Venerable Sāriputta answers the wanderer Jambukhādaka on principled speech, explaining the Dhamma and the practice that leads to extinguishment.

SN 38.3 Principled Speech

“Ke nu kho, āvuso sāriputta, loke dhammavādino, ke loke suppaṭipannā, ke loke sugatā”ti?

“Ye kho, āvuso, rāgappahānāya dhammaṁ desenti, dosappahānāya dhammaṁ desenti, mohappahānāya dhammaṁ desenti, te loke dhammavādino. Ye kho, āvuso, rāgassa pahānāya paṭipannā, dosassa pahānāya paṭipannā, mohassa pahānāya paṭipannā, te loke suppaṭipannā. Yesaṁ kho, āvuso, rāgo pahīno ucchinnamūlo tālāvatthukato anabhāvaṅkato āyatiṁ anuppādadhammo, doso pahīno ucchinnamūlo tālāvatthukato anabhāvaṅkato āyatiṁ anuppādadhammo, moho pahīno ucchinnamūlo tālāvatthukato anabhāvaṅkato āyatiṁ anuppādadhammo, te loke sugatā”ti.

“Atthi panāvuso, maggo atthi paṭipadā etassa rāgassa dosassa mohassa pahānāyā”ti?

“Atthi kho, āvuso, maggo atthi paṭipadā etassa rāgassa dosassa mohassa pahānāyā”ti.

“Katamo panāvuso, maggo katamā paṭipadā etassa rāgassa dosassa mohassa pahānāyā”ti?

“Ayameva kho, āvuso, ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo etassa rāgassa dosassa mohassa pahānāya, seyyathidaṁ sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi. Ayaṁ kho, āvuso, maggo ayaṁ paṭipadā etassa rāgassa dosassa mohassa pahānāyā”ti.

“Bhaddako, āvuso, maggo bhaddikā paṭipadā, etassa rāgassa dosassa mohassa pahānāya. Alañca panāvuso sāriputta, appamādāyā”ti.

Tatiyaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Ke nu kho, āvuso sāriputta, loke dhammavādino, ke loke suppaṭipannā, ke loke sugatā”ti?

“Reverend Sāriputta, who in the world have principled speech? Who in the world practice well? Who are the Holy Ones in the world?”

“Ye kho, āvuso, rāgappahānāya dhammaṁ desenti, dosappahānāya dhammaṁ desenti, mohappahānāya dhammaṁ desenti, te loke dhammavādino.

“Reverend, those who teach principles for giving up greed, hate, and delusion have principled speech in the world.

Ye kho, āvuso, rāgassa pahānāya paṭipannā, dosassa pahānāya paṭipannā, mohassa pahānāya paṭipannā, te loke suppaṭipannā.

Those who practice for giving up greed, hate, and delusion are practicing well in the world.

Yesaṁ kho, āvuso, rāgo pahīno ucchinnamūlo tālāvatthukato anabhāvaṅkato āyatiṁ anuppādadhammo, doso pahīno ucchinnamūlo tālāvatthukato anabhāvaṅkato āyatiṁ anuppādadhammo, moho pahīno ucchinnamūlo tālāvatthukato anabhāvaṅkato āyatiṁ anuppādadhammo, te loke sugatā”ti.

Those who have given up greed, hate, and delusion—so they’re cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, and unable to arise in the future—are Holy Ones in the world.”

“Atthi panāvuso, maggo atthi paṭipadā etassa rāgassa dosassa mohassa pahānāyā”ti?

“But, reverend, is there a path and a practice for giving up that greed, hate, and delusion?”

“Atthi kho, āvuso, maggo atthi paṭipadā etassa rāgassa dosassa mohassa pahānāyā”ti.

“There is, reverend.”

“Katamo panāvuso, maggo katamā paṭipadā etassa rāgassa dosassa mohassa pahānāyā”ti?

“Well, what is it?”

“Ayameva kho, āvuso, ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo etassa rāgassa dosassa mohassa pahānāya, seyyathidaṁ

“It is simply this noble eightfold path, that is:

sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi.

right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion.

Ayaṁ kho, āvuso, maggo ayaṁ paṭipadā etassa rāgassa dosassa mohassa pahānāyā”ti.

This is the path, this is the practice for giving up that greed, hate, and delusion.”

“Bhaddako, āvuso, maggo bhaddikā paṭipadā, etassa rāgassa dosassa mohassa pahānāya.

“This is a fine path, a fine practice, for giving up greed, hate, and delusion.

Alañca panāvuso sāriputta, appamādāyā”ti.

Just this much is enough for diligence.”

Tatiyaṁ.

Topics & 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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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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Diligence

Diligence

The protective quality of guarding the mind amidst sensory experience. By restraining the faculties, the mind remains unsoiled by attraction.

Also known as: alertness, carefulness, heedfulness, conscientiousness, vigilance
Pāli: appamāda, uṭṭhāna
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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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Giving up

Giving up

The mental quality of renunciation and release from attachment. It delights in simplicity and freedom rather than in sensual pleasure. Giving up is not loss but the joyful abandoning of burden, opening the way to peace and insight.

Also known as: renunciation, relinquishment, letting go, abandonment
Pāli: nekkhamma
View all discourses →
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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Last updated on July 27, 2026