The Buddha teaches the four factors of stream-entry—experiential confidence in the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha, and ethical conduct loved by the noble ones—showing how they protect a noble disciple from loss and lead to heaven, regarding with anāthapiṇḍika (2nd).

SN 55.27 With Anāthapiṇḍika (2nd)

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Tena kho pana samayena anāthapiṇḍiko gahapati ābādhiko hoti dukkhito bāḷhagilāno. Atha kho anāthapiṇḍiko gahapati aññataraṁ purisaṁ āmantesi: “ehi tvaṁ, ambho purisa, yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkama; upasaṅkamitvā mama vacanena āyasmato ānandassa pāde sirasā vanda: ‘anāthapiṇḍiko, bhante, gahapati ābādhiko dukkhito bāḷhagilāno. So āyasmato ānandassa pāde sirasā vandatī’ti. Evañca vadehi: ‘sādhu kira, bhante, āyasmā ānando yena anāthapiṇḍikassa gahapatissa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkamatu anukampaṁ upādāyā’”ti.

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho so puriso anāthapiṇḍikassa gahapatissa paṭissutvā yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so puriso āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etadavoca: “anāthapiṇḍiko, bhante, gahapati ābādhiko dukkhito bāḷhagilāno. So āyasmato ānandassa pāde sirasā vandati. Evañca vadati: ‘sādhu kira, bhante, āyasmā ānando yena anāthapiṇḍikassa gahapatissa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkamatu anukampaṁ upādāyā’”ti. Adhivāsesi kho āyasmā ānando tuṇhībhāvena.

Atha kho āyasmā ānando pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena anāthapiṇḍikassa gahapatissa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. Nisajja kho āyasmā ānando anāthapiṇḍikaṁ gahapatiṁ etadavoca: “kacci te, gahapati, khamanīyaṁ, kacci yāpanīyaṁ? Kacci dukkhā vedanā paṭikkamanti, no abhikkamanti; paṭikkamosānaṁ paññāyati, no abhikkamo”ti?

“Na me, bhante, khamanīyaṁ na yāpanīyaṁ. Bāḷhā me dukkhā vedanā abhikkamanti, no paṭikkamanti; abhikkamosānaṁ paññāyati, no paṭikkamo”ti.

“Catūhi kho, gahapati, dhammehi samannāgatassa assutavato puthujjanassa hoti uttāso, hoti chambhitattaṁ, hoti samparāyikaṁ maraṇabhayaṁ. Katamehi catūhi? Idha, gahapati, assutavā puthujjano buddhe appasādena samannāgato hoti. Tañca panassa buddhe appasādaṁ attani samanupassato hoti uttāso, hoti chambhitattaṁ, hoti samparāyikaṁ maraṇabhayaṁ.

Puna caparaṁ, gahapati, assutavā puthujjano dhamme appasādena samannāgato hoti. Tañca panassa dhamme appasādaṁ attani samanupassato hoti uttāso, hoti chambhitattaṁ, hoti samparāyikaṁ maraṇabhayaṁ.

Puna caparaṁ, gahapati, assutavā puthujjano saṅghe appasādena samannāgato hoti. Tañca panassa saṅghe appasādaṁ attani samanupassato hoti uttāso, hoti chambhitattaṁ, hoti samparāyikaṁ maraṇabhayaṁ.

Puna caparaṁ, gahapati, assutavā puthujjano dussīlyena samannāgato hoti. Tañca panassa dussīlyaṁ attani samanupassato hoti uttāso, hoti chambhitattaṁ, hoti samparāyikaṁ maraṇabhayaṁ. Imehi kho, gahapati, catūhi dhammehi samannāgatassa assutavato puthujjanassa hoti uttāso, hoti chambhitattaṁ, hoti samparāyikaṁ maraṇabhayaṁ.

Catūhi kho, gahapati, dhammehi samannāgatassa sutavato ariyasāvakassa na hoti uttāso, na hoti chambhitattaṁ, na hoti samparāyikaṁ maraṇabhayaṁ. Katamehi catūhi? Idha, gahapati, sutavā ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. Tañca panassa buddhe aveccappasādaṁ attani samanupassato na hoti uttāso, na hoti chambhitattaṁ, na hoti samparāyikaṁ maraṇabhayaṁ.

Puna caparaṁ, gahapati, sutavā ariyasāvako dhamme aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo …pe… paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhīti. Tañca panassa dhamme aveccappasādaṁ attani samanupassato na hoti uttāso, na hoti chambhitattaṁ, na hoti samparāyikaṁ maraṇabhayaṁ.

Puna caparaṁ, gahapati, sutavā ariyasāvako saṅghe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti suppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho …pe… anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassāti. Tañca panassa saṅghe aveccappasādaṁ attani samanupassato na hoti uttāso, na hoti chambhitattaṁ, na hoti samparāyikaṁ maraṇabhayaṁ.

Puna caparaṁ, gahapati, sutavā ariyasāvako ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato hoti akhaṇḍehi …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikehi. Tāni ca panassa ariyakantāni sīlāni attani samanupassato na hoti uttāso, na hoti chambhitattaṁ, na hoti samparāyikaṁ maraṇabhayaṁ.

Imehi kho, gahapati, catūhi dhammehi samannāgatassa sutavato ariyasāvakassa na hoti uttāso, na hoti chambhitattaṁ, na hoti samparāyikaṁ maraṇabhayan”ti.

“Nāhaṁ, bhante ānanda, bhāyāmi. Kyāhaṁ bhāyissāmi. Ahañhi, bhante, buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato homi itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. Dhamme …pe… saṅghe aveccappasādena samannāgato homi suppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho …pe… anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassāti. Yāni cimāni, bhante, bhagavatā gihisāmīcikāni sikkhāpadāni desitāni, nāhaṁ tesaṁ kiñci attani khaṇḍaṁ samanupassāmī”ti.

“Lābhā te, gahapati, suladdhaṁ te, gahapati. Sotāpattiphalaṁ tayā, gahapati, byākatan”ti.

Sattamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

Tena kho pana samayena anāthapiṇḍiko gahapati ābādhiko hoti dukkhito bāḷhagilāno.

Now at that time the householder Anāthapiṇḍika was sick, suffering, gravely ill.

Atha kho anāthapiṇḍiko gahapati aññataraṁ purisaṁ āmantesi:

Then he addressed a man,

“ehi tvaṁ, ambho purisa, yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkama; upasaṅkamitvā mama vacanena āyasmato ānandassa pāde sirasā vanda:

“Please, my man, go to Venerable Ānanda, and in my name bow with your head to his feet. Say to him:

‘anāthapiṇḍiko, bhante, gahapati ābādhiko dukkhito bāḷhagilāno.

‘Sir, the householder Anāthapiṇḍika is sick, suffering, gravely ill.

So āyasmato ānandassa pāde sirasā vandatī’ti.

He bows with his head to your feet.’

Evañca vadehi:

And then say:

‘sādhu kira, bhante, āyasmā ānando yena anāthapiṇḍikassa gahapatissa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkamatu anukampaṁ upādāyā’”ti.

‘Sir, please visit him at his home out of sympathy.’”

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho so puriso anāthapiṇḍikassa gahapatissa paṭissutvā yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so puriso āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etadavoca:

“Yes, sir,” that man replied. He did as Anāthapiṇḍika asked.

“anāthapiṇḍiko, bhante, gahapati ābādhiko dukkhito bāḷhagilāno.

So āyasmato ānandassa pāde sirasā vandati.

Evañca vadati:

‘sādhu kira, bhante, āyasmā ānando yena anāthapiṇḍikassa gahapatissa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkamatu anukampaṁ upādāyā’”ti.

Adhivāsesi kho āyasmā ānando tuṇhībhāvena.

Ānanda consented with silence.

Atha kho āyasmā ānando pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena anāthapiṇḍikassa gahapatissa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. Nisajja kho āyasmā ānando anāthapiṇḍikaṁ gahapatiṁ etadavoca:

Then Venerable Ānanda robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to the home of the householder Anāthapiṇḍika. He sat down on the seat spread out and said to Anāthapiṇḍika,

“kacci te, gahapati, khamanīyaṁ, kacci yāpanīyaṁ? Kacci dukkhā vedanā paṭikkamanti, no abhikkamanti; paṭikkamosānaṁ paññāyati, no abhikkamo”ti?

“I hope you’re keeping well, householder; I hope you’re all right. And I hope the pain is fading, not growing; that its fading, not its growing, is apparent.”

“Na me, bhante, khamanīyaṁ na yāpanīyaṁ. Bāḷhā me dukkhā vedanā abhikkamanti, no paṭikkamanti; abhikkamosānaṁ paññāyati, no paṭikkamo”ti.

“Sir, I’m not keeping well, I’m not getting by. The pain is terrible and growing, not fading; its growing is evident, not its fading.”

“Catūhi kho, gahapati, dhammehi samannāgatassa assutavato puthujjanassa hoti uttāso, hoti chambhitattaṁ, hoti samparāyikaṁ maraṇabhayaṁ.

“Householder, when an unlearned ordinary person has four things, they’re frightened and terrified, and fear what awaits them after death.

Katamehi catūhi?

What four?

Idha, gahapati, assutavā puthujjano buddhe appasādena samannāgato hoti.

Firstly, an unlearned ordinary person distrusts the Buddha.

Tañca panassa buddhe appasādaṁ attani samanupassato hoti uttāso, hoti chambhitattaṁ, hoti samparāyikaṁ maraṇabhayaṁ.

Seeing in themselves that distrust of the Buddha, they’re frightened and terrified, and fear what awaits them after death.

Puna caparaṁ, gahapati, assutavā puthujjano dhamme appasādena samannāgato hoti.

Furthermore, an unlearned ordinary person distrusts the teaching …

Tañca panassa dhamme appasādaṁ attani samanupassato hoti uttāso, hoti chambhitattaṁ, hoti samparāyikaṁ maraṇabhayaṁ.

Puna caparaṁ, gahapati, assutavā puthujjano saṅghe appasādena samannāgato hoti.

Furthermore, an unlearned ordinary person distrusts the Saṅgha …

Tañca panassa saṅghe appasādaṁ attani samanupassato hoti uttāso, hoti chambhitattaṁ, hoti samparāyikaṁ maraṇabhayaṁ.

Puna caparaṁ, gahapati, assutavā puthujjano dussīlyena samannāgato hoti.

Furthermore, an unlearned ordinary person has unethical conduct.

Tañca panassa dussīlyaṁ attani samanupassato hoti uttāso, hoti chambhitattaṁ, hoti samparāyikaṁ maraṇabhayaṁ.

Seeing in themselves that unethical conduct, they’re frightened and terrified, and fear what awaits them after death.

Imehi kho, gahapati, catūhi dhammehi samannāgatassa assutavato puthujjanassa hoti uttāso, hoti chambhitattaṁ, hoti samparāyikaṁ maraṇabhayaṁ.

When an unlearned ordinary person has these four things, they’re frightened and terrified, and fear what awaits them after death.

Catūhi kho, gahapati, dhammehi samannāgatassa sutavato ariyasāvakassa na hoti uttāso, na hoti chambhitattaṁ, na hoti samparāyikaṁ maraṇabhayaṁ.

When a learned noble disciple has four things, they’re not frightened or terrified, and don’t fear what awaits them after death.

Katamehi catūhi?

What four?

Idha, gahapati, sutavā ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti

Firstly, a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Buddha …

itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti.

Tañca panassa buddhe aveccappasādaṁ attani samanupassato na hoti uttāso, na hoti chambhitattaṁ, na hoti samparāyikaṁ maraṇabhayaṁ.

Seeing in themselves that experiential confidence in the Buddha, they’re not frightened or terrified, and don’t fear what awaits them after death.

Puna caparaṁ, gahapati, sutavā ariyasāvako dhamme aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti

Furthermore, a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the teaching …

svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo …pe… paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhīti.

Tañca panassa dhamme aveccappasādaṁ attani samanupassato na hoti uttāso, na hoti chambhitattaṁ, na hoti samparāyikaṁ maraṇabhayaṁ.

Puna caparaṁ, gahapati, sutavā ariyasāvako saṅghe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti

Furthermore, a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Saṅgha …

suppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho …pe… anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassāti.

Tañca panassa saṅghe aveccappasādaṁ attani samanupassato na hoti uttāso, na hoti chambhitattaṁ, na hoti samparāyikaṁ maraṇabhayaṁ.

Puna caparaṁ, gahapati, sutavā ariyasāvako ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato hoti akhaṇḍehi …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikehi.

Furthermore, a noble disciple’s ethical conduct is loved by the noble ones, unbroken, impeccable, spotless, and unmarred, liberating, praised by sensible people, not mistaken, and leading to immersion.

Tāni ca panassa ariyakantāni sīlāni attani samanupassato na hoti uttāso, na hoti chambhitattaṁ, na hoti samparāyikaṁ maraṇabhayaṁ.

Seeing in themselves that ethical conduct loved by the noble ones, they’re not frightened or terrified, and don’t fear what awaits them after death.

Imehi kho, gahapati, catūhi dhammehi samannāgatassa sutavato ariyasāvakassa na hoti uttāso, na hoti chambhitattaṁ, na hoti samparāyikaṁ maraṇabhayan”ti.

When a learned noble disciple has these four things, they’re not frightened or terrified, and don’t fear what awaits them after death.”

“Nāhaṁ, bhante ānanda, bhāyāmi.

“Honorable Ānanda, I am not afraid.

Kyāhaṁ bhāyissāmi.

What have I to fear?

Ahañhi, bhante, buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato homi

For I have experiential confidence in the Buddha …

itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti.

Dhamme …pe…

the teaching …

saṅghe aveccappasādena samannāgato homi

the Saṅgha …

suppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho …pe… anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassāti.

Yāni cimāni, bhante, bhagavatā gihisāmīcikāni sikkhāpadāni desitāni, nāhaṁ tesaṁ kiñci attani khaṇḍaṁ samanupassāmī”ti.

And of the training rules appropriate for laypeople taught by the Buddha, I don’t see any that I have broken.”

“Lābhā te, gahapati, suladdhaṁ te, gahapati.

“You’re fortunate, householder, so very fortunate!

Sotāpattiphalaṁ tayā, gahapati, byākatan”ti.

You have declared the fruit of stream-entry.”

Sattamaṁ.

Qualities:

Compassion

Compassion

A mental quality of wise empathy in response to suffering, which counters qualities of harm or cruelty.

Also known as: benevolence, concern, sympathy, kindness towards those who are suffering
Pāli: karuṇā, anukampa
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Ethical conduct

Ethical conduct

A disciplined way of living grounded in harmlessness and integrity. Ethical conduct restrains the body and speech from harm, purifies behavior, and forms the foundation for collectedness and wisdom.

Also known as: moral integrity, right action, virtue
Pāli: sīla, sammākammanta
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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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Fear

Fear

A constricting mental state that arises when the mind perceives threat or danger. It agitates and destabilizes, driving the mind toward avoidance, paralysis, or desperate action.

Also known as: feeling afraid, timid, dread, fright, horror, panic, terror
Pāli: bhaya, dara
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Learning

Learning

One who has broad learning and retention of the Dhamma, gained through hearing, reciting, and carefully investigating the teachings. Such learning penetrates their meaning through discernment and serves as a strong support for practice.

Also known as: having knowledge, well studied
Pāli: bahussuta, suta
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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