Puṇṇapāti — Book of the Ones · Chapter Six (Āsīsavagga) · Poem 3 of 10
Setting
A drinking gathering, rogues among the guests
Speaker
The rich man targeted by the rogues
Form
One four-line stanza, opening a new matched pair with Ja 54
Length
Under 1 minute to read
Northern parallel
This reading guide does not assert a specific matching text for this poem in other Buddhist literatures.
Difficulty
★☆☆☆☆ — one short verse of quiet, careful deduction
Why this text
This poem opens a new matched pair with Ja 54, both sharing an identical deductive refrain — ‘for this reason I know’ — each illustrating a different case of danger detected through simple, careful observation rather than any special insight.
Reading guide
A plot detected by watching what others don't drink
The verse gives the rich man's own quiet observation: ‘the cups stay just as full, while the ignorant talk goes on. For this reason I know this is not an excellent beer.’ Per Sujato's comment, rogues attempt to spike a rich man's drink with a drug so they can rob him — but he notices they do not touch their own drinks, and deduces the danger from that alone.
The first of a new refrain pair
This poem's closing structure — ‘for this reason I know... this is not...’ — recurs exactly at the next poem, Ja 54, applied to a completely different situation and danger, continuing this chapter's pattern of matched pairs.
Key terms
tatheva puṇṇā pātiyo — “the cups stay just as full” — the observed detail that gives away the plot.
ākāraṇena jānāmi — “for this reason I know” — the deductive refrain shared word for word with the next poem, Ja 54.
bhaddikā surā — “excellent beer” — what the drink is not, once the rich man's deduction is complete.
Puṇṇapātijātaka — the traditional title of this tale, ‘The Full Cups’.
bhesajja — “drug” — per Sujato's comment, what the rogues attempt to spike the rich man's drink with.
The text
The text in full: a single verse, opening a new matched pair with Ja 54. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
§1The cups stay just as full, while the ignorant talk goes on. For this reason I know this is not an excellent beer.
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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 do the rogues attempt, per Sujato's comment?
Correct: A. A plan the rich man detects before it can succeed.
Question 2 of 10
What specific detail gives the plot away?
Correct: B. A simple, careful observation rather than any special insight.
Question 3 of 10
What refrain does this poem share with Ja 54?
Correct: C. Continuing this chapter's pattern of matched pairs.
Question 4 of 10
What does the rich man conclude about the drink?
Correct: D. A polite understatement for having detected the plot.
Question 5 of 10
What quality does this poem's deduction rely on?
Correct: A. Noticing what the rogues themselves avoid doing.
Question 6 of 10
What is this poem's traditional title?
Correct: B. The fifty-third poem overall, and the third of the Āsīsavagga.
Question 7 of 10
What setting does this poem's story take place in?
Correct: C. Among guests that include the plotting rogues.
Question 8 of 10
Where does this poem sit in the collection's own chapter structure?
Correct: D. Part of the same ten-poem Āsīsavagga.
Question 9 of 10
What general theme connects this poem to Ja 54?
Correct: A. Both poems are variations on the same deductive refrain.
Question 10 of 10
What was the rich man's advantage over the rogues in this encounter?
Correct: B. The entire poem turns on this single act of careful noticing.
