[773] **"Nor should one despise another for one's way of living, for wisdom, for virtue and observances (sīlabbata)"**: the word *atha* is a verbal connective … this word *atha* marks the sequence of the words.
Here someone, living a coarse life, despises another who lives a refined life: "Why does this one live in abundance? He devours everything — namely, what is propagated from roots, propagated from stems, propagated from joints, propagated from cuttings, and what is propagated from seeds as the fifth — his exertion equal only to a thunderbolt-disc and the hammer of his teeth, he has not crossed over." By that coarse way of living he despises the other who lives a refined life.
Here someone, living a refined life, despises another who lives a coarse life: "Why is this one of little merit, of little influence, one who does not gain robes, almsfood, lodging, and medicinal requisites for the sick?" By that refined way of living he despises the other who lives a coarse life.
Here someone is accomplished in wisdom; when asked a question, he answers it. It occurs to him thus: "I am accomplished in wisdom, but these others are not accomplished in wisdom." By that accomplishment of wisdom he despises another.
Here someone is accomplished in virtue: he dwells restrained by the restraint of the Pāṭimokkha, accomplished in conduct and resort, seeing danger in the slightest faults; he trains, having undertaken the training rules. It occurs to him thus: "I am accomplished in virtue, but these other bhikkhus are of bad virtue, of evil character." By that accomplishment of virtue he despises another.
Here someone is accomplished in observances (vatta): he is a forest-dweller, or an almsfood-eater, or a wearer of rag-robes, or a user of the triple robe only, or one who walks for alms from house to house without omission, or one who refuses food offered afterwards, or one who keeps to the sitting posture, or one who accepts whatever lodging is allotted. It occurs to him thus: "I am accomplished in observances, but these others are not accomplished in observances." By that accomplishment of observances he despises another.
**"Nor should one despise another for one's way of living, for wisdom, for virtue and observances"** means: one should not despise, should not disparage another on account of a coarse way of living, or a refined way of living, or accomplishment of wisdom, or accomplishment of virtue, or accomplishment of observances; one should not generate conceit (māna) thereby; one should not thereby be stiff, rigid, holding one's head high. Hence: "Nor should one despise another for one's way of living, for wisdom, for virtue and observances." Therefore the Blessed One said:
One should not be drawn into false speech;
clearly comprehending, one should not commit deceits;
nor should one despise another for one's way of living,
for wisdom, for virtue and observances.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.