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

SN 3.23 The World

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho rājā pasenadi kosalo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “kati nu kho, bhante, lokassa dhammā uppajjamānā uppajjanti ahitāya dukkhāya aphāsuvihārāyā”ti?

“Tayo kho, mahārāja, lokassa dhammā uppajjamānā uppajjanti ahitāya dukkhāya aphāsuvihārāya. Katame tayo? Lobho kho, mahārāja, lokassa dhammo, uppajjamāno uppajjati ahitāya dukkhāya aphāsuvihārāya. Doso kho, mahārāja, lokassa dhammo, uppajjamāno uppajjati ahitāya dukkhāya aphāsuvihārāya. Moho kho, mahārāja, lokassa dhammo, uppajjamāno uppajjati ahitāya dukkhāya aphāsuvihārāya. Ime kho, mahārāja, tayo lokassa dhammā uppajjamānā uppajjanti ahitāya dukkhāya aphāsuvihārāyā”ti.

Idamavoca …pe…

“Lobho doso ca moho ca,
purisaṁ pāpacetasaṁ;
Hiṁsanti attasambhūtā,
tacasāraṁva samphalan”ti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho rājā pasenadi kosalo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Seated to one side, King Pasenadi said to the Buddha,

“kati nu kho, bhante, lokassa dhammā uppajjamānā uppajjanti ahitāya dukkhāya aphāsuvihārāyā”ti?

“Sir, how many things arise in the world for its harm, suffering, and discomfort?”

“Tayo kho, mahārāja, lokassa dhammā uppajjamānā uppajjanti ahitāya dukkhāya aphāsuvihārāya.

“Great king, three things arise in the world for its harm, suffering, and discomfort.

Katame tayo?

What three?

Lobho kho, mahārāja, lokassa dhammo, uppajjamāno uppajjati ahitāya dukkhāya aphāsuvihārāya.

Greed,

Doso kho, mahārāja, lokassa dhammo, uppajjamāno uppajjati ahitāya dukkhāya aphāsuvihārāya.

hate,

Moho kho, mahārāja, lokassa dhammo, uppajjamāno uppajjati ahitāya dukkhāya aphāsuvihārāya.

and delusion.

Ime kho, mahārāja, tayo lokassa dhammā uppajjamānā uppajjanti ahitāya dukkhāya aphāsuvihārāyā”ti.

These three things arise in the world for its harm, suffering, and discomfort.”

Idamavoca …pe…

That is what the Buddha said. …

“Lobho doso ca moho ca,

“When greed, hate, and delusion,

purisaṁ pāpacetasaṁ;

originate inside oneself,

Hiṁsanti attasambhūtā,

they harm a person of wicked heart,

tacasāraṁva samphalan”ti.

as a bamboo is destroyed by its own fruit.”

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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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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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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Suffering

Suffering

Unpleasantness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, i.e. mild or intense suffering that is inherent in conditioned existence.

Also known as: discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentedness, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, distress, affliction
Pāli: dukkha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026