Vītarāgasutta — Theravagga — the ninth 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
two paired five-item lists, matching AN 5.81's structure
Length
~1 minute to read
Northern parallel
not identified in this collection
Difficulty
★☆☆☆☆ — short, built on familiar vocabulary
Why this discourse
AN 5.81's structure restated with the collection's most familiar trio — greed, hatred, and delusion (rāga, dosa, moha), the three root defilements — paired with two more specifically interpersonal faults: being offensive and being contemptuous.
Reading guide
The three roots, plus two
Unlike AN 5.81's five parallel gerundive terms, this discourse pairs the classic three unwholesome roots with two additional, more specifically social faults, for a differently shaped five-item list.
Makkhī and paḷāsī, defined
Makkhī names denigrating or discounting others' good qualities or the help one has received from them. Paḷāsī names contemptuous rivalry — competitive one-upmanship, refusing to be outdone. Both are social vices, distinct in kind from the three purely internal roots.
Why pair internal roots with interpersonal faults
The pairing implies something the discourse doesn't state outright: freedom from the three roots alone isn't sufficient for being well-regarded by companions. The two added interpersonal qualities matter specifically for community standing, beyond internal purification alone.
The mirrored positive
Vītarāga, vītadosa, vītamoha — free of greed, hatred, and delusion — paired with amakkhī and apaḷāsī, not denigrating and not rivalrous.
A structural echo
Same skeleton as AN 5.81, different content: two paired lists, both closing with the identical verdict formula naming a senior mendicant as liked or disliked by companions.
What comes next
AN 5.83 turns to a wholly different cluster of five: manipulative pursuit of material support.
Key terms
rāga / dosa / moha — greed, hatred, and delusion — the three classic unwholesome roots, named together here.
makkhī — “denigrating” — discounting others' good qualities or the help one has received from them.
paḷāsī — “contemptuous rivalry” — competitive one-upmanship, refusing to be outdone.
vītarāga — “free of greed” — the positive counterpart naming the same root, now absent.
amakkhī / apaḷāsī — “not denigrating” / “not rivalrous” — the interpersonal counterpart in the second list.
The text
The discourse in full: the three roots plus two interpersonal faults, then their five negated counterparts. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
Unlikable
§1“Mendicants, a senior mendicant with five qualities is unlikable and disagreeable to their spiritual companions, not respected or admired. What five? They’re not free of greed, hate, and delusion; they are offensive and contemptuous. A senior mendicant with these five qualities is unlikable and disagreeable to their spiritual companions, not respected or admired.
Dear and beloved
§2A senior mendicant with five qualities is dear and beloved to their spiritual companions, respected and admired. What five? They’re free of greed, hate, and delusion; they’re not offensive and contemptuous. A senior mendicant with these five qualities is dear and beloved to their spiritual companions, respected and admired.”
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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 three classic unwholesome roots are named in this discourse?
Correct: B. Rāga, dosa, moha — the three root defilements.
Question 2 of 10
What does 'makkhī' name?
Correct: B. A social, interpersonal fault distinct from the three roots.
Question 3 of 10
What does 'paḷāsī' name?
Correct: B. Competitive one-upmanship.
Question 4 of 10
How many total qualities make up this discourse's list?
Correct: B. A differently shaped five-item list than AN 5.81's.
Question 5 of 10
What does pairing the three roots with two interpersonal faults suggest?
Correct: B. Social standing depends on more than the three roots alone.
Question 6 of 10
What is the positive counterpart to rāga, named in the second list?
Correct: B. Free of greed.
Question 7 of 10
What is the positive counterpart to makkhī?
Correct: B. Not denigrating.
Question 8 of 10
Does this discourse's paired-list structure echo AN 5.81's?
Correct: B. Same skeleton, different content — the second such discourse in a row.
Question 9 of 10
What common closing formula does this discourse share with AN 5.81?
Correct: B. Both discourses close identically.
Question 10 of 10
What does this discourse's title, 'Vītarāgasutta', mean?
Correct: B. Naming the discourse for its central positive quality.
