1On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Āḷavī at the Aggāḷava Shrine. There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus ….

"Bhikkhus, you should remember Hatthaka of Āḷavī as one who possesses seven astounding and amazing qualities. What seven? (1) Hatthaka of Āḷavī is endowed with faith. (2) He is virtuous, and (3) has a sense of moral shame and (4) moral dread. (5) He is learned, (6) generous, and (7) wise. You should remember Hatthaka of Āḷavī as one who possesses these seven astounding and amazing qualities." This is what the Blessed One said. Having said this, the Fortunate One rose from his seat and entered his dwelling.

2Then, in the morning, a certain bhikkhu dressed, took his bowl and robe, and went to the residence of Hatthaka of Āḷavī. When he arrived, he sat down on the seat that was prepared for him. Then Hatthaka of Āḷavī approached the bhikkhu, paid homage to him, and sat down to one side. The bhikkhu then said to him:

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3"Friend, [n.1681] While Hatthaka is said to be dwelling in a residence (nivesana), unlike the preceding two lay followers, he is not addressed here as "householder" (gahapati) but as "friend" (āvuso). Whether this is intentional or a transmission error is impossible to determine. At AN6.123, however, Hatthaka is referred to as a householder (gahapati) whereas some of the other lay disciples in this vagga are called lay followers (upāsaka). the Blessed One declared that you possess seven astounding and amazing qualities. What seven? ‘Bhikkhus, Hatthaka of Āḷavī is endowed with faith. He is virtuous and has a sense of moral shame and moral dread. He is learned, generous, and wise.’ The Blessed One declared that you possess these seven astounding and amazing qualities."

"I hope, Bhante, that no white-robed layman was present?"

"No, friend. No white-robed layman was present."

"That's good, Bhante."

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4-6Then that bhikkhu, having received almsfood at the residence of Hatthaka of Āḷavī, rose from his seat and departed. After his meal, on returning from his alms round, he approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him, sat down to one side, (and reported to him all that had happened). [n.1682] The text repeats everything from the bhikkhu's going to Hatthaka's house up to the end of their conversation.

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7(The Blessed One said:) "Good, good, bhikkhu! That clansman has few desires, since he does not want his inner wholesome qualities to be known by others. Therefore, bhikkhu, you should remember Hatthaka of Āḷavī as one who possesses this eighth astounding and amazing quality, that is, (8) fewness of desires."

1Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā āḷaviyaṁ viharati aggāḷave cetiye. Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: "

Sattahi, bhikkhave, acchariyehi abbhutehi dhammehi samannāgataṁ hatthakaṁ āḷavakaṁ dhāretha. Katamehi sattahi? Saddho hi, bhikkhave, hatthako āḷavako; sīlavā, bhikkhave, hatthako āḷavako; hirīmā, bhikkhave, hatthako āḷavako; ottappī, bhikkhave, hatthako āḷavako; bahussuto, bhikkhave, hatthako āḷavako; cāgavā, bhikkhave, hatthako āḷavako; paññavā, bhikkhave, hatthako āḷavako – imehi kho, bhikkhave, sattahi acchariyehi abbhutehi dhammehi samannāgataṁ hatthakaṁ āḷavakaṁ dhārethā"ti. Idamavoca bhagavā. Idaṁ vatvāna sugato uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ pāvisi.

2Atha kho aññataro bhikkhu pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena hatthakassa āḷavakassa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. Atha kho hatthako āḷavako yena so bhikkhu tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ bhikkhuṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho hatthakaṁ āḷavakaṁ so bhikkhu etadavoca:

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3"Sattahi kho tvaṁ, āvuso, acchariyehi abbhutehi dhammehi samannāgato bhagavatā byākato. Katamehi sattahi? ‘Saddho, bhikkhave, hatthako āḷavako; sīlavā … pe … hirīmā … ottappī … bahussuto … cāgavā … paññavā, bhikkhave, hatthako āḷavako’ti. Imehi kho tvaṁ, āvuso, sattahi acchariyehi abbhutehi dhammehi samannāgato bhagavatā byākato"ti. "Kaccittha, bhante, na koci gihī ahosi odātavasano"ti? "Na hettha, āvuso, koci gihī ahosi odātavasano"ti. "Sādhu, bhante, yadettha na koci gihī ahosi odātavasano"ti.

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4Atha kho so bhikkhu hatthakassa āḷavakassa nivesane piṇḍapātaṁ gahetvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkāmi. Atha kho so bhikkhu pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

5"Idhāhaṁ, bhante, pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena hatthakassa āḷavakassa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkamiṁ; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdiṁ. Atha kho, bhante, hatthako āḷavako yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā maṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhante, hatthakaṁ āḷavakaṁ etadavacaṁ: ‘sattahi kho tvaṁ, āvuso, acchariyehi abbhutehi dhammehi samannāgato bhagavatā byākato. Katamehi sattahi? Saddho, bhikkhave, hatthako āḷavako; sīlavā … pe … hirīmā … ottappī … bahussuto … cāgavā … paññavā, bhikkhave, hatthako āḷavakoti. Imehi kho tvaṁ, āvuso, sattahi acchariyehi abbhutehi dhammehi samannāgato bhagavatā byākato’ti.

6Evaṁ vutte, bhante, hatthako maṁ etadavoca: ‘kaccittha, bhante, na koci gihī ahosi odātavasano’ti? ‘Na hettha, āvuso, koci gihī ahosi odātavasano’ti. ‘Sādhu, bhante, yadettha na koci gihī ahosi odātavasano’"ti.

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7"Sādhu sādhu, bhikkhu. Appiccho so, bhikkhu, kulaputto. Santeyeva attani kusaladhamme na icchati parehi ñāyamāne. Tena hi tvaṁ, bhikkhu, imināpi aṭṭhamena acchariyena abbhutena dhammena samannāgataṁ hatthakaṁ āḷavakaṁ dhārehi, yadidaṁ appicchatāyā"ti.

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Tatiyaṁ.