When the Buddha asks Mahākassapa to advise the mendicants, Kassapa teaches that lacking faith, conscience, prudence, energy, and wisdom leads to decline like the waning moon, while possessing them leads to growth like the waxing moon.

SN 16.7 Advice (2nd)

Rājagahe viharati veḷuvane. Atha kho āyasmā mahākassapo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami …pe…

ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ mahākassapaṁ bhagavā etadavoca: “ovada, kassapa, bhikkhū; karohi, kassapa, bhikkhūnaṁ dhammiṁ kathaṁ. Ahaṁ vā, kassapa, bhikkhū ovadeyyaṁ tvaṁ vā; ahaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ dhammiṁ kathaṁ kareyyaṁ tvaṁ vā”ti.

“Dubbacā kho, bhante, etarahi bhikkhū, dovacassakaraṇehi dhammehi samannāgatā akkhamā appadakkhiṇaggāhino anusāsaniṁ.

Yassa kassaci, bhante, saddhā natthi kusalesu dhammesu, hirī natthi kusalesu dhammesu, ottappaṁ natthi kusalesu dhammesu, vīriyaṁ natthi kusalesu dhammesu, paññā natthi kusalesu dhammesu, tassa ratti divaso āgacchati, hāniyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no vuddhi.

Seyyathāpi, bhante, kāḷapakkhe candassa ratti divaso āgacchati, hāyateva vaṇṇena, hāyati maṇḍalena, hāyati ābhāya, hāyati ārohapariṇāhena.

Evameva kho, bhante, yassa kassaci saddhā natthi kusalesu dhammesu …pe… hirī natthiottappaṁ natthivīriyaṁ natthipaññā natthikusalesu dhammesu tassa ratti divaso āgacchati, hāniyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no vuddhi.

‘Assaddho purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, parihānametaṁ; ‘ahiriko purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, parihānametaṁ; ‘anottappī purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, parihānametaṁ; ‘kusīto purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, parihānametaṁ; ‘duppañño purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, parihānametaṁ; ‘kodhano purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, parihānametaṁ; ‘upanāhī purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, parihānametaṁ; ‘na santi bhikkhū ovādakā’ti, bhante, parihānametaṁ.

Yassa kassaci, bhante, saddhā atthi kusalesu dhammesu, hirī atthi kusalesu dhammesu, ottappaṁ atthi kusalesu dhammesu, vīriyaṁ atthi kusalesu dhammesu, paññā atthi kusalesu dhammesu, tassa ratti divaso āgacchati, vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no parihāni.

Seyyathāpi, bhante, juṇhapakkhe candassa ratti divaso āgacchati, vaḍḍhateva vaṇṇena, vaḍḍhati maṇḍalena, vaḍḍhati ābhāya, vaḍḍhati ārohapariṇāhena.

Evameva kho, bhante, yassa kassaci saddhā atthi kusalesu dhammesuhirī atthi …pe… ottappaṁ atthivīriyaṁ atthipaññā atthi kusalesu dhammesu tassa ratti divaso āgacchati, vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no parihāni.

‘Saddho purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, aparihānametaṁ; ‘hirimā purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, aparihānametaṁ; ‘ottappī purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, aparihānametaṁ; ‘āraddhavīriyo purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, aparihānametaṁ; ‘paññavā purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, aparihānametaṁ; ‘akkodhano purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, aparihānametaṁ; ‘anupanāhī purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, aparihānametaṁ; ‘santi bhikkhū ovādakā’ti, bhante, aparihānametan”ti.

“Sādhu sādhu, kassapa. Yassa kassaci, kassapa, saddhā natthi kusalesu dhammesu …pe… hirī natthiottappaṁ natthivīriyaṁ natthipaññā natthi kusalesu dhammesu tassa ratti divaso āgacchati, hāniyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no vuddhi.

Seyyathāpi, kassapa, kāḷapakkhe candassa ratti divaso āgacchati, hāyateva vaṇṇena …pe… hāyati ārohapariṇāhena.

Evameva kho, kassapa, yassa kassaci saddhā natthi kusalesu dhammesu …pe… hirī natthiottappaṁ natthivīriyaṁ natthipaññā natthi kusalesu dhammesu tassa ratti divaso āgacchati, hāniyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no vuddhi. ‘Assaddho purisapuggalo’ti, kassapa, parihānametaṁ; ahiriko …pe… anottappīkusītoduppaññokodhano‘upanāhī purisapuggalo’ti, kassapa, parihānametaṁ; ‘na santi bhikkhū ovādakā’ti, kassapa, parihānametaṁ.

Yassa kassaci, kassapa, saddhā atthi kusalesu dhammesu …pe… hirī atthiottappaṁ atthivīriyaṁ atthipaññā atthi kusalesu dhammesu tassa ratti divaso āgacchati, vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no parihāni.

