“Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, kathāvatthūni.
tīṇimāni → tīṇīmāni (sya-all); (pts)“There are, mendicants, these three topics of discussion. Katamāni tīṇi?What three? Atītaṁ vā, bhikkhave, addhānaṁ ārabbha kathaṁ katheyya:You might discuss the past: ‘evaṁ ahosi atītamaddhānan’ti.‘That is how it was in the past.’ Anāgataṁ vā, bhikkhave, addhānaṁ ārabbha kathaṁ katheyya:You might discuss the future: ‘evaṁ bhavissati anāgatamaddhānan’ti.‘That is how it will be in the future.’ Etarahi vā, bhikkhave, paccuppannaṁ addhānaṁ ārabbha kathaṁ katheyya:
addhānaṁ → (bj) | katheyya → Ph. katheyyaṁ. (pts note)Or you might discuss the present: ‘evaṁ hoti etarahi paccuppannamaddhānan’ti.
evaṁ hoti etarahi paccuppannamaddhānan’ti → evaṁ etarahi paccuppannanti (bj, pts1ed, mr); evaṁ hoti etarahi paccuppannanti (sya-all, km) | hoti → (bj, pts) | paccuppannamaddhānanti → paccuppannanti (bj, sya-all, pts) | paccuppannamaddhāna’’’nti → evaṁ etarahi paccuppannanti (cck: sī. pī. ka.); evaṁ hoti etarahi paccuppannanti (cck: syā. kaṁ.)‘This is how it is at present.’

Kathāsampayogena, bhikkhave, puggalo veditabbo yadi vā kaccho yadi vā akacchoti.
kaccho → = kathetuṁ yutto. (Com.) (pts note)You can know whether or not an individual is competent to hold a discussion by seeing how they take part in a discussion. Sacāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo pañhaṁ puṭṭho samāno ekaṁsabyākaraṇīyaṁ pañhaṁ na ekaṁsena byākaroti, vibhajjabyākaraṇīyaṁ pañhaṁ na vibhajja byākaroti, paṭipucchābyākaraṇīyaṁ pañhaṁ na paṭipucchā byākaroti, ṭhapanīyaṁ pañhaṁ na ṭhapeti, evaṁ santāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo akaccho hoti.
ṭhapanīyaṁ pañhaṁ na ṭhapeti → thapanīyaṁ pañhaṁ na thapeti (mr) | ṭhapeti → thapanīyaṁ pañhaṁ na thapeti (cck: ka.) | hoti → See Childers'; Dictionary s. v. pañho, and Mil. p. 144. (pts note)When an individual is asked a question, if it needs to be answered categorically and they don’t answer it categorically; or if it needs analysis and they answer without analyzing it; or if it needs a counter-question and they answer without a counter-question; or if it should be set aside and they don’t set it aside, then that individual is not competent to hold a discussion. Sace panāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo pañhaṁ puṭṭho samāno ekaṁsabyākaraṇīyaṁ pañhaṁ ekaṁsena byākaroti, vibhajjabyākaraṇīyaṁ pañhaṁ vibhajja byākaroti, paṭipucchābyākaraṇīyaṁ pañhaṁ paṭipucchā byākaroti, ṭhapanīyaṁ pañhaṁ ṭhapeti, evaṁ santāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo kaccho hoti.When an individual is asked a question, if it needs to be answered categorically and they answer it categorically; or if it needs analysis and they answer after analyzing it; or if it needs a counter-question and they answer with a counter-question; or if it should be set aside and they set it aside, then that individual is competent to hold a discussion.

Kathāsampayogena, bhikkhave, puggalo veditabbo yadi vā kaccho yadi vā akacchoti.You can know whether or not an individual is competent to hold a discussion by seeing how they take part in a discussion. Sacāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo pañhaṁ puṭṭho samāno ṭhānāṭhāne na saṇṭhāti parikappe na saṇṭhāti aññātavāde na saṇṭhāti paṭipadāya na saṇṭhāti, evaṁ santāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo akaccho hoti.
aññātavāde → aññavāde (bj, sya-all, km, pts1ed); aññātavāre (mr) | ṭhānāṭhāne → ṭhānaṭṭhāne (sya-all) | aññātavāde → aññavāde (pts) | aññātavāde → aññavāde (cck: sī. syā. kaṁ. pī.); aññātavāre (cck: ka.) | aññavāde → ChS. aññātavāde. (pts note)When an individual is asked a question, if they’re not consistent about what their position is and what it isn’t; about what they propose; about speaking from what they know; and about the appropriate procedure, then that individual is not competent to hold a discussion. Sace panāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo pañhaṁ puṭṭho samāno ṭhānāṭhāne saṇṭhāti parikappe saṇṭhāti aññātavāde saṇṭhāti paṭipadāya saṇṭhāti, evaṁ santāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo kaccho hoti.
aññātavāde → aññavāde (bj, sya-all, pts) | ṭhānāṭhāne → ṭhānaṭṭhāne (sya-all)When an individual is asked a question, if they are consistent about what their position is and what it isn’t; about what they propose; about speaking from what they know; and about the appropriate procedure, then that individual is competent to hold a discussion.

