Dutiyavuḍḍhapabbajitasutta — Nīvaraṇavagga — the sixth 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
A single sentence naming a second set of five qualities, each marked rare, closing the chapter's own colophon
Length
~20 seconds to read
Northern parallel
This reading guide does not assert a specific matching sutra number for this variant beyond the parallel already noted at AN 5.59
Difficulty
★☆☆☆☆ — brief, closing a chapter that opened on the hindrances with a quiet, practical final note
Why this discourse
Where AN 5.59 named qualities of presentation and knowledge, this discourse turns to something different: how teachable a late ordainee still is. Easy to admonish, able to retain what is taught, and learning with the right attitude are named alongside the same two closing qualities from AN 5.59 — teaching ability and knowledge of the monastic law — closing this chapter on a note about receptivity to correction rather than accomplishment already achieved.
Reading guide
The teaching in one sentence
It is hard to find someone gone forth when old who is easy to admonish, retains what they learn, learns respectfully, can teach the Dhamma, and has memorized the monastic law.
Three new qualities, about receptivity rather than achievement
Suvaco, easy to admonish, suggahitaggāhī, retaining what is grasped, and padakkhiṇaggāhī, learning in the right way — literally, grasping it clockwise, respectfully — all concern how a person receives correction and instruction, not what they have already accomplished. Read next to AN 5.59's sophistication and presentation, this discourse names the harder, more internal half of what makes a late ordainee's training go well.
Two qualities repeated, unchanged
Dhammakathika and vinayadhara, teaching ability and knowledge of the monastic law, close both discourses identically. This is not filler repetition; these two skills genuinely matter regardless of how receptive or already accomplished the person is, and the pair of discourses agrees on that much even while differing on everything else.
Ten qualities across two discourses, closing the chapter
AN 5.59 and 5.60 together name ten distinct qualities rarely found in a late ordainee — five concerning presentation and existing knowledge, five concerning receptivity and retention, with teaching ability and Vinaya knowledge anchoring both lists. The chapter that opened on what obstructs any mendicant's wisdom closes on a specific, practical account of what a particular group of mendicants often lacks — not through fault, but through the plain arithmetic of having started later.
The chapter's own closing colophon
As at the close of every earlier chapter in this nipāta, the source appends Nīvaraṇavaggo paṭhamo — the first chapter, on hindrances, within the count that will restart with each subsequent nipāta — followed by the chapter's own untranslated uddāna verse, compressing all ten titles for memorization. The next chapter, Saññāvagga, turns to perception.
Key terms
suvaca — “easy to admonish” — the first new quality, concerning openness to correction rather than existing accomplishment.
suggahitaggāhī — “retaining what is grasped” — the second quality, memory retention specifically of instruction received.
padakkhiṇaggāhī — “learning respectfully” — literally grasping clockwise, the traditional respectful direction, the third new quality.
dhammakathika vinayadhara — “one who can teach, one who knows the monastic law” — the two qualities repeated unchanged from AN 5.59, closing both lists identically.
Nīvaraṇavaggo paṭhamo — “the first chapter, on hindrances” — this vagga's closing colophon, matching the form already explained in full at AN 5.10.
The text
The discourse in full: five qualities concerning receptivity to teaching, rarely found in someone gone forth when old. The closing colophon and Pāli mnemonic verse are part of the source but are not translated text, and are described rather than reproduced here. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
§1“Mendicants, it’s hard to find someone gone forth when old who has five qualities. What five? It’s hard to find someone gone forth when old who is easy to admonish, retains what they learn, and learns respectfully, who can teach the Dhamma, and has memorized the monastic law. It’s hard to find someone gone forth when old who possesses these five qualities.”
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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 qualities does this discourse say are rare in someone gone forth when old?
Correct: B. A second, non-redundant set of five, distinct from AN 5.59's.
Question 2 of 10
What do the three new qualities in this discourse concern, compared to AN 5.59's?
Correct: B. The harder, more internal half of what makes training go well.
Question 3 of 10
What does 'padakkhiṇaggāhī' literally mean, and what does it signify?
Correct: B. An image of respectful orientation toward what is being taught.
Question 4 of 10
What two qualities are repeated, unchanged, from AN 5.59?
Correct: B. Two skills the guide notes matter regardless of the person's receptivity or existing accomplishment.
Question 5 of 10
How many total qualities do AN 5.59 and AN 5.60 name across both discourses?
Correct: B. Eight unique qualities plus two repeated ones, anchoring both lists.
Question 6 of 10
What colophon closes this chapter?
Correct: B. Matching the structure already explained in full at AN 5.10.
Question 7 of 10
What chapter follows the Nīvaraṇavagga?
Correct: B. The next chapter in sequence, per this discourse's guide.
Question 8 of 10
Does this discourse frame the rarity of these qualities as a fault in late ordainees?
Correct: B. The same neutral framing carried over from the companion discourse.
Question 9 of 10
How does the guide describe the overall arc from this chapter's opening to its close?
Correct: B. A shift from universal obstruction to a specific, practical closing observation.
Question 10 of 10
Where is AN 5.60 set?
Correct: B. Consistent with the default setting used throughout this nipāta when nothing new is stated.
