Balasutta — Kimilavagga — the twenty-first chapter of the Fives
Setting
None stated; the discourse continues from AN 5.1, whose setting at Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove is understood to hold
Speakers
The Buddha alone, addressing the mendicants
Form
single five-item list, no elaboration
Length
under 1 minute to read
Northern parallel
not identified in this collection
Difficulty
★☆☆☆☆ — extremely brief, a bare terminological statement
Why this discourse
The bare list, without commentary: five powers — faith, conscience, prudence, energy, and wisdom — the same exact five-item set already given its full treatment at this nipāta's very first chapter, restated here in its simplest possible form.
Reading guide
The same five powers as this nipāta's opening chapter
Faith (saddhā), conscience (hiri), prudence (ottappa), energy (vīriya), and wisdom (paññā) — this is the identical five-item formula given detailed treatment at AN 5.2, near this nipāta's very beginning.
Restated at maximum brevity
Where AN 5.2 named each power's classical formula in full — the specific recollections and reflections that constitute each one — this discourse simply lists the five terms and stops, offering no elaboration at all.
A different formula from the more famous five bala
Worth noting: this isn't the more commonly cited ‘five powers’ formula found elsewhere in the early texts (faith, energy, mindfulness, immersion, wisdom); this nipāta's variant substitutes conscience and prudence for mindfulness and immersion — a genuine difference worth noting rather than assuming this is simply the standard list under a different name.
Why a bare restatement, this late in the collection
Appearing here, well past this nipāta's opening treatment, this discourse's brevity functions almost as a checkpoint — a reminder of foundational terminology, trusting the reader to recall the fuller explanation already given rather than repeating it.
What follows
AN 5.205 turns from these five powers, which strengthen practice, to their opposite concern: five specific obstacles that prevent the mind from inclining toward effort at all.
Key terms
saddhābalaṁ — “the power of faith” — the first of the five powers, given its full formula at AN 5.2.
hiribalaṁ, ottappabalaṁ — “the power of conscience” and “the power of prudence” — the two powers distinguishing this nipāta's variant from the more commonly cited five-power formula.
vīriyabalaṁ — “the power of energy” — the fourth power in this list.
paññābalaṁ — “the power of wisdom” — the fifth and final power.
bala — “power, strength” — this discourse's title concept, applied to all five qualities named.
The text
The discourse in full: the five powers, stated without elaboration. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
Five powers
§1“Mendicants, there are these five powers. What five? Faith, conscience, prudence, energy, and wisdom. These are the five powers.”
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Self-check quiz
Ten questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.
Question 1 of 10
What five powers does this discourse name?
Correct: A. The identical formula already given full treatment at AN 5.2.
Question 2 of 10
Where else in this nipāta does this exact same five-item formula appear in full?
Correct: A. A detailed treatment already given far earlier.
Question 3 of 10
How does this discourse's treatment differ from AN 5.2's?
Correct: A. Maximum brevity, trusting the reader to recall the fuller explanation.
Question 4 of 10
How does this nipāta's five-power formula differ from the more commonly cited version elsewhere in the early texts?
Correct: A. A genuine variant, not simply the standard list under a different name.
Question 5 of 10
What does 'hiribalaṁ' mean?
Correct: A. One of the two powers distinguishing this nipāta's variant formula.
Question 6 of 10
What function does this discourse's brevity serve, appearing this late in the collection?
Correct: A. Trusting the reader to recall the fuller explanation from AN 5.2.
Question 7 of 10
What does 'ottappabalaṁ' mean?
Correct: A. The third power named in this list.
Question 8 of 10
What does 'vīriyabalaṁ' mean?
Correct: A. The fourth power in this five-item list.
Question 9 of 10
What discourse follows, turning to obstacles that prevent effort?
Correct: A. Five specific obstacles preventing the mind from inclining toward effort.
Question 10 of 10
What chapter does this discourse belong to?
Correct: A. 'With Kimbila', this session's twenty-first chapter.
