“What is the purpose of accusing? Codanā kimatthāya, Why is there reminding? Sāraṇā kissa kāraṇā; What is the purpose of the Sangha? Saṅgho kimatthāya, Why is there the taking of advice? Matikammaṁ pana kissa kāraṇā.

The purpose of accusing is reminding, Codanā sāraṇatthāya, The purpose of reminding is restraint; Niggahatthāya sāraṇā; The purpose of the Sangha is scrutiny, Saṅgho pariggahatthāya, But taking advice is individual. Matikammaṁ pana pāṭiyekkaṁ.

Don’t speak hastily, Mā kho turito abhaṇi, Don’t speak fiercely; mā kho caṇḍikato bhaṇi; Don’t be hostile—Mā kho paṭighaṁ janayi, If you are an investigator. sace anuvijjako tuvaṁ.

Don’t speak fast, Mā kho sahasā abhaṇi, Argumentative speech is not beneficial. Kathaṁ viggāhikaṁ anatthasaṁhitaṁ; In line with the discourses and the Monastic Law, Sutte vinaye anulome, In line with what has been laid down, Paññatte anulomike.

Consider carefully the proper procedure of examination, Anuyogavattaṁ nisāmaya, As formulated by the skilled Awakened One, Kusalena buddhimatā kataṁ; Well-spoken in line with the training rules—Suvuttaṁ sikkhāpadānulomikaṁ, Do not ruin your future rebirth. Gatiṁ na nāsento samparāyikaṁ; You should seek what is beneficial, Hitesī anuyuñjassu, At the right time, what is connected with the goal. Kālenatthūpasaṁhitaṁ.

The statements of the accuser and the accused, Cuditassa ca codakassa ca, Do not consider them hastily: Sahasā vohāraṁ mā padhāresi; If the accuser says the accused has offended, Codako āha āpannoti, But the accused says he has not, Cuditako āha anāpannoti.

Then, proceeding, Ubho anukkhipanto, Both should be dealt with in line with their admission. Paṭiññānusandhitena kāraye; The conscientious admit their faults, Paṭiññā lajjīsu katā, But there is no such thing among the shameless; Alajjīsu evaṁ na vijjati; For even if the shameless should speak a lot, Bahumpi alajjī bhāseyya, They should be dealt with in line with their conduct. Vattānusandhitena kāraye.

What are the shameless like, Alajjī kīdiso hoti, In that an admission is not effective? Paṭiññā yassa na rūhati; I ask you this: Etañca tāhaṁ pucchāmi, What are they like, the people called shameless? Kīdiso vuccati alajjī puggalo.

They intentionally commit offenses, Sañcicca āpattiṁ āpajjati, Hide their offenses, Āpattiṁ parigūhati; And follow a wrong course—Agatigamanañca gacchati, Such people are called shameless. Ediso vuccati alajjīpuggalo.

I too know the truth—Saccaṁ ahampi jānāmi, Such people are called shameless. Ediso vuccati alajjīpuggalo; And may I ask you something else: Aññañca tāhaṁ pucchāmi, What are they like, the people called conscientious? Kīdiso vuccati lajjīpuggalo.

They do not intentionally commit offenses, Sañcicca āpattiṁ nāpajjati, Nor do they hide them, Āpattiṁ na parigūhati; Nor do they follow a wrong course—Agatigamanaṁ na gacchati, Such people are called conscientious. Ediso vuccati lajjīpuggalo.

I too know the truth—Saccaṁ ahampi jānāmi, Such people are called conscientious. Ediso vuccati lajjīpuggalo; And may I ask you something else: Aññañca tāhaṁ pucchāmi, What are they like, those who accuse illegitimately? Kīdiso vuccati adhammacodako.

They accuse at the wrong time, untruthfully, Akālena codeti abhūtena, Harshly, without benefit; Pharusena anatthasaṁhitena; They accuse with a mind of ill will, not a mind of good will—Dosantaro codeti no mettācitto, Such a person is called one who accuses illegitimately. Ediso vuccati adhammacodako.

I too know the truth—Saccaṁ ahampi jānāmi, Such a person is called one who accuses illegitimately. Ediso vuccati adhammacodako; And may I ask you something else: Aññañca tāhaṁ pucchāmi, What are they like, those who accuse legitimately? Kīdiso vuccati dhammacodako.

They accuse at the right time, truthfully, Kālena codeti bhūtena, Gently, beneficially; Saṇhena atthasaṁhitena; They accuse with a mind of good will, not a mind of ill will—Mettācitto codeti no dosantaro, Such a person is called one who accuses legitimately. Ediso vuccati dhammacodako.

I too know the truth—Saccaṁ ahampi jānāmi, Such a person is called one who accuses legitimately. Ediso vuccati dhammacodako; And may I ask you something else: Aññañca tāhaṁ pucchāmi, What are they like, the people called ignorant accusers? Kīdiso vuccati bālacodako.

They do not know the right order; Pubbāparaṁ na jānāti, They are ignorant about it. Pubbāparassa akovido; They do not know the sequence of statements; Anusandhivacanapathaṁ na jānāti, They are ignorant about it—Anusandhivacanapathassa akovido; Such people are called ignorant accusers. Ediso vuccati bālacodako.

I too know the truth—Saccaṁ ahampi jānāmi, Such people are called ignorant accusers. Ediso vuccati bālacodako; And may I ask you something else: Aññañca tāhaṁ pucchāmi, What are they like, the people called learned accusers? Kīdiso vuccati paṇḍitacodako.

They know the right order; Pubbāparampi jānāti, They are knowledgeable about it. Pubbāparassa kovido; They know the sequence of statements; Anusandhivacanapathaṁ jānāti, They are knowledgeable about it—Anusandhivacanapathassa kovido; Such people are called learned accusers. Ediso vuccati paṇḍitacodako.

I too know the truth—Saccaṁ ahampi jānāmi, Such people are called learned accusers. Ediso vuccati paṇḍitacodako; And may I ask you something else: Aññañca tāhaṁ pucchāmi, What is meant by accusing? Codanā kinti vuccati.

One accuses because of failure in morality, Sīlavipattiyā codeti, And for failure in conduct and view; atho ācāradiṭṭhiyā; Also one accuses for failure in livelihood—Ājīvenapi codeti, Because of this it is called accusing.” codanā tena vuccatīti.

The verses on how to accuse properly are finished. Aparaṁ gāthāsaṅgaṇikaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.