Puṇṇa — The Book of the Ones · Chapter One · Poem 4 of 10
Setting
No narrative setting; a short verse of general advice, with a closing attribution
Speaker
Puṇṇa, giving advice in the imperative rather than describing himself
Form
One six-line verse, with a closing attribution note
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
★☆☆☆☆ — direct advice, then four stacked descriptions of a single goal
Why this text
Unlike the poems just before it, Puṇṇa's verse is neither a self-declaration nor third-person praise, but direct advice: ‘associate only with the virtuous’. What follows describes the goal such companionship leads to in four stacked terms — great, profound, hard to see, subtle — before the diligent and clear-seeing wise are said to reach it.
Reading guide
Advice, not description or declaration
Where the previous three poems in this chapter described a hut, a calm mind, or wisdom's effect, this verse opens with a direct imperative: ‘associate only with the virtuous, the astute ones who see the goal’ — practical instruction rather than a portrait or a confession.
A goal described four ways before it is reached
Before saying anyone attains it, the verse piles up four descriptions of the goal itself: ‘great and profound’, ‘hard to see’, ‘subtle’, and ‘fine’ — only then does it say the wise, diligent and clear-seeing, reach it.
A named identity, per Sujato's note
Sujato's note identifies this Puṇṇa as the monk famous for his conversation with Sāriputta recorded at MN 24 — one of very few poems in this opening chapter whose speaker is cross-referenced to a specific text elsewhere in the canon.
Key terms
sabbhi — “with the good” or “with the virtuous” — the companionship this verse opens by recommending.
paṇḍita — “wise” or “astute” — describing those worth associating with, and later those who reach the goal.
attha — “goal” or “meaning” — the object described in four stacked terms across this verse's middle lines.
appamatta — “diligent” or “heedful” — one of two qualities, alongside clear sight, credited with reaching that goal.
vicakkhaṇa — “clear-seeing” or “discerning” — paired with diligence in the verse's closing line.
The text
The text in full: one verse, with its closing attribution. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
§1Associate only with the virtuous, the astute ones who see the goal. The wise ones, diligent and clear-seeing, realize the goal so great and profound, hard to see, subtle, and fine.
§2That is how this verse was recited by the senior venerable Puṇṇa son of Mantāṇī.
· · ·
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
How does this verse open?
Correct: B. Practical instruction, not description or declaration.
Question 2 of 10
How many descriptive terms does the verse stack up for the goal, before saying anyone reaches it?
Correct: C. Great, profound, hard to see, and subtle.
Question 3 of 10
According to the verse, who reaches this goal?
Correct: C. Named directly in the verse's closing lines.
Question 4 of 10
According to Sujato's note, what is this particular Puṇṇa famous for?
Correct: B. A cross-reference to another canonical text.
Question 5 of 10
What does 'sabbhi' mean in this verse's opening line?
Correct: D. The companionship this verse recommends from its first word.
Question 6 of 10
How does this verse's form compare to the three poems just before it?
Correct: A. A third distinct register within this chapter's first four poems.
Question 7 of 10
What two qualities does the verse credit with reaching the goal?
Correct: C. Named together in the verse's closing line.
Question 8 of 10
Is the goal in this verse described as easy or difficult to perceive?
Correct: B. Two of the four stacked descriptive terms.
Question 9 of 10
What closes this verse?
Correct: A. The same closing formula used across the collection.
Question 10 of 10
How long is this verse compared to most others in this chapter?
Correct: D. One of the chapter's slightly longer entries.
