King Pasenadi of Kosala visits the Buddha and discusses individuals, receiving guidance on conduct, wisdom, and the spiritual life.

SN 3.21 Individuals

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho rājānaṁ pasenadiṁ kosalaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

“cattārome, mahārāja puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ. Katame cattāro?

Tamotamaparāyano,

tamojotiparāyano,

jotitamaparāyano,

jotijotiparāyano.

Kathañca, mahārāja puggalo tamotamaparāyano hoti? Idha, mahārāja, ekacco puggalo nīce kule paccājāto hoti, caṇḍālakule venakule nesādakule rathakārakule pukkusakule dalidde appannapānabhojane kasiravuttike, yattha kasirena ghāsacchādo labbhati. So ca hoti dubbaṇṇo duddasiko okoṭimako bavhābādho kāṇo kuṇī khañjo pakkhahato vā, na lābhī annassa pānassa vatthassa yānassa mālāgandhavilepanassa seyyāvasathapadīpeyyassa. So kāyena duccaritaṁ carati, vācāya duccaritaṁ carati, manasā duccaritaṁ carati. So kāyena duccaritaṁ caritvā vācāya duccaritaṁ caritvā manasā duccaritaṁ caritvā, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjati.

Seyyathāpi, mahārāja, puriso andhakārā andhakāraṁ gaccheyya, tamā tamaṁ gaccheyya, lohitamalā lohitamalaṁ gaccheyya. Tathūpamāhaṁ, mahārāja, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi. Evaṁ kho, mahārāja, puggalo tamotamaparāyano hoti.

Kathañca, mahārāja, puggalo tamojotiparāyano hoti? Idha, mahārāja, ekacco puggalo nīce kule paccājāto hoti, caṇḍālakule venakule nesādakule rathakārakule pukkusakule dalidde appannapānabhojane kasiravuttike, yattha kasirena ghāsacchādo labbhati. So ca kho hoti dubbaṇṇo duddasiko okoṭimako bavhābādho, kāṇo kuṇī khañjo pakkhahato vā, na lābhī annassa pānassa vatthassa yānassa mālāgandhavilepanassa seyyāvasathapadīpeyyassa. So kāyena sucaritaṁ carati, vācāya sucaritaṁ carati, manasā sucaritaṁ carati. So kāyena sucaritaṁ caritvā vācāya sucaritaṁ caritvā manasā sucaritaṁ caritvā, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjati.

Seyyathāpi, mahārāja, puriso pathaviyā pallaṅkaṁ āroheyya, pallaṅkā assapiṭṭhiṁ āroheyya, assapiṭṭhiyā hatthikkhandhaṁ āroheyya, hatthikkhandhā pāsādaṁ āroheyya. Tathūpamāhaṁ, mahārāja, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi. Evaṁ kho, mahārāja, puggalo tamojotiparāyano hoti.

Kathañca, mahārāja, puggalo jotitamaparāyano hoti? Idha, mahārāja, ekacco puggalo ucce kule paccājāto hoti, khattiyamahāsālakule brāhmaṇamahāsālakule gahapatimahāsālakule vā, aḍḍhe mahaddhane mahābhoge pahūtajātarūparajate pahūtavittūpakaraṇe pahūtadhanadhaññe. So ca hoti abhirūpo dassanīyo pāsādiko, paramāya vaṇṇapokkharatāya samannāgato, lābhī annassa pānassa vatthassa yānassa mālāgandhavilepanassa seyyāvasathapadīpeyyassa. So kāyena duccaritaṁ carati, vācāya duccaritaṁ carati, manasā duccaritaṁ carati. So kāyena duccaritaṁ caritvā vācāya duccaritaṁ caritvā manasā duccaritaṁ caritvā, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjati.

Seyyathāpi, mahārāja, puriso pāsādā hatthikkhandhaṁ oroheyya, hatthikkhandhā assapiṭṭhiṁ oroheyya, assapiṭṭhiyā pallaṅkaṁ oroheyya, pallaṅkā pathaviṁ oroheyya, pathaviyā andhakāraṁ paviseyya. Tathūpamāhaṁ, mahārāja, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi. Evaṁ kho, mahārāja, puggalo jotitamaparāyano hoti.

