[139] Bhikkhus, possessing five factors, a king's bull elephant is not worthy of a king, is not fit for a king's use, and is not reckoned as a limb of kingship. Which five? Here, bhikkhus, a king's bull elephant cannot endure forms, cannot endure sounds, cannot endure odours, cannot endure tastes, and cannot endure tangibles.
And how, bhikkhus, is a king's bull elephant one who cannot endure forms? Here, bhikkhus, a king's bull elephant, having gone into battle, on seeing a division of elephants, or a division of cavalry, or a division of chariots, or a division of infantry, sinks down, founders, does not brace himself, and is unable to enter the battle. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a king's bull elephant cannot endure forms. And how, bhikkhus, is a king's bull elephant one who cannot endure sounds? Here, bhikkhus, a king's bull elephant, having gone into battle, on hearing the sound of elephants, or the sound of cavalry, or the sound of chariots, or the sound of infantry, or the resounding din of drums, tabours, conches, and tom-toms, sinks down, founders, does not brace himself, and is unable to enter the battle. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a king's bull elephant cannot endure sounds. And how, bhikkhus, is a king's bull elephant one who cannot endure odours? Here, bhikkhus, a king's bull elephant, having gone into battle, on smelling the odour of the urine and dung of those royal bull elephants of high breed, seasoned in battle, sinks down, founders, does not brace himself, and is unable to enter the battle. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a king's bull elephant cannot endure odours. And how, bhikkhus, is a king's bull elephant one who cannot endure tastes? Here, bhikkhus, a king's bull elephant, having gone into battle, being deprived of a single ration of grass and water, or being deprived of two, or three, or four, or five rations of grass and water, sinks down, founders, does not brace himself, and is unable to enter the battle. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a king's bull elephant cannot endure tastes. And how, bhikkhus, is a king's bull elephant one who cannot endure tangibles? Here, bhikkhus, a king's bull elephant, having gone into battle, pierced by one swift-flying arrow, or pierced by two, or three, or four, or five swift-flying arrows, sinks down, founders, does not brace himself, and is unable to enter the battle. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a king's bull elephant cannot endure tangibles. Possessing these five factors, bhikkhus, a king's bull elephant is not worthy of a king, is not fit for a king's use, and is not reckoned as a limb of kingship.
Just so, bhikkhus, possessing five qualities a bhikkhu is not worthy of gifts, not worthy of hospitality, not worthy of offerings, not worthy of reverential salutation, not an unsurpassed field of merit for the world. Which five? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu cannot endure forms, cannot endure sounds, cannot endure odours, cannot endure tastes, and cannot endure tangibles.
And how, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu one who cannot endure forms? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu, having seen a form with the eye, becomes enamoured of an enticing form and is unable to concentrate the mind (citta). It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu cannot endure forms. And how, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu one who cannot endure sounds? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu, having heard a sound with the ear, becomes enamoured of an enticing sound and is unable to concentrate the mind. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu cannot endure sounds. And how, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu one who cannot endure odours? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu, having smelt an odour with the nose, becomes enamoured of an enticing odour and is unable to concentrate the mind. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu cannot endure odours. And how, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu one who cannot endure tastes? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu, having tasted a taste with the tongue, becomes enamoured of an enticing taste and is unable to concentrate the mind. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu cannot endure tastes. And how, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu one who cannot endure tangibles? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu, having touched a tangible with the body, becomes enamoured of an enticing tangible and is unable to concentrate the mind. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu cannot endure tangibles. Possessing these five qualities, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is not worthy of gifts, not worthy of hospitality, not worthy of offerings, not worthy of reverential salutation, not an unsurpassed field of merit for the world.
Bhikkhus, possessing five factors, a king's bull elephant is worthy of a king, is fit for a king's use, and is reckoned as a limb of kingship. Which five? Here, bhikkhus, a king's bull elephant can endure forms, can endure sounds, can endure odours, can endure tastes, and can endure tangibles.
And how, bhikkhus, is a king's bull elephant one who can endure forms? Here, bhikkhus, a king's bull elephant, having gone into battle, on seeing a division of elephants, or a division of cavalry, or a division of chariots, or a division of infantry, does not sink down, does not founder, braces himself, and is able to enter the battle. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a king's bull elephant can endure forms. And how, bhikkhus, is a king's bull elephant one who can endure sounds? Here, bhikkhus, a king's bull elephant, having gone into battle, on hearing the sound of elephants, or the sound of cavalry, or the sound of chariots, or the sound of infantry, or the resounding din of drums, tabours, conches, and tom-toms, does not sink down, does not founder, braces himself, and is able to enter the battle. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a king's bull elephant can endure sounds. And how, bhikkhus, is a king's bull elephant one who can endure odours? Here, bhikkhus, a king's bull elephant, having gone into battle, on smelling the odour of the urine and dung of those royal bull elephants of high breed, seasoned in battle, does not sink down, does not founder, braces himself, and is able to enter the battle. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a king's bull elephant can endure odours. And how, bhikkhus, is a king's bull elephant one who can endure tastes? Here, bhikkhus, a king's bull elephant, having gone into battle, being deprived of a single ration of grass and water, or being deprived of two, or three, or four, or five rations of grass and water, does not sink down, does not founder, braces himself, and is able to enter the battle. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a king's bull elephant can endure tastes. And how, bhikkhus, is a king's bull elephant one who can endure tangibles? Here, bhikkhus, a king's bull elephant, having gone into battle, pierced by one swift-flying arrow, or pierced by two, or three, or four, or five swift-flying arrows, does not sink down, does not founder, braces himself, and is able to enter the battle. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a king's bull elephant can endure tangibles. Possessing these five factors, bhikkhus, a king's bull elephant is worthy of a king, is fit for a king's use, and is reckoned as a limb of kingship.
Just so, bhikkhus, possessing five 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. Which five? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu can endure forms, can endure sounds, can endure odours, can endure tastes, and can endure tangibles.
And how, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu one who can endure forms? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu, having seen a form with the eye, does not become enamoured of an enticing form and is able to concentrate the mind. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu can endure forms. And how, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu one who can endure sounds? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu, having heard a sound with the ear, does not become enamoured of an enticing sound and is able to concentrate the mind. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu can endure sounds. And how, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu one who can endure odours? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu, having smelt an odour with the nose, does not become enamoured of an enticing odour and is able to concentrate the mind. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu can endure odours. And how, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu one who can endure tastes? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu, having tasted a taste with the tongue, does not become enamoured of an enticing taste and is able to concentrate the mind. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu can endure tastes. And how, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu one who can endure tangibles? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu, having touched a tangible with the body, does not become enamoured of an enticing tangible and is able to concentrate the mind. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu can endure tangibles. Possessing these five 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.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.