[580] "Bhikkhus, I will teach you the three kinds of wild colts (assakhaḷuṅka) and the three kinds of wild men (purisakhaḷuṅka). Listen to it and attend carefully; I will speak." "Yes, venerable sir," those bhikkhus replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this:
"And what, bhikkhus, are the three kinds of wild colts? Here, bhikkhus, one kind of wild colt is accomplished in speed (java), but not accomplished in beauty (vaṇṇa), nor accomplished in height and girth (āroha-pariṇāha). Here again, bhikkhus, one kind of wild colt is accomplished in speed and accomplished in beauty, but not accomplished in height and girth. Here again, bhikkhus, one kind of wild colt is accomplished in speed, accomplished in beauty, and accomplished in height and girth. These, bhikkhus, are the three kinds of wild colts.
"And what, bhikkhus, are the three kinds of wild men? Here, bhikkhus, one kind of wild man is accomplished in speed, but not accomplished in beauty, nor accomplished in height and girth. Here again, bhikkhus, one kind of wild man is accomplished in speed and accomplished in beauty, but not accomplished in height and girth. Here again, bhikkhus, one kind of wild man is accomplished in speed, accomplished in beauty, and accomplished in height and girth.
"And how, bhikkhus, is a wild man accomplished in speed, but not accomplished in beauty, nor accomplished in height and girth? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu understands as it really is: 'This is suffering (dukkha)' … he understands as it really is: 'This is the way of practice leading to the cessation of suffering.' This, I say, is his speed. But when asked a question on the higher Dhamma (abhidhamma) or the higher Discipline (abhivinaya), he falters and does not answer. This, I say, is his lack of beauty. And he is not one who gains robes, almsfood, lodging, and medicinal requisites for the sick. This, I say, is his lack of height and girth. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a wild man is accomplished in speed, but not accomplished in beauty, nor accomplished in height and girth.
"And how, bhikkhus, is a wild man accomplished in speed and accomplished in beauty, but not accomplished in height and girth? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu understands as it really is: 'This is suffering' … he understands as it really is: 'This is the way of practice leading to the cessation of suffering.' This, I say, is his speed. And when asked a question on the higher Dhamma or the higher Discipline, he answers and does not falter. This, I say, is his beauty. But he is not one who gains robes, almsfood, lodging, and medicinal requisites for the sick. This, I say, is his lack of height and girth. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a wild man is accomplished in speed and accomplished in beauty, but not accomplished in height and girth.
"And how, bhikkhus, is a wild man accomplished in speed, accomplished in beauty, and accomplished in height and girth? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu understands as it really is: 'This is suffering' … he understands as it really is: 'This is the way of practice leading to the cessation of suffering.' This, I say, is his speed. And when asked a question on the higher Dhamma or the higher Discipline, he answers and does not falter. This, I say, is his beauty. And he is one who gains robes, almsfood, lodging, and medicinal requisites for the sick. This, I say, is his height and girth. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a wild man is accomplished in speed, accomplished in beauty, and accomplished in height and girth. These, bhikkhus, are the three kinds of wild men."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.