[452] 13. "Bhikkhus, these three persons are found existing in the world. What three? The one without hope (nirāsa), the hopeful one (āsaṃsa), and the one whose hope has subsided (vigatāsa).
"And what, bhikkhus, is the person without hope? Here, bhikkhus, a certain person is reborn in a low family — in a family of caṇḍālas, or a family of bamboo-workers, or a family of hunters, or a family of cartwrights, or a family of scavengers — poor, with little food and drink, subsisting with hardship, where food and clothing are obtained with difficulty. And he is ugly, unsightly, stunted, much afflicted with illness — blind, or crippled in the hand, or lame, or paralyzed — one who does not gain food, drink, clothing, vehicles, garlands, scents and unguents, or bed, lodging, and lamps. He hears: 'A khattiya of such-and-such a name, it is said, has been anointed by the khattiyas with the khattiya anointment.' It does not occur to him: 'When indeed will the khattiyas anoint me too with the khattiya anointment?' This, bhikkhus, is called the person without hope.
"And what, bhikkhus, is the hopeful person? Here, bhikkhus, the eldest son of an anointed khattiya king, not yet anointed with the anointment, one who has attained the unshakable position. He hears: 'A khattiya of such-and-such a name, it is said, has been anointed by the khattiyas with the khattiya anointment.' It occurs to him: 'When indeed will the khattiyas anoint me too with the khattiya anointment?' This, bhikkhus, is called the hopeful person.
"And what, bhikkhus, is the person whose hope has subsided? Here, bhikkhus, there is a king, an anointed khattiya. He hears: 'A khattiya of such-and-such a name, it is said, has been anointed by the khattiyas with the khattiya anointment.' It does not occur to him: 'When indeed will the khattiyas anoint me too with the khattiya anointment?' For what reason? Because, bhikkhus, the hope for anointment that he had formerly, when he was unanointed, has been allayed. This, bhikkhus, is called the person whose hope has subsided. These, bhikkhus, are the three persons found existing in the world.
"Just so, bhikkhus, these three persons are found existing among bhikkhus. What three? The one without hope, the hopeful one, and the one whose hope has subsided. And what, bhikkhus, is the person without hope? Here, bhikkhus, a certain person is immoral, of evil character, impure, of suspect behavior, of concealed deeds — no ascetic though claiming to be an ascetic, no celibate though claiming to be a celibate — inwardly rotten, oozing (with lust), of rubbish-like nature. He hears: 'A bhikkhu of such-and-such a name, it is said, through the destruction of the taints (āsava), having realized it for himself with direct knowledge, in this very life enters and dwells in the taintless liberation of mind (cetovimutti) and liberation by wisdom (paññāvimutti).' It does not occur to him: 'When indeed will I too, through the destruction of the taints, having realized it for myself with direct knowledge, in this very life enter and dwell in the taintless liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom?' This, bhikkhus, is called the person without hope.
"And what, bhikkhus, is the hopeful person? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is virtuous, of good character. He hears: 'A bhikkhu of such-and-such a name, it is said, through the destruction of the taints, having realized it for himself with direct knowledge, in this very life enters and dwells in the taintless liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom.' It occurs to him: 'When indeed will I too, through the destruction of the taints, having realized it for myself with direct knowledge, in this very life enter and dwell in the taintless liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom?' This, bhikkhus, is called the hopeful person.
"And what, bhikkhus, is the person whose hope has subsided? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is an arahant, one whose taints are destroyed. He hears: 'A bhikkhu of such-and-such a name, it is said, through the destruction of the taints, having realized it for himself with direct knowledge, in this very life enters and dwells in the taintless liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom.' It does not occur to him: 'When indeed will I too, through the destruction of the taints, having realized it for myself with direct knowledge, in this very life enter and dwell in the taintless liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom?' For what reason? Because, bhikkhus, the hope for liberation that he had formerly, when he was unliberated, has been allayed. This, bhikkhus, is called the person whose hope has subsided.
"These, bhikkhus, are the three persons found existing among bhikkhus."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.