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Anguttara Nikāya 
The Numerical Discourses  
 
Atthakanipāta  
(Book of the Eights) 
 
AN 8.23-24 
 
Gahapati Vagga 
(The Section on Householders) 
 
Paṭhama & Dutiya Hatthaka Sutta  
“Hatthaka of Ālavi – Parts 1 & 2”  
 
Translated by Bhikkhu Candana 
 
Copyright © Bhikkhu Candana 2023, 2025 
 
Once, while The Blessed One was staying at the Aggālava shrine in Ālavi, He addressed 
the Bhikkhus thus:  
“Bhikkhus, you must remember and always bring to mind how the householder Hatthaka of 
Ālavi is endowed with seven wonderful and amazing qualities. And what are these seven?”  
“Remember, Bhikkhus, that Hatthaka of Ālavi possesses faith; he is of a virtuous character; he 
possesses wise moral shame; he possesses wise moral consideration; he understands and is 
learned in The Dhamma; he is generous; and he is wise. In this way, Bhikkhus, you must 
remember and always bring to mind how the householder Hatthaka of Ālavi is endowed with 
these seven wonderful and amazing qualities.” 
Having said this, The Tathagata arose from His seat and went back to His dwelling in the 
monastery.  
Then, having put on his robes while taking his bowl and outer robe, a certain Bhikkhu went and 
paid a visit to the householder Hatthaka of Ālavi and sat on the prepared seat. By approaching 
that Bhikkhu, the householder Hatthaka of Ālavi paid homage to him with clasped hands and sat 
to one side. Then, that Bhikkhu addressed Hatthaka of Ālavi thus:  
“Friend, The Blessed One has declared that you are endowed with seven wonderful and amazing 
qualities. What seven? Here, householder, The Blessed One stated:

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“Remember, Bhikkhus, that Hatthaka of Ālavi possesses faith; he is of a virtuous character; he 
possesses wise moral shame; he