Seyyathāpi, kassapa, juṇhapakkhe candassa ratti divaso āgacchati, vaḍḍhateva vaṇṇena, vaḍḍhati maṇḍalena, vaḍḍhati ābhāya, vaḍḍhati ārohapariṇāhena.

Evameva kho, kassapa, yassa kassaci saddhā atthi kusalesu dhammesu hirī atthiottappaṁ atthivīriyaṁ atthipaññā atthi kusalesu dhammesu tassa ratti divaso āgacchati, vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no parihāni.

‘Saddho purisapuggalo’ti, kassapa, aparihānametaṁ; hirimā …pe… ottappīāraddhavīriyopaññavāakkodhano‘anupanāhī purisapuggalo’ti, kassapa, aparihānametaṁ; ‘santi bhikkhū ovādakā’ti, kassapa, aparihānametan”ti.

Sattamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Rājagahe viharati veḷuvane.

Near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove.

Atha kho āyasmā mahākassapo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami …pe…

Then Venerable Mahākassapa went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side.

ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ mahākassapaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

The Buddha said to him,

“ovada, kassapa, bhikkhū;

“Kassapa, advise the mendicants!

karohi, kassapa, bhikkhūnaṁ dhammiṁ kathaṁ.

Give them a Dhamma talk!

Ahaṁ vā, kassapa, bhikkhū ovadeyyaṁ tvaṁ vā;

Either you or I should advise the mendicants

ahaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ dhammiṁ kathaṁ kareyyaṁ tvaṁ vā”ti.

and give them a Dhamma talk.”

“Dubbacā kho, bhante, etarahi bhikkhū, dovacassakaraṇehi dhammehi samannāgatā akkhamā appadakkhiṇaggāhino anusāsaniṁ.

“Sir, the mendicants these days are hard to admonish, having qualities that make them hard to admonish. They’re impatient, and don’t take instruction respectfully.

Yassa kassaci, bhante, saddhā natthi kusalesu dhammesu, hirī natthi kusalesu dhammesu, ottappaṁ natthi kusalesu dhammesu, vīriyaṁ natthi kusalesu dhammesu, paññā natthi kusalesu dhammesu, tassa ratti divaso āgacchati, hāniyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no vuddhi.

Sir, whoever has no faith, conscience, prudence, energy, and wisdom when it comes to skillful qualities can expect decline, not growth, in skillful qualities, whether by day or by night.

Seyyathāpi, bhante, kāḷapakkhe candassa ratti divaso āgacchati, hāyateva vaṇṇena, hāyati maṇḍalena, hāyati ābhāya, hāyati ārohapariṇāhena.

It’s like the moon in the waning fortnight. Whether by day or by night, its beauty, roundness, luminosity, and diameter and circumference only decline.

Evameva kho, bhante, yassa kassaci saddhā natthi kusalesu dhammesu …pe…

In the same way, whoever has no faith, conscience, prudence, energy, and wisdom when it comes to skillful qualities can expect decline, not growth, in skillful qualities, whether by day or by night.

hirī natthi

ottappaṁ natthi

vīriyaṁ natthi

paññā natthikusalesu dhammesu tassa ratti divaso āgacchati, hāniyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no vuddhi.

‘Assaddho purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, parihānametaṁ;

A faithless individual is in decline.

‘ahiriko purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, parihānametaṁ;

An individual with no conscience is in decline.

‘anottappī purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, parihānametaṁ;

An imprudent individual is in decline.

‘kusīto purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, parihānametaṁ;

A lazy individual is in decline.

‘duppañño purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, parihānametaṁ;

A witless individual is in decline.

‘kodhano purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, parihānametaṁ;

An irritable individual is in decline.

‘upanāhī purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, parihānametaṁ;

An acrimonious individual is in decline.

‘na santi bhikkhū ovādakā’ti, bhante, parihānametaṁ.

When there are no mendicant advisers there is decline.

Yassa kassaci, bhante, saddhā atthi kusalesu dhammesu, hirī atthi kusalesu dhammesu, ottappaṁ atthi kusalesu dhammesu, vīriyaṁ atthi kusalesu dhammesu, paññā atthi kusalesu dhammesu, tassa ratti divaso āgacchati, vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no parihāni.

Sir, whoever has faith, conscience, prudence, energy, and wisdom when it comes to skillful qualities can expect growth, not decline, in skillful qualities, whether by day or by night.

Seyyathāpi, bhante, juṇhapakkhe candassa ratti divaso āgacchati, vaḍḍhateva vaṇṇena, vaḍḍhati maṇḍalena, vaḍḍhati ābhāya, vaḍḍhati ārohapariṇāhena.

It’s like the moon in the waxing fortnight. Whether by day or by night, its beauty, roundness, luminosity, and diameter and circumference only grow.

Evameva kho, bhante, yassa kassaci saddhā atthi kusalesu dhammesu

In the same way, whoever has faith, conscience, prudence, energy, and wisdom when it comes to skillful qualities can expect growth, not decline, in skillful qualities, whether by day or by night.

hirī atthi …pe…

ottappaṁ atthi

vīriyaṁ atthi

paññā atthi kusalesu dhammesu tassa ratti divaso āgacchati, vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no parihāni.

‘Saddho purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, aparihānametaṁ;

A faithful individual doesn’t decline.

‘hirimā purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, aparihānametaṁ;

An individual with a conscience doesn’t decline.

‘ottappī purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, aparihānametaṁ;

A prudent individual doesn’t decline.

‘āraddhavīriyo purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, aparihānametaṁ;

An energetic individual doesn’t decline.

‘paññavā purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, aparihānametaṁ;

A wise individual doesn’t decline.

‘akkodhano purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, aparihānametaṁ;

A loving individual doesn’t decline.

‘anupanāhī purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, aparihānametaṁ;

A kind individual doesn’t decline.

‘santi bhikkhū ovādakā’ti, bhante, aparihānametan”ti.

When there are mendicant advisers there is no decline.”

“Sādhu sādhu, kassapa.

“Good, good, Kassapa!

Yassa kassaci, kassapa, saddhā natthi kusalesu dhammesu …pe…

Whoever has no faith, conscience, prudence, energy, and wisdom when it comes to skillful qualities can expect decline, not growth …

hirī natthi

ottappaṁ natthi

vīriyaṁ natthi

paññā natthi kusalesu dhammesu tassa ratti divaso āgacchati, hāniyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no vuddhi.

Seyyathāpi, kassapa, kāḷapakkhe candassa ratti divaso āgacchati, hāyateva vaṇṇena …pe…

hāyati ārohapariṇāhena.

Evameva kho, kassapa, yassa kassaci saddhā natthi kusalesu dhammesu …pe…

hirī natthi

ottappaṁ natthi

vīriyaṁ natthi

paññā natthi kusalesu dhammesu tassa ratti divaso āgacchati, hāniyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no vuddhi.

‘Assaddho purisapuggalo’ti, kassapa, parihānametaṁ;

ahiriko …pe…

anottappī

kusīto

duppañño

kodhano

‘upanāhī purisapuggalo’ti, kassapa, parihānametaṁ;

‘na santi bhikkhū ovādakā’ti, kassapa, parihānametaṁ.

When there are no mendicant advisers there is decline.

Yassa kassaci, kassapa, saddhā atthi kusalesu dhammesu …pe…

Whoever has faith, conscience, prudence, energy, and wisdom when it comes to skillful qualities can expect growth, not decline …

hirī atthi

ottappaṁ atthi

vīriyaṁ atthi

paññā atthi kusalesu dhammesu tassa ratti divaso āgacchati, vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no parihāni.

Seyyathāpi, kassapa, juṇhapakkhe candassa ratti divaso āgacchati, vaḍḍhateva vaṇṇena, vaḍḍhati maṇḍalena, vaḍḍhati ābhāya, vaḍḍhati ārohapariṇāhena.

Evameva kho, kassapa, yassa kassaci saddhā atthi kusalesu dhammesu hirī atthi

ottappaṁ atthi

vīriyaṁ atthi

paññā atthi kusalesu dhammesu tassa ratti divaso āgacchati, vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no parihāni.

‘Saddho purisapuggalo’ti, kassapa, aparihānametaṁ;

hirimā …pe…

ottappī

āraddhavīriyo

paññavā

akkodhano

‘anupanāhī purisapuggalo’ti, kassapa, aparihānametaṁ;

‘santi bhikkhū ovādakā’ti, kassapa, aparihānametan”ti.

When there are mendicant advisers there is no decline.”

Sattamaṁ.

Qualities:

Conscience

Conscience

An inner moral sensitivity that shrinks from wrongdoing out of self-respect and personal integrity. It is the voice within that knows what is beneath one's dignity, guarding conduct through an inward standard of honor.

Also known as: with sense of right and wrong, sense of shame, modesty, (comm) originating from inside
Pāli: hirī
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Cultivation

Cultivation

The active practice of 'bringing into being' wholesome states. It is the deliberate nurturing of the bright state of mind.

Also known as: development, improvement, meditation, nurturing, growth
Pāli: bhāvanā
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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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Vigour

Vigour

Energetic effort and resilience in practice. It is the refusal to shrink back, the 'uphill' force that initiates and sustains wholesome actions against the gravity of habit.

Also known as: energy, effort, enthusiasm, zeal, application of will, persistence
Pāli: vīriya
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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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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