[468] 29. Bhikkhus, these three persons are found existing in the world. What three? The blind one, the one-eyed one, and the two-eyed one.
And what, bhikkhus, is the blind person? Here, bhikkhus, a certain person has no eye of such a kind that by such an eye he might acquire wealth not yet acquired, or make wealth already acquired increase; nor has he an eye of such a kind that by such an eye he might know wholesome and unwholesome (kusala–akusala) qualities, know blameworthy and blameless qualities, know inferior and superior qualities, know dark and bright qualities together with their counterparts. This, bhikkhus, is called the blind person.
And what, bhikkhus, is the one-eyed person? Here, bhikkhus, a certain person has an eye of such a kind that by such an eye he might acquire wealth not yet acquired, or make wealth already acquired increase; but he has no eye of such a kind that by such an eye he might know wholesome and unwholesome qualities, know blameworthy and blameless qualities, know inferior and superior qualities, know dark and bright qualities together with their counterparts. This, bhikkhus, is called the one-eyed person.
And what, bhikkhus, is the two-eyed person? Here, bhikkhus, a certain person has an eye of such a kind that by such an eye he might acquire wealth not yet acquired, or make wealth already acquired increase; and he has an eye of such a kind that by such an eye he might know wholesome and unwholesome qualities, know blameworthy and blameless qualities, know inferior and superior qualities, know dark and bright qualities together with their counterparts. This, bhikkhus, is called the two-eyed person.
These, bhikkhus, are the three persons found existing in the world.
Neither does wealth of such a kind come to him,
nor does he make merit (puñña):
in both respects the losing throw falls
to the blind one whose eye is destroyed.
And next is declared the one-eyed person:
mingled with the righteous and the unrighteous,
he seeks wealth
by theft, by fraudulent deeds,
and by false speech — by both;
skilled at amassing wealth,
a young man who enjoys sensual pleasures,
having gone from here to hell (niraya),
the one-eyed one is afflicted.
But the two-eyed is declared
the best kind of person:
out of wealth righteously gained,
riches won by his own exertion,
he gives — a man of the best intentions,
with an undistracted mind —
he goes to a fortunate state,
where, having gone, he does not sorrow.
The blind one and the one-eyed one
a person should avoid from afar;
but the two-eyed one he should associate with,
the best kind of person.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.