī hoti, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhāyinī hoti.

They kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, and consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor.

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

With these five qualities they’re placed in hell as if delivered there.

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

A nun … trainee nun … novice monk … novice nun … layman … laywoman … with five qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there.

Katamehi pañcahi?

What five?

Pāṇātipātā paṭiviratā hoti, adinnādānā paṭiviratā hoti, kāmesumicchācārā paṭiviratā hoti, musāvādā paṭiviratā hoti, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭiviratā hoti.

They don’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor.

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

With these five qualities they’re placed in heaven as if delivered there.”

Sattamaṁ.

Qualities:

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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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