• Numbered Discourses 3.5 Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.5
  • 1. Fools 1. Bālavagga

Irrational Ayonisosutta

“A fool is known by three things. “Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bālo veditabbo. What three? Katamehi tīhi? They ask a question irrationally. They answer a question irrationally. And when someone else answers a question rationally—with well-rounded, coherent, and relevant words and phrases—they disagree with it. Ayoniso pañhaṁ kattā hoti, ayoniso pañhaṁ vissajjetā hoti, parassa kho pana yoniso pañhaṁ vissajjitaṁ parimaṇḍalehi padabyañjanehi siliṭṭhehi upagatehi nābbhanumoditā hoti.

These are the three things by which a fool is known. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bālo veditabbo.

An astute person is known by three things. Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato paṇḍito veditabbo. What three? Katamehi tīhi? They ask a question rationally. They answer a question rationally. And when someone else answers a question rationally—with well-rounded, coherent, and relevant words and phrases—they agree with it. Yoniso pañhaṁ kattā hoti, yoniso pañhaṁ vissajjetā hoti, parassa kho pana yoniso pañhaṁ vissajjitaṁ parimaṇḍalehi padabyañjanehi siliṭṭhehi upagatehi abbhanumoditā hoti.

These are the three things by which an astute person is known. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato paṇḍito veditabbo. So you should train …” Tasmātiha …pe….

Pañcamaṁ.