The Buddha teaches Venerable Rādha the five aggregates that should be completely understood, what complete understanding is, and the individual who has completely understood them for liberation.

SN 23.4 Should Be Completely Understood

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Āyasmā rādho yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ rādhaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

“Pariññeyye ca, rādha, dhamme desessāmi pariññañca pariññātāviṁ puggalañca. Taṁ suṇāhi, sādhukaṁ manasi karohi; bhāsissāmī”ti.

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho āyasmā rādho bhagavato paccassosi. Bhagavā etadavoca:

“katame ca, rādha, pariññeyyā dhammā? Rūpaṁ kho, rādha, pariññeyyo dhammo, vedanā pariññeyyo dhammo, saññā pariññeyyo dhammo, saṅkhārā pariññeyyo dhammo, viññāṇaṁ pariññeyyo dhammo. Ime vuccanti, rādha, pariññeyyā dhammā.

Katamā ca, rādha, pariññā? Yo kho, rādha, rāgakkhayo dosakkhayo mohakkhayo ayaṁ vuccati, rādha, pariññā.

Katamo ca, rādha, pariññātāvī puggalo? ‘Arahā’tissa vacanīyaṁ. Yvāyaṁ āyasmā evaṁnāmo evaṅgotto ayaṁ vuccati, rādha, pariññātāvī puggalo”ti.

Catutthaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

Āyasmā rādho yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ rādhaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

Then Venerable Rādha went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:

“Pariññeyye ca, rādha, dhamme desessāmi pariññañca pariññātāviṁ puggalañca.

“Rādha, I will teach you the things that should be completely understood, complete understanding, and the individual who has completely understood.

Taṁ suṇāhi, sādhukaṁ manasi karohi; bhāsissāmī”ti.

Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho āyasmā rādho bhagavato paccassosi.

“Yes, sir,” Rādha replied.

Bhagavā etadavoca:

The Buddha said this:

“katame ca, rādha, pariññeyyā dhammā?

“And what things should be completely understood?

Rūpaṁ kho, rādha, pariññeyyo dhammo, vedanā pariññeyyo dhammo, saññā pariññeyyo dhammo, saṅkhārā pariññeyyo dhammo, viññāṇaṁ pariññeyyo dhammo.

Form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness.

Ime vuccanti, rādha, pariññeyyā dhammā.

These are called the things that should be completely understood.

Katamā ca, rādha, pariññā?

And what is complete understanding?

Yo kho, rādha, rāgakkhayo dosakkhayo mohakkhayo

The ending of greed, hate, and delusion.

ayaṁ vuccati, rādha, pariññā.

This is called complete understanding.

Katamo ca, rādha, pariññātāvī puggalo?

And what is the individual who has completely understood?

‘Arahā’tissa vacanīyaṁ.

It should be said: a perfected one,

Yvāyaṁ āyasmā evaṁnāmo evaṅgotto

the venerable of such and such name and clan.

ayaṁ vuccati, rādha, pariññātāvī puggalo”ti.

This is called the individual who has completely understood.”

Catutthaṁ.

Qualities:

Aversion

Aversion

A rejecting mental quality rooted in perception, where one instinctively turns away from or resists unpleasant experiences or objects; it manifests as a tendency to push away discomfort, obstructing patience and acceptance.

Also known as: animosity, hate, hostility, fault-finding mindset, upset
Pāli: dosa, paṭighasaññā, vera
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Craving

Craving

A driving ‘thirst’ that reaches out toward experiences, identities, or outcomes as the place to find satisfaction—“if only I had that.” It spins stories of lack, binds the mind to becoming, and invariably leads to suffering.

Also known as: wanting, yearning, longing, lit. thirst
Pāli: taṇha, abhijjhā
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Delusion

Delusion

A fundamental distortion of reality that sustains confusion, clouds discernment, and fuels further doubt.

Also known as: illusion, hallucination, misapprehension, distorted view
Pāli: moha, micchāñāṇa
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Ending

Ending

The complete exhaustion and ending of craving, aversion, and delusion—the three roots of suffering. It refers to both the gradual wearing away of defilements through practice and the final cessation that constitutes Nibbāna.

Also known as: cessation, exhaustion, gradual ending, wearing away
Pāli: khaya, khīṇa, nirodha
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Greed

Greed

A grasping mental quality of craving, possessiveness, or lustful wanting that clings to objects or experiences; it fuels attachment and obstructs renunciation and contentment

Also known as: acquisitiveness, avarice, covetousness, rapacity, money grabbing, grabbiness
Pāli: lobha, gedha
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Ill will

Ill will

A mental quality of actively opposing or rejecting others in thought, manifesting as deliberate thoughts or intentions that oppose kindness and compassion; it fuels conflict and obstructs goodwill.

Also known as: actively opposing or rejecting others in thought, thought of malevolence towards another, hostile reflections towards another
Pāli: byāpāda
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Last updated on July 27, 2026