Lekhasutta

“Tayome, bhikkhave, puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ. Katame tayo? Pāsāṇalekhūpamo puggalo, pathavilekhūpamo puggalo, udakalekhūpamo puggalo. Katamo ca, bhikkhave, pāsāṇalekhūpamo puggalo? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo abhiṇhaṁ kujjhati. So ca khvassa kodho dīgharattaṁ anuseti. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, pāsāṇe lekhā na khippaṁ lujjati vātena vā udakena vā, ciraṭṭhitikā hoti; evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, idhekacco puggalo abhiṇhaṁ kujjhati. So ca khvassa kodho dīgharattaṁ anuseti. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, pāsāṇalekhūpamo puggalo.

“Mendicants, these three individuals are found in the world. What three? An individual like a line drawn in stone, an individual like a line drawn in sand, and an individual like a line drawn in water. And who is the individual like a line drawn in stone? It’s an individual who is often angry, and their anger lingers for a long time. It’s like a line drawn in stone, which isn’t quickly worn away by wind and water, but lasts for a long time. In the same way, an individual is often angry, and their anger lingers for a long time. This is called an individual like a line drawn in stone.

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, pathavilekhūpamo puggalo? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo abhiṇhaṁ kujjhati. So ca khvassa kodho na dīgharattaṁ anuseti. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, pathaviyā lekhā khippaṁ lujjati vātena vā udakena vā, na ciraṭṭhitikā hoti; evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, idhekacco puggalo abhiṇhaṁ kujjhati. So ca khvassa kodho na dīgharattaṁ anuseti. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, pathavilekhūpamo puggalo.

And who is the individual like a line drawn in sand? It’s an individual who is often angry, but their anger doesn’t linger long. It’s like a line drawn in sand, which is quickly worn away by wind and water, and doesn’t last long. In the same way, an individual is often angry, but their anger doesn’t linger long. This is called an individual like a line drawn in sand.

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, udakalekhūpamo puggalo? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo āgāḷhenapi vuccamāno pharusenapi vuccamāno amanāpenapi vuccamāno sandhiyatimeva saṁsandatimeva sammodatimeva. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, udake lekhā khippaṁyeva paṭivigacchati, na ciraṭṭhitikā hoti; evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, idhekacco puggalo āgāḷhenapi vuccamāno pharusenapi vuccamāno amanāpenapi vuccamāno sandhiyatimeva saṁsandatimeva sammodatimeva. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, udakalekhūpamo puggalo. Ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmin”ti. Dasamaṁ. Kusināravaggo tatiyo.

And who is the individual like a line drawn in water? It’s an individual who, though spoken to by someone in a rough, harsh, and disagreeable manner, still stays in touch, interacts with, and greets them. It’s like a line drawn in water, which vanishes right away, and doesn’t last long. In the same way, an individual, though spoken to by someone in a rough, harsh, and disagreeable manner, still stays in touch, interacts with, and greets them. This is called an individual like a line drawn in water. These are the three individuals found in the world.”

Kusinārabhaṇḍanā ceva, Gotamabharaṇḍuhatthako; Kaṭuviyaṁ dve anuruddhā, Paṭicchannaṁ lekhena te dasāti.