[536] Bhikkhus, possessing three factors a king's fine thoroughbred horse (ājānīya) is worthy of a king, fit for a king's use, and is reckoned as a very factor of the king. What three? Here, bhikkhus, a king's fine thoroughbred horse is accomplished in beauty, accomplished in strength, and accomplished in speed. Possessing these three factors, bhikkhus, a king's fine thoroughbred horse is worthy of a king, fit for a king's use, and is reckoned as a very factor of the king.
So too, bhikkhus, possessing three qualities a bhikkhu is worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings, worthy of reverential salutation, an unsurpassed field of merit for the world. What three? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is accomplished in beauty, accomplished in strength, and accomplished in speed.
And how, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu accomplished in beauty? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is virtuous; he dwells restrained by the restraint of the Pātimokkha, accomplished in conduct and resort, seeing danger in the slightest faults; having undertaken the training rules, he trains in them. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu is accomplished in beauty.
And how, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu accomplished in strength? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu dwells with energy aroused for the abandoning of unwholesome qualities and for the acquisition of wholesome qualities; he is strong, firm in exertion, not shirking the responsibility with regard to wholesome qualities. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu is accomplished in strength.
And how, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu accomplished in speed? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu understands as it really is (yathābhūta), 'This is suffering (dukkha)'; he understands as it really is, 'This is the origin of suffering'; he understands as it really is, 'This is the cessation of suffering'; he understands as it really is, 'This is the way of practice leading to the cessation of suffering.' It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu is accomplished in speed.
Possessing these three qualities, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings, worthy of reverential salutation, an unsurpassed field of merit for the world.
The Second Ājānīya Sutta
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.