[553] "It is wonderful, venerable sir! It is marvellous, venerable sir! For that which we were unable to complete by means of a question, venerable sir, has been completed for us by the venerable Ānanda through his answer to the question. Venerable sir, when those who are foolish and incompetent speak praise or blame of others without having investigated and without having scrutinized, we do not take that as the essence; but, venerable sir, when those who are wise, competent, astute, and intelligent speak praise or blame of others after having investigated and having scrutinized, that we do take as the essence. Now, venerable Ānanda, what kind of bodily conduct (kāyasamācāra) is censured by wise ascetics and brahmins?"
"Great king, bodily conduct that is unwholesome (akusala)."
"But, venerable sir, what kind of bodily conduct is unwholesome?"
"Great king, bodily conduct that is blameworthy (sāvajja)."
"But, venerable sir, what kind of bodily conduct is blameworthy?"
"Great king, bodily conduct that is afflictive (sabyāpajjha)."
"But, venerable sir, what kind of bodily conduct is afflictive?"
"Great king, bodily conduct that has suffering (dukkha) as its result (dukkhavipāka)."
"But, venerable sir, what kind of bodily conduct has suffering as its result?"
"Great king, whatever bodily conduct leads to the affliction of oneself, leads to the affliction of others, and leads to the affliction of both — for one of such conduct unwholesome states increase and wholesome states decline. Such bodily conduct as this, great king, is censured by wise ascetics and brahmins."
"But, venerable Ānanda, what kind of verbal conduct … mental conduct is censured by wise ascetics and brahmins?"
"Great king, mental conduct (manosamācāra) that is unwholesome."
"But, venerable sir, what kind of mental conduct is unwholesome?"
"Great king, mental conduct that is blameworthy."
"But, venerable sir, what kind of mental conduct is blameworthy?"
"Great king, mental conduct that is afflictive."
"But, venerable sir, what kind of mental conduct is afflictive?"
"Great king, mental conduct that has suffering as its result."
"But, venerable sir, what kind of mental conduct has suffering as its result?"
"Great king, whatever mental conduct leads to the affliction of oneself, leads to the affliction of others, and leads to the affliction of both — for one of such conduct unwholesome states increase and wholesome states decline. Such mental conduct as this, great king, is censured by wise ascetics and brahmins."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.