The Thoroughbred (1st)Paṭhamaājānīyasutta

“Mendicants, a fine royal thoroughbred with three factors is worthy of a king, fit to serve a king, and reckoned as a factor of kingship.“Tīhi, bhikkhave, aṅgehi samannāgato rañño bhadro assājānīyo rājāraho hoti rājabhoggo, rañño aṅganteva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati. What three?Katamehi tīhi? It’s when a fine royal thoroughbred is beautiful, strong, and fast.Idha, bhikkhave, rañño bhadro assājānīyo vaṇṇasampanno ca hoti balasampanno ca javasampanno ca. A fine royal thoroughbred with these three factors is worthy of a king. …Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi aṅgehi samannāgato rañño bhadro assājānīyo rājāraho hoti rājabhoggo, rañño aṅganteva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati.

In the same way, a mendicant with three qualities is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of veneration with cupped palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu āhuneyyo hoti pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassa. What three?Katamehi tīhi? It’s when a mendicant is beautiful, strong, and fast.Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vaṇṇasampanno ca hoti balasampanno ca javasampanno ca.

And how is a mendicant beautiful?Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vaṇṇasampanno hoti? It’s when a mendicant is ethical, restrained in the monastic code, conducting themselves well and resorting for alms in suitable places. Seeing danger in the slightest fault, they keep the rules they’ve undertaken.Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti, pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati ācāragocarasampanno aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu. That’s how a mendicant is beautiful.Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vaṇṇasampanno hoti.

And how is a mendicant strong?Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu balasampanno hoti? It’s when a mendicant lives with energy roused up for giving up unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities. They are strong, staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing skillful qualities.Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu āraddhavīriyo viharati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu. That’s how a mendicant is strong.Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu balasampanno hoti.

And how is a mendicant fast?Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu javasampanno hoti? It’s when a mendicant truly understands: ‘This is suffering’ …Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti; ‘This is the origin of suffering’ …‘ayaṁ dukkhasamudayo’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti; ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ …‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodho’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti; ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’.‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti. That’s how a mendicant is fast.Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu javasampanno hoti.

A mendicant with these three qualities is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of veneration with cupped palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.”Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu āhuneyyo hoti pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassā”ti.