Kathañca, mahārāja, puggalo jotijotiparāyano hoti? Idha, mahārāja, ekacco puggalo ucce kule paccājāto hoti, khattiyamahāsālakule brāhmaṇamahāsālakule gahapatimahāsālakule vā, aḍḍhe mahaddhane mahābhoge pahūtajātarūparajate pahūtavittūpakaraṇe pahūtadhanadhaññe. So ca hoti abhirūpo dassanīyo pāsādiko, paramāya vaṇṇapokkharatāya samannāgato, lābhī annassa pānassa vatthassa yānassa mālāgandhavilepanassa seyyāvasathapadīpeyyassa. So kāyena sucaritaṁ carati, vācāya sucaritaṁ carati, manasā sucaritaṁ carati. So kāyena sucaritaṁ caritvā vācāya sucaritaṁ caritvā manasā sucaritaṁ caritvā, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjati.

Seyyathāpi, mahārāja, puriso pallaṅkā pallaṅkaṁ saṅkameyya, assapiṭṭhiyā assapiṭṭhiṁ saṅkameyya, hatthikkhandhā hatthikkhandhaṁ saṅkameyya, pāsādā pāsādaṁ saṅkameyya. Tathūpamāhaṁ, mahārāja, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi. Evaṁ kho, mahārāja, puggalo jotijotiparāyano hoti. Ime kho, mahārāja, cattāro puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmin”ti.

Idamavoca …pe…

“Daliddo puriso rāja,
assaddho hoti maccharī;
Kadariyo pāpasaṅkappo,
micchādiṭṭhi anādaro.

Samaṇe brāhmaṇe vāpi,
aññe vāpi vanibbake;
Akkosati paribhāsati,
natthiko hoti rosako.

Dadamānaṁ nivāreti,
yācamānāna bhojanaṁ;
Tādiso puriso rāja,
mīyamāno janādhipa;
Upeti nirayaṁ ghoraṁ,
tamotamaparāyano.

Daliddo puriso rāja,
saddho hoti amaccharī;
Dadāti seṭṭhasaṅkappo,
abyaggamanaso naro.

Samaṇe brāhmaṇe vāpi,
aññe vāpi vanibbake;
Uṭṭhāya abhivādeti,
samacariyāya sikkhati.

Dadamānaṁ na vāreti,
yācamānāna bhojanaṁ;
Tādiso puriso rāja,
mīyamāno janādhipa;
Upeti tidivaṁ ṭhānaṁ,
tamojotiparāyano.

Aḍḍho ce puriso rāja,
assaddho hoti maccharī;
Kadariyo pāpasaṅkappo,
micchādiṭṭhi anādaro.

Samaṇe brāhmaṇe vāpi,
aññe vāpi vanibbake;
Akkosati paribhāsati,
natthiko hoti rosako.

Dadamānaṁ nivāreti,
yācamānāna bhojanaṁ;
Tādiso puriso rāja,
mīyamāno janādhipa;
Upeti nirayaṁ ghoraṁ,
jotitamaparāyano.

Aḍḍho ce puriso rāja,
saddho hoti amaccharī;
Dadāti seṭṭhasaṅkappo,
abyaggamanaso naro.

Samaṇe brāhmaṇe vāpi,
aññe vāpi vanibbake;
Uṭṭhāya abhivādeti,
samacariyāya sikkhati.

Dadamānaṁ na vāreti,
yācamānāna bhojanaṁ;
Tādiso puriso rāja,
mīyamāno janādhipa;
Upeti tidivaṁ ṭhānaṁ,
jotijotiparāyano”ti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho rājānaṁ pasenadiṁ kosalaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

Then King Pasenadi of Kosala went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:

“cattārome, mahārāja puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ.

“Great king, these four individuals are found in the world.

Katame cattāro?

What four?

Tamotamaparāyano,

The dark bound for darkness,

tamojotiparāyano,

the dark bound for light,

jotitamaparāyano,

the light bound for darkness,

jotijotiparāyano.

and the light bound for light.

Kathañca, mahārāja puggalo tamotamaparāyano hoti?

And how is an individual dark and bound for darkness?

Idha, mahārāja, ekacco puggalo nīce kule paccājāto hoti, caṇḍālakule venakule nesādakule rathakārakule pukkusakule dalidde appannapānabhojane kasiravuttike, yattha kasirena ghāsacchādo labbhati.

