[226] "Bhikkhus, I will teach the three wild colts (assakhaḷuṅka) among horses and the three wild colts among men, the three fine horses (assasadassa) and the three fine men, the three excellent thoroughbred horses (bhaddā assājānīyā) and the three excellent thoroughbred persons. Listen to that.
"And what, bhikkhus, are the three wild colts among horses? Here, bhikkhus, one wild colt is accomplished in speed, but not accomplished in beauty and not accomplished in height and girth. Here again, bhikkhus, one wild colt is accomplished in speed and accomplished in beauty, but not accomplished in height and girth. Here again, bhikkhus, one wild colt is accomplished in speed, accomplished in beauty, and accomplished in height and girth. These, bhikkhus, are the three wild colts among horses.
"And what, bhikkhus, are the three wild colts among men? Here, bhikkhus, one wild colt among men is accomplished in speed, but not accomplished in beauty and not accomplished in height and girth. Here again, bhikkhus, one wild colt among men is accomplished in speed and accomplished in beauty, but not accomplished in height and girth. Here again, bhikkhus, one wild colt among men is accomplished in speed, accomplished in beauty, and accomplished in height and girth.
"And how, bhikkhus, is a wild colt among men accomplished in speed, but not accomplished in beauty and not 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 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.' 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 a gainer of 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 colt among men is accomplished in speed, but not accomplished in beauty and not accomplished in height and girth.
"And how, bhikkhus, is a wild colt among men 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 a gainer of 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 colt among men is accomplished in speed and accomplished in beauty, but not accomplished in height and girth.
"And how, bhikkhus, is a wild colt among men 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 a gainer of 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 colt among men is accomplished in speed, accomplished in beauty, and accomplished in height and girth. These, bhikkhus, are the three wild colts among men.
"And what, bhikkhus, are the three fine horses? Here, bhikkhus, one fine horse … is accomplished in speed, accomplished in beauty, and accomplished in height and girth. These, bhikkhus, are the three fine horses.
"And what, bhikkhus, are the three fine men? Here, bhikkhus, one fine man … is accomplished in speed, accomplished in beauty, and accomplished in height and girth.
"And how, bhikkhus, is a fine man … accomplished in speed, accomplished in beauty, and accomplished in height and girth? Here, bhikkhus, with the utter destruction of the five lower fetters (orambhāgiyāni saṃyojanāni), a bhikkhu becomes one spontaneously reborn, due to attain final Nibbāna there, not subject to returning from that world. 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 a gainer of 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 fine man is accomplished in speed, accomplished in beauty, and accomplished in height and girth. These, bhikkhus, are the three fine men.
"And what, bhikkhus, are the three excellent thoroughbred horses? Here, bhikkhus, one excellent thoroughbred horse … is accomplished in speed, accomplished in beauty, and accomplished in height and girth. These, bhikkhus, are the three excellent thoroughbred horses.
"And what, bhikkhus, are the three excellent thoroughbred persons? Here, bhikkhus, one excellent thoroughbred person … is accomplished in speed, accomplished in beauty, and accomplished in height and girth.
"And how, bhikkhus, is an excellent thoroughbred person … accomplished in speed, accomplished in beauty, and accomplished in height and girth? Here, bhikkhus, with the destruction of the taints (āsava), an excellent thoroughbred person realizes for himself with direct knowledge, in this very life, the taintless liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom, and having entered upon it, he dwells in it. 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 a gainer of robes, almsfood, lodging, and medicinal requisites for the sick. This, I say, is his height and girth. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that an excellent thoroughbred person is accomplished in speed, accomplished in beauty, and accomplished in height and girth. These, bhikkhus, are the three excellent thoroughbred persons."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.