Ekaṃ samayaṃ bhagavā sakkesu viharati kapilavatthusmiṃ nigrodhārāme. Atha kho mahānāmo sakko yena bhagavā ten·upasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṃ abhivādetvā ekam·antaṃ nisīdi. Ekam·antaṃ nisinno kho mahānāmo sakko bhagavantaṃ etad·avoca:

On one occasion, the Bhagavā was dwelling among the Sakyans, in Kapilavatthu, in Nigrodha's park. Then Mahānāma the Sakya approached the Bhagavā; having approached the Bhagavā, having paid homage to him, he sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, Mahānāma the Sakya said to the Bhagavā:

– Kittāvatā nu kho, bhante, upāsako hotī ti?

– In what way, Bhante, is one a lay disciple?

– Yato kho, mahānāma, buddhaṃ saraṇaṃ gato hoti, dhammaṃ saraṇaṃ gato hoti, saṅghaṃ saraṇaṃ gato hoti: ettāvatā kho, mahānāma, upāsako hotī ti.

– If one, Mahānāma, has gone in refuge to the Buddha, has gone in refuge to the Dhamma, has gone in refuge to the Sangha: it is in this way, Mahānāma, that one is a lay disciple.

– Kittāvatā pana, bhante, upāsako sīla·sampanno hotī ti?

– And in what way, Bhante, is a lay disciple endowed with virtue?

– Yato kho, mahānāma, upāsako pāṇ·ātipātā paṭivirato hoti, adinn·ādānā paṭivirato hoti, kāmesu·micchā·cārā paṭivirato hoti, musā·vādā paṭivirato hoti, surā·meraya·majja·p-pamāda·ṭ·ṭhānā paṭivirato hoti: ettāvatā kho, mahānāma, upāsako sīla·sampanno hotī ti.

– If a lay disciple, Mahānāma, abstains from destroying life, abstains from taking what is not given, abstains from misconduct for the sake of sensuality, abstains from speaking falsely, abstains from liquors, spirits and intoxicants that cause carelessness: it is in this way, Mahānāma, that a lay disciple is endowed with virtue.

– Kittāvatā pana, bhante, upāsako saddhā·sampanno hotī ti?

– And in what way, Bhante, is a lay disciple endowed with conviction?

– Idha, mahānāma, upāsako saddho hoti, saddahati tathāgatassa bodhiṃ: 'itipi so bhagavā arahaṃ sammā·sambuddho, vijjā·caraṇa·sampanno, sugato, loka·vidū, anuttaro purisa·damma·sārathi, satthā deva·manussānaṃ, buddho bhagavā ti.' Ettāvatā kho, mahānāma, upāsako saddhā·sampanno hotī ti.

– Here, Mahānāma, a lay disciple has conviction, he is convinced of the Tathāgata's full awakening: surely, the Bhagavā is an arahant, rightly and fully awakened, accomplished in knowledge and [good] conduct, faring well, knowing the world, the unsurpassed leader of persons to be tamed, teacher of devas and humans, a Buddha, a Bhagavā: it is in this way, Mahānāma, that a lay disciple is endowed with conviction.

– Kittāvatā pana, bhante, upāsako cāga·sampanno hotī ti?

– And in what way, Bhante, is a lay disciple endowed with generosity?

– Idha, mahānāma, upāsako vigata·mala·maccherena cetasā agāraṃ ajjhāvasati mutta·cāgo payatapāṇi vossagga·rato yāca·yogo dāna·saṃvibhāga·rato: ettāvatā kho, mahānāma, upāsako cāga·sampanno hotī ti.

– Here, Mahānāma, a lay disciple dwells at home with a mind devoid of the stain of stinginess, freely generous, with giving hands, delighting in giving up, open to requests, delighting in the distribution of donations: it is in this way, Mahānāma, that a lay disciple is endowed with generosity.

– Kittāvatā pana, bhante, upāsako paññā·sampanno hotī ti?

– And in what way, Bhante, is a lay disciple endowed with discernment?

– Idha, mahānāma, upāsako paññavā hoti uday·attha·gāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammā dukkha·k·khaya·gāminiyā: ettāvatā kho, mahānāma, upāsako paññā·sampanno hotī ti.

– Here, Mahānāma, a lay disciple is wise, endowed with a discernment directed to arising and passing away, which is noble, penetrating, directed to the right destruction of suffering: it is in this way, Mahānāma, that a lay disciple is endowed with discernment.