Kathāsampayogena, bhikkhave, puggalo veditabbo yadi vā kaccho yadi vā akacchoti.You can know whether or not an individual is competent to hold a discussion by seeing how they take part in a discussion. Sacāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo pañhaṁ puṭṭho samāno aññenaññaṁ paṭicarati, bahiddhā kathaṁ apanāmeti, kopañca dosañca appaccayañca pātukaroti, evaṁ santāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo akaccho hoti.
aññenaññaṁ → aññenāññaṁ (sya-all, pts) | paṭicarati → See above III. 64. 5, and Cullavagga IV. 11, 1. (pts note)When an individual is asked a question, if they dodge the issue; distract the discussion with irrelevant points; or display annoyance, hate, and bitterness, then that individual is not competent to hold a discussion. Sace panāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo pañhaṁ puṭṭho samāno na aññenaññaṁ paṭicarati na bahiddhā kathaṁ apanāmeti, na kopañca dosañca appaccayañca pātukaroti, evaṁ santāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo kaccho hoti.
na aññenaññaṁ → nāññenāññaṁ (bj, sya-all, pts)When an individual is asked a question, if they don’t dodge the issue; distract the discussion with irrelevant points; or display annoyance, hate, and bitterness, then that individual is competent to hold a discussion.

Kathāsampayogena, bhikkhave, puggalo veditabbo yadi vā kaccho yadi vā akacchoti.You can know whether or not an individual is competent to hold a discussion by seeing how they take part in a discussion. Sacāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo pañhaṁ puṭṭho samāno abhiharati abhimaddati anupajagghati khalitaṁ gaṇhāti, evaṁ santāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo akaccho hoti.
anupajagghati → anusaṁjagghati (mr) | anupajagghati → anusaṁjagghati (cck: ka.) | anupajagghati → Ph. anusañjagghati. (pts note)When an individual is asked a question, if they intimidate, crush, mock, or seize on trivial mistakes, then that individual is not competent to hold a discussion. Sace panāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo pañhaṁ puṭṭho samāno nābhiharati nābhimaddati na anupajagghati na khalitaṁ gaṇhāti, evaṁ santāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo kaccho hoti.
nābhiharati nābhimaddati → na abhiharati na abhimaddati (bj, sya-all, pts) | puggalo → (pts)When an individual is asked a question, if they don’t intimidate, crush, mock, or seize on trivial mistakes, then that individual is competent to hold a discussion.

Kathāsampayogena, bhikkhave, puggalo veditabbo yadi vā saupaniso yadi vā anupanisoti.You can know whether or not an individual has what’s required by seeing how they take part in a discussion. Anohitasoto, bhikkhave, anupaniso hoti, ohitasoto saupaniso hoti.
ohitasoto → ahitasoto (pts)If they actively listen they have what’s required; if they don’t actively listen they don’t have what’s required. So saupaniso samāno abhijānāti ekaṁ dhammaṁ, parijānāti ekaṁ dhammaṁ, pajahati ekaṁ dhammaṁ, sacchikaroti ekaṁ dhammaṁ.Someone who has what’s required directly knows one thing, completely understands one thing, gives up one thing, and realizes one thing— So abhijānanto ekaṁ dhammaṁ, parijānanto ekaṁ dhammaṁ, pajahanto ekaṁ dhammaṁ, sacchikaronto ekaṁ dhammaṁ sammāvimuttiṁ phusati.and then they experience complete freedom. Etadatthā, bhikkhave, kathā;This is the purpose of discussion, etadatthā mantanā;consultation, etadatthā upanisā;sitting close, etadatthaṁ sotāvadhānaṁ, yadidaṁ anupādā cittassa vimokkhoti.and listening well, that is, the liberation of the mind by not grasping.