It’s when an individual is reborn in a low family—a family of corpse-workers, bamboo-workers, hunters, chariot-makers, or scavengers—poor, with little to eat or drink, where life is tough, and food and shelter are hard to find.

So ca hoti dubbaṇṇo duddasiko okoṭimako bavhābādho kāṇo kuṇī khañjo pakkhahato vā, na lābhī annassa pānassa vatthassa yānassa mālāgandhavilepanassa seyyāvasathapadīpeyyassa.

And they’re ugly, unsightly, deformed, sickly—one-eyed, crippled, lame, or half-paralyzed. They don’t get to have food, drink, clothes, and vehicles; garlands, fragrance, and makeup; or bed, house, and lighting.

So kāyena duccaritaṁ carati, vācāya duccaritaṁ carati, manasā duccaritaṁ carati.

And they do bad things by way of body, speech, and mind.

So kāyena duccaritaṁ caritvā vācāya duccaritaṁ caritvā manasā duccaritaṁ caritvā, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjati.

When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.

Seyyathāpi, mahārāja, puriso andhakārā andhakāraṁ gaccheyya, tamā tamaṁ gaccheyya, lohitamalā lohitamalaṁ gaccheyya.

This individual is like someone who goes from darkness to darkness, from blackness to blackness, from bloodstain to bloodstain.

Tathūpamāhaṁ, mahārāja, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.

Evaṁ kho, mahārāja, puggalo tamotamaparāyano hoti.

That’s how an individual is dark and bound for darkness.

Kathañca, mahārāja, puggalo tamojotiparāyano hoti?

And how is an individual dark and bound for light?

Idha, mahārāja, ekacco puggalo nīce kule paccājāto hoti, caṇḍālakule venakule nesādakule rathakārakule pukkusakule dalidde appannapānabhojane kasiravuttike, yattha kasirena ghāsacchādo labbhati.

It’s when an individual is reborn in a low family—a family of corpse-workers, bamboo-workers, hunters, chariot-makers, or scavengers—poor, with little to eat or drink, where life is tough, and food and shelter are hard to find.

So ca kho hoti dubbaṇṇo duddasiko okoṭimako bavhābādho, kāṇo kuṇī khañjo pakkhahato vā, na lābhī annassa pānassa vatthassa yānassa mālāgandhavilepanassa seyyāvasathapadīpeyyassa.

And they’re ugly, unsightly, deformed, sickly—one-eyed, crippled, lame, or half-paralyzed. They don’t get to have food, drink, clothes, and vehicles; garlands, fragrance, and makeup; or bed, house, and lighting.

So kāyena sucaritaṁ carati, vācāya sucaritaṁ carati, manasā sucaritaṁ carati.

But they do good things by way of body, speech, and mind.

So kāyena sucaritaṁ caritvā vācāya sucaritaṁ caritvā manasā sucaritaṁ caritvā, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjati.

When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.

Seyyathāpi, mahārāja, puriso pathaviyā pallaṅkaṁ āroheyya, pallaṅkā assapiṭṭhiṁ āroheyya, assapiṭṭhiyā hatthikkhandhaṁ āroheyya, hatthikkhandhā pāsādaṁ āroheyya.

This individual is like someone who ascends from the ground to a couch; from a couch to horseback; from horseback to an elephant; and from an elephant to a stilt longhouse.

Tathūpamāhaṁ, mahārāja, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.

Evaṁ kho, mahārāja, puggalo tamojotiparāyano hoti.

That’s how an individual is dark and bound for light.

Kathañca, mahārāja, puggalo jotitamaparāyano hoti?

And how is an individual light and bound for darkness?

Idha, mahārāja, ekacco puggalo ucce kule paccājāto hoti, khattiyamahāsālakule brāhmaṇamahāsālakule gahapatimahāsālakule vā, aḍḍhe mahaddhane mahābhoge pahūtajātarūparajate pahūtavittūpakaraṇe pahūtadhanadhaññe.

It’s when an individual is reborn in an eminent family—a well-to-do family of aristocrats, brahmins, or householders—rich, affluent, and wealthy, with lots of gold and silver, lots of property and assets, and lots of money and grain.

So ca hoti abhirūpo dassanīyo pāsādiko, paramāya vaṇṇapokkharatāya samannāgato, lābhī annassa pānassa vatthassa yānassa mālāgandhavilepanassa seyyāvasathapadīpeyyassa.

And they’re attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty. They get to have food, drink, clothes, and vehicles; garlands, fragrance, and makeup; and bed, house, and lighting.

So kāyena duccaritaṁ carati, vācāya duccaritaṁ carati, manasā duccaritaṁ carati.

But they do bad things by way of body, speech, and mind.

So kāyena duccaritaṁ caritvā vācāya duccaritaṁ caritvā manasā duccaritaṁ caritvā, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjati.

When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.

Seyyathāpi, mahārāja, puriso pāsādā hatthikkhandhaṁ oroheyya, hatthikkhandhā assapiṭṭhiṁ oroheyya, assapiṭṭhiyā pallaṅkaṁ oroheyya, pallaṅkā pathaviṁ oroheyya, pathaviyā andhakāraṁ paviseyya.

This individual is like someone who descends from a stilt longhouse to an elephant; from an elephant to horseback; from horseback to a couch; and from a couch to the ground; and from the ground they enter darkness.

Tathūpamāhaṁ, mahārāja, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.

Evaṁ kho, mahārāja, puggalo jotitamaparāyano hoti.

That’s how an individual is light and bound for darkness.

Kathañca, mahārāja, puggalo jotijotiparāyano hoti?

And how is an individual light and bound for light?

Idha, mahārāja, ekacco puggalo ucce kule paccājāto hoti, khattiyamahāsālakule brāhmaṇamahāsālakule gahapatimahāsālakule vā, aḍḍhe mahaddhane mahābhoge pahūtajātarūparajate pahūtavittūpakaraṇe pahūtadhanadhaññe.

It’s when an individual is reborn in an eminent family—a well-to-do family of aristocrats, brahmins, or householders—rich, affluent, and wealthy, with lots of gold and silver, lots of property and assets, and lots of money and grain.

So ca hoti abhirūpo dassanīyo pāsādiko, paramāya vaṇṇapokkharatāya samannāgato, lābhī annassa pānassa vatthassa yānassa mālāgandhavilepanassa seyyāvasathapadīpeyyassa.

And they’re attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty. They get to have food, drink, clothes, and vehicles; garlands, fragrance, and makeup; and bed, house, and lighting.

So kāyena sucaritaṁ carati, vācāya sucaritaṁ carati, manasā sucaritaṁ carati.

And they do good things by way of body, speech, and mind.

So kāyena sucaritaṁ caritvā vācāya sucaritaṁ caritvā manasā sucaritaṁ caritvā, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjati.

When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.

Seyyathāpi, mahārāja, puriso pallaṅkā pallaṅkaṁ saṅkameyya, assapiṭṭhiyā assapiṭṭhiṁ saṅkameyya, hatthikkhandhā hatthikkhandhaṁ saṅkameyya, pāsādā pāsādaṁ saṅkameyya.

This individual is like someone who shifts from one couch to another; from the back of one horse to another; from one elephant to another; or from one stilt longhouse to another.

Tathūpamāhaṁ, mahārāja, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.

Evaṁ kho, mahārāja, puggalo jotijotiparāyano hoti.

That’s how an individual is light and bound for light.

Ime kho, mahārāja, cattāro puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmin”ti.

These are the four individuals found in the world.”

Idamavoca …pe…

That is what the Buddha said. …

“Daliddo puriso rāja,

“O king, some people are poor,

assaddho hoti maccharī;

faithless and stingy.

Kadariyo pāpasaṅkappo,

Miserly, with bad intentions,

micchādiṭṭhi anādaro.

they lack regard, they have wrong view.

Samaṇe brāhmaṇe vāpi,

They abuse and insult

aññe vāpi vanibbake;

ascetics and brahmins

Akkosati paribhāsati,

and other supplicants.

natthiko hoti rosako.

They’re nihilists and bullies,

Dadamānaṁ nivāreti,

who prevent others from giving

yācamānāna bhojanaṁ;

food to beggars.

Tādiso puriso rāja,

O king, ruler of the people:

mīyamāno janādhipa;

when such people die

Upeti nirayaṁ ghoraṁ,

they fall into the terrible hell—

tamotamaparāyano.

from darkness they’re bound for darkness.

Daliddo puriso rāja,

O king, some people are poor,

saddho hoti amaccharī;

but faithful and not stingy.

Dadāti seṭṭhasaṅkappo,

They give with best of intentions,

abyaggamanaso naro.

that peaceful-hearted person.

Samaṇe brāhmaṇe vāpi,

They rise for and bow to

aññe vāpi vanibbake;

ascetics and brahmins

Uṭṭhāya abhivādeti,

and other supplicants.

samacariyāya sikkhati.

Training in moral conduct,

Dadamānaṁ na vāreti,

they don’t prevent others from giving

yācamānāna bhojanaṁ;

food to beggars.

Tādiso puriso rāja,

O king, ruler of the people:

mīyamāno janādhipa;

when such people die

Upeti tidivaṁ ṭhānaṁ,

they go to the Third Heaven—

tamojotiparāyano.

from darkness they’re bound for light.

Aḍḍho ce puriso rāja,

O king, some people are rich,

assaddho hoti maccharī;

but faithless and stingy.

Kadariyo pāpasaṅkappo,

Miserly, with bad intentions,

micchādiṭṭhi anādaro.

they lack regard, they have wrong view.

Samaṇe brāhmaṇe vāpi,

They abuse and insult

aññe vāpi vanibbake;

ascetics and brahmins

Akkosati paribhāsati,

and other supplicants

natthiko hoti rosako.

They’re nihilists and bullies,

Dadamānaṁ nivāreti,

who prevent others from giving

yācamānāna bhojanaṁ;

food to beggars.

Tādiso puriso rāja,

O king, ruler of the people:

mīyamāno janādhipa;

when such people die

Upeti nirayaṁ ghoraṁ,

they fall into the terrible hell—

jotitamaparāyano.

from light they’re bound for darkness.

Aḍḍho ce puriso rāja,

O king, some people are rich,

saddho hoti amaccharī;

faithful and not stingy.

Dadāti seṭṭhasaṅkappo,

They give with best of intentions,

abyaggamanaso naro.

that peaceful-hearted person.

Samaṇe brāhmaṇe vāpi,

They rise for and bow to

aññe vāpi vanibbake;

ascetics and brahmins

Uṭṭhāya abhivādeti,

and other supplicants.

samacariyāya sikkhati.

Training in moral conduct,

Dadamānaṁ na vāreti,

they don’t prevent others from giving

yācamānāna bhojanaṁ;

food to beggars.

Tādiso puriso rāja,

O king, ruler of the people:

mīyamāno janādhipa;

when such people die

Upeti tidivaṁ ṭhānaṁ,

they go to the Third Heaven—

jotijotiparāyano”ti.

from light they’re bound for light.”

Topics & Qualities:

Attachment

Attachment

A mental fastening onto people, things, views, or states as “me” or “mine,” unwilling to release them. This clinging can give a sense of security and sweetness.

Also known as: acquisition, bond, clinging, grasping, holding on, possession, entanglement, bound, connected, taking as mine
Pāli: upadhi, upādāna, sakiñcana, mamatta
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Cruelty

Cruelty

The wish to cause pain or the enjoyment of another’s suffering. Rooted in aversion and moral blindness, cruelty hardens the heart and erases compassion.

Also known as: abuse, hurting, fierceness, inhumanity, injuring, viciousness
Pāli: vihiṁsā
View all discourses →
Giving

Giving

The act of generosity, sharing, or offering to others without expecting anything in return. Giving is considered a foundational virtue in Buddhist practice, fostering selflessness and compassion.

Also known as: generosity, charity, donation, almsgiving, donating, philanthropy, providing with, gift with
Pāli: dāna
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Harm

Harm

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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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
View all discourses →
Wrong view

Wrong view

A distorted understanding that sees permanence in the impermanent, satisfaction in the unsatisfactory, or self in the not-self. Wrong view guides action by delusion, obscuring cause and effect, and closes the door to wisdom and release.

Also known as: distorted or inverted perception, untrue view, false belief
Pāli: micchādiṭṭhi
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Last updated on July 27, 2026