[147] **"I ask you, Blessed One; tell me that."** *"I ask"* — there are three kinds of question: a question to illuminate what has not been seen (adiṭṭhajotanā pucchā), a question to compare with what has been seen (diṭṭhasaṃsandanā pucchā), and a question to cut off perplexity (vimaticchedanā pucchā).
Which is the question to illuminate what has not been seen? By nature a characteristic is unknown, unseen, unweighed, unjudged, unclarified, not made evident; one asks a question for the sake of knowing it, seeing it, weighing it, judging it, clarifying it, and making it evident. This is the question to illuminate what has not been seen.
Which is the question to compare with what has been seen? By nature a characteristic is known, seen, weighed, judged, clarified, made evident; one asks a question for the sake of comparing it with other wise persons. This is the question to compare with what has been seen.
Which is the question to cut off perplexity? By nature one has fallen into uncertainty, fallen into perplexity, become of two minds: "Is it so, or is it not so? What is it? How is it?" He asks a question for the sake of cutting off perplexity. This is the question to cut off perplexity. These are the three kinds of question.
There are also three further questions: the question of humans, the question of non-humans, and the question of a created form.
Which is the question of humans? Humans approach the Buddha, the Blessed One, and ask a question: bhikkhus ask, bhikkhunīs ask, laymen ask, laywomen ask, kings ask, khattiyas ask, brahmins ask, vessas ask, suddas ask, householders ask, those gone forth ask. This is the question of humans.
Which is the question of non-humans? Non-humans approach the Buddha, the Blessed One, and ask a question: nāgas ask, supaṇṇas ask, yakkhas ask, asuras ask, gandhabbas ask, the Great Kings ask, Indas ask, Brahmās ask, deities ask. This is the question of non-humans.
Which is the question of a created form? The Blessed One creates a form, mind-made, complete in all its limbs and parts, with no faculty lacking. That created one approaches the Buddha, the Blessed One, and asks a question, and the Blessed One answers it. This is the question of a created form. These are the three kinds of question.
There are also three further questions: a question about one's own good, a question about the good of others, a question about the good of both.
There are also three further questions: a question about the good pertaining to this present life, a question about the good pertaining to the life to come, a question about the highest good.
There are also three further questions: a question about the blameless good, a question about the good free from defilement, a question about the good of purification.
There are also three further questions: a question about the past, a question about the future, a question about the present.
There are also three further questions: a question about what is internal, a question about what is external, a question about what is internal and external.
There are also three further questions: a question about the wholesome, a question about the unwholesome, a question about the indeterminate.
There are also three further questions: a question about the aggregates (khandha), a question about the elements (dhātu), a question about the sense bases (āyatana).
There are also three further questions: a question about the establishments of mindfulness (satipaṭṭhāna), a question about the right strivings, a question about the bases of spiritual power.
There are also three further questions: a question about the faculties, a question about the powers, a question about the factors of awakening (bojjhaṅga).
There are also three further questions: a question about the path (magga), a question about the fruit, a question about Nibbāna.
*"I ask you"*: I ask you, I beg you, I request you, I entreat your favour: "Declare it to me" — thus, "I ask you." *"Blessed One (Bhagavā)"*: this is a term of reverence … a designation arising from realization, namely "Bhagavā." *"Tell me that"*: tell, point out, teach, make known, establish, disclose, analyze, make plain, proclaim it. Therefore: "I ask you, Blessed One; tell me that." *"Thus the venerable Mettagū"*: "icca (thus)" is a connective of words … thus, "the venerable Mettagū."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.