Ye viruddhā sallapanti, viniviṭṭhā samussitā;
viniviṭṭhā → Ph. vinivuddhā. (pts note)Those who converse with hostility, too sure of themselves, arrogant, Anariyaguṇamāsajja, aññoññavivaresino.
anariyaguṇamāsajja aññoññavivaresino → anariyaguṇaṁ āsajja aññamaññaṁ vivaresino (pts) aññoññavivaresino → aññamañña vivaresino (bj) | aññamañña → aññoññavivaresino (bj: machasaṁ)ignoble, attacking virtues, they look for flaws in each other.

Dubbhāsitaṁ vikkhalitaṁ, sampamohaṁ parājayaṁ;
sampamohaṁ → sasammohaṁ (mr) | sampamohaṁ → sasammohaṁ (cck: ka.) | parājayaṁ → Ph. samoham sapārayaṁ. (pts note)They rejoice together when their opponent speaks poorly and makes a mistake, Aññoññassābhinandanti, tadariyo kathanācare.
aññoññassābhinandanti → aññamaññassābhinandanti (bj, pts); aññamaññābhinandanti (sya-all) | aññamaññassābhinandanti → aññoññassābhinandanti (bj: machasaṁ) tadariyo kathanācare → tadariyo na kathaṁ vade (mr) | kathanācare → tadariyo na kathaṁ vade (cck: ka.) | kathanācare → Ph. nāvedanīyo kathā care. (pts note)becoming confused and defeated— but the noble ones don’t discuss like this.

Sace cassa kathākāmo, kālamaññāya paṇḍito;If an astute person wants to hold a discussion connected with the teaching and its meaning— Dhammaṭṭhapaṭisaṁyuttā, yā ariyacaritā kathā.
ariyacaritā → ariyācaritā (bj); ariyañcaritā (si); ariyādikā (mr) | ariyācaritā → yā ariyañcaritā kathā (bj: sīmu); yā ariyacaritā kathā (bj: machasaṁ, PTS) | ariyacaritā → ariyañcaritā (cck: sī.); ariyādikā (cck: ka.) | yā → T. sā. (pts note)the kind of discussion that noble ones hold— then that attentive one should start the discussion,

Taṁ kathaṁ kathaye dhīro, aviruddho anussito;knowing when the time is right, neither hostile nor arrogant. Anunnatena manasā, apaḷāso asāhaso.
anunnatena → anupādinnena (bj); anuttiṇṇena (sya-all); anupādiṇṇena (pts) | anupādinnena → anunanatena (bj: machasaṁ) apaḷāso → apalāso (bj, pts)Not over-excited, contemptuous, or aggressive,

Anusūyāyamāno so, sammadaññāya bhāsati;
Anusūyāyamāno → anusuyyāyamāno (bj); anusuyyamāno (sya-all) | anusūyāyamāno → anusuyyāyamāno (bj); anusuyyamāno (sya-all) | anusūyāyamāno so → anusuyyamāno (pts) | anusuyyāyamāno → anusuyāyamāno (bj: machasaṁ); anusuyyamāno (bj: PTS)or with a mind full of jealousy, they’d speak from what they rightly know. Subhāsitaṁ anumodeyya, dubbhaṭṭhe nāpasādaye.
nāpasādaye → nāvasādaye (bj, pts1ed) | dubbhaṭṭhe nāpasādaye → dubbhaṭṭhenāvasādaye (bj) | nāpasādaye → nāvasādaye (pts) | nāpasādaye → nāvasādaye (cck: sī. pī.) | nāvasādaye → Tr. dabbaṭṭhenāvasādaye; D. dubbhaṭṭho nāvas-. (pts note)They agree with what was well spoken, without criticizing what was poorly said.

Upārambhaṁ na sikkheyya, khalitañca na gāhaye;
na gāhaye → na bhāsaye (mr) | gāhaye → na bhāsaye (cck: ka.)They’d not persist in finding faults, nor seize on trivial mistakes, Nābhihare nābhimadde, na vācaṁ payutaṁ bhaṇe.
bhaṇe → See Sn. III. 11, 33; IV. 14, 16. (pts note)neither intimidating nor crushing the other, nor would they speak suggestively.

Aññātatthaṁ pasādatthaṁ, sataṁ ve hoti mantanā;
aññātatthaṁ → aññānatthaṁ (sya-all); aññāṇatthaṁ (pts)Good people consult for the sake of knowledge and clarity. Evaṁ kho ariyā mantenti, esā ariyāna mantanā;That’s how the noble ones consult, this is a noble consultation. Etadaññāya medhāvī, na samusseyya mantaye”ti.
mantayeti sattamaṁ → mantaye ti (pts)Knowing this, an intelligent person would consult without arrogance.”

Sattamaṁ.