Dutiyavinayadharasobhanasutta — Vinayavagga — the eighth chapter of the Sevens
Setting
None stated in the source
Speakers
The Buddha alone, addressing the mendicants
Form
A single-paragraph bare list, word for word identical to AN 7.76 except for one verb
Length
under 1 minute to read
One word changed
Identical to AN 7.76's textual-mastery variant, with sobhati, “shines as”, replacing hoti, “is”
Difficulty
★☆☆☆☆ — identical in difficulty to its counterpart, AN 7.76
Why this discourse
AN 7.80 restates AN 7.76's textual-mastery variant — both monastic codes passed down in detail, well analyzed, well mastered, well evaluated — with “shines as” in place of “is”, the second discourse in this chapter's mirrored second set of four.
Reading guide
The teaching in one sentence
A mendicant who knows the four categories of offense, has mastered both monastic codes in detail, gets the four absorptions at will, and realizes undefiled freedom in this very life shines as an expert in the monastic law.
Identical content to AN 7.76, one verb changed
Every item here — the four opening categories, thorough mastery of both codes as the fifth item, the four absorptions, and undefiled freedom — matches AN 7.76 word for word, differing only in its governing verb.
The second of four variants, now in its second telling
Where AN 7.79 restated the ethical-restraint variant, this discourse restates the textual-mastery variant: both codes well analyzed, well mastered, well evaluated, in both rules and accompanying material — the same emphasis on comprehensive textual command as AN 7.76, now paired with “shines as” rather than “is”.
Confirming the set's systematic structure
Taken together, AN 7.75-76 and AN 7.79-80 form a clean two-by-two structure: two content variants (ethical restraint, textual mastery), each stated with both governing verbs — a pattern that continues through the remaining two variants at AN 7.77-78 and AN 7.81-82.
Key terms
sobhati — “shines as” — this discourse's governing verb, matching AN 7.79's and AN 7.81-82's.
āpatti, anāpatti, lahukā āpatti, garukā āpatti — “an offense, not an offense, a light offense, a serious offense” — the shared four opening items.
ubhayāni pātimokkhāni vitthārena svāgatāni — “both monastic codes... passed down in detail” — this discourse's fifth item, identical to AN 7.76's.
suvibhattāni, suppavattīni, suvinicchitāni — “well analyzed, well mastered, well evaluated” — the threefold description of textual command, shared with AN 7.76.
catunnaṁ jhānānaṁ... nikāmalābhī — “gets the four absorptions... when they want” — the shared sixth item.
The text
The discourse in full, a single bare list. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
Seven qualities of one who shines as an expert in the monastic law
§1“Mendicants, a mendicant with seven qualities shines as an expert in the monastic law. What seven? They know what is an offense. They know what is not an offense. They know what is a light offense. They know what is a serious offense. Both monastic codes have been passed down to them in detail, well analyzed, well mastered, well evaluated in both the rules and accompanying material. They get the four absorptions—blissful meditations in the present life that belong to the higher mind—when they want, without trouble or difficulty. They realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom in this very life, and live having realized it with their own insight due to the ending of defilements. A mendicant with these seven qualities shines as an expert in the monastic law.”
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Self-check quiz
6 questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.
Question 1 of 6
What is this discourse's fifth item?
Correct: B. The same textual-mastery variant as AN 7.76.
Question 2 of 6
What is the only difference between this discourse and AN 7.76?
Correct: B. Word-for-word identical apart from this one verb.
Question 3 of 6
According to the guide, what two-by-two structure do AN 7.75-76 and 7.79-80 together form?
Correct: B. A systematic crossing of two variants with two verbs.
Question 4 of 6
What three qualities describe the thoroughness of textual mastery in this discourse?
Correct: B. The same threefold description as AN 7.76.
Question 5 of 6
What is this discourse's relationship to the remaining two variants at AN 7.77-78 and 7.81-82?
Correct: B. A consistent pattern spanning the entire set of eight.
Question 6 of 6
What four items open this discourse, shared across the entire set of eight?
Correct: B. The shared technical foundation across all eight discourses.
