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← Aṅguttara Nikāya

The Chapter on One Individual

AN 1.170-187 · 13. Ekapuggalavagga

Green and golden leaves above a flowing woodland stream.
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170

“One individual, mendicants, arises in the world for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of sympathy for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans. What one individual? The Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha. This is the one individual, mendicants, who arises in the world for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of sympathy for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.”

171

“The appearance of one individual, mendicants, is rare in the world. What one individual? The Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha. This is the one individual, mendicants, whose appearance is rare in the world.”

172

“One individual, mendicants, arises in the world who is an incredible human being. What one individual? The Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha. This is the one individual, mendicants, who arises in the world who is an incredible human being.”

173

“The death of one individual, mendicants, is regretted by many people. What one individual? The Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha. This is the one individual, mendicants, whose death is regretted by many people.”

174

“One individual, mendicants, arises in the world unique, without peer or rival, incomparable, matchless, unrivaled, unequaled, without equal, the best of men. What one individual? The Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha. This is the one individual, mendicants, who arises in the world unique, without peer or rival, incomparable, matchless, unrivaled, unequaled, without equal, the best of men.”

175–186

“With the appearance of one individual, mendicants, there is the appearance of a great eye, a great light, a great radiance, and the six unsurpassable things; the realization of the four kinds of textual analysis; the penetration of many and diverse elements; the realization of the fruit of knowledge and freedom; the realization of the fruits of stream-entry, once-return, non-return, and perfection. What one individual? The Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha. This is the one individual whose appearance brings the appearance of a great eye, a great light, a great radiance, and the six unsurpassable things; the realization of the four kinds of textual analysis; the penetration of many and diverse elements; the realization of the fruit of knowledge and freedom; the realization of the fruits of stream-entry, once-return, non-return, and perfection.”

187

“Mendicants, I do not see a single other individual who rightly keeps rolling the supreme Wheel of Dhamma that was rolled forth by the Realized One like Sāriputta. Sāriputta rightly keeps rolling the supreme Wheel of Dhamma that was rolled forth by the Realized One.”

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About this edition

Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato · SuttaCentral · CC0

This translation is an expression of an ancient spiritual text that has been passed down by the Buddhist tradition for the benefit of all sentient beings. It is dedicated to the public domain via Creative Commons Zero (CC0). You are encouraged to copy, reproduce, adapt, alter, or otherwise make use of this translation. The translator respectfully requests that any use be in accordance with the values and principles of the Buddhist community. In particular, please do not use this work in AI training datasets, for the development of any AI model or algorithm, or in any AI-derived technologies.

Published source. Translation wording and order are preserved; source headings and notes are retained, with navigation and formatting adapted for this reader. This source combines a range of related numbered discourses.

The opening image is AI-generated nature artwork for Buddhist Atlas, an evocative companion rather than a historical depiction.