an.3.50 Aṅguttara Nikāya (Numbered Discourses)

A Master Thief

“Bhikkhus, possessing three factors, a master thief breaks into houses, plunders wealth, commits banditry, and ambushes highways. What three? Here, a master thief depends on the uneven, on thickets, and on powerful people.

(1) “And how does a master thief depend on the uneven? Here, a master thief depends on rivers that are hard to cross and rugged mountains. It is in this way that a master thief depends on the uneven.

(2) “And how does a master thief depend on thickets? Here, a master thief depends on a thicket of cane, a thicket of trees, a coppice, or a large dense jungle. It is in this way that a master thief depends on thickets.

(3) “And how does a master thief depend on powerful people? Here, a master thief depends on kings or royal ministers. He thinks: ‘If anyone accuses me of anything, these kings or royal ministers will dismiss the case.’ If anyone accuses him of anything, those kings or royal ministers dismiss the case. It is in this way that a master thief depends on powerful people.

“It is by possessing these three factors that a master thief breaks into houses, plunders wealth, commits banditry, and ambushes highways.

“So too, bhikkhus, possessing three qualities, an evil bhikkhu maintains himself in a maimed and injured condition, is blameworthy and subject to reproach by the wise, and generates much demerit. What three? Here, an evil bhikkhu depends on the uneven, on thickets, and on powerful people.

(1) “And how does an evil bhikkhu depend on the uneven? Here, an evil bhikkhu engages in unrighteous bodily, verbal, and mental action. It is in this way that an evil bhikkhu depends on the uneven.

(2) “And how does an evil bhikkhu depend on thickets? Here, an evil bhikkhu holds wrong view, adopts an extremist view. It is in this way that an evil bhikkhu depends on thickets.

(3) “And how does an evil bhikkhu depend on powerful people? Here, an evil bhikkhu depends on kings or royal ministers. He thinks: ‘If anyone accuses me of anything, these kings or royal ministers will dismiss the case.’ If anyone accuses him of anything, those kings or royal ministers dismiss the case. It is in this way that an evil bhikkhu depends on the powerful.

“It is by possessing these three qualities that an evil bhikkhu maintains himself in a maimed and injured condition, is blameworthy and subject to reproach by the wise, and generates much demerit.”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

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A Master Thief

“Mendicants, a master thief with three factors breaks into houses, plunders wealth, steals from isolated buildings, and commits highway robbery.
What three?
A master thief relies on uneven ground, on thick cover, and on powerful individuals.
And how does a master thief rely on uneven ground?
It’s when a master thief relies on inaccessible riverlands or rugged mountains.
That’s how a master thief relies on uneven ground.
And how does a master thief rely on thick cover?
It’s when a master thief relies on thick grass, thick trees, a ridge, or a large dense wood.
That’s how a master thief relies on thick cover.
And how does a master thief rely on powerful individuals?
It’s when a master thief relies on rulers or their ministers.
They think:
‘If anyone accuses me of anything, these rulers or their ministers will speak in my defense in the case.’
And that’s exactly what happens.
That’s how a master thief relies on powerful individuals.
A master thief with these three factors breaks into houses, plunders wealth, steals from isolated buildings, and commits highway robbery.
In the same way, when a bad mendicant has three factors, they keep themselves broken and damaged. They deserve to be blamed and criticized by sensible people, and they make much bad karma.
What three?
A bad mendicant relies on uneven ground, on thick cover, and on powerful individuals.
And how does a bad mendicant rely on uneven ground?
It’s when a bad mendicant has unethical conduct by way of body, speech, and mind.
That’s how a bad mendicant relies on uneven ground.
And how does a bad mendicant rely on thick cover?
It’s when a bad mendicant has wrong view, he’s attached to an extremist view.
That’s how a bad mendicant relies on thick cover.
And how does a bad mendicant rely on powerful individuals?
It’s when a bad mendicant relies on rulers or their ministers.
They think:
‘If anyone accuses me of anything, these rulers or their ministers will speak in my defense in the case.’
And that’s exactly what happens.
That’s how a bad mendicant relies on powerful individuals.
When a bad mendicant has these three qualities, they keep themselves broken and damaged. They deserve to be blamed and criticized by sensible people, and they make much bad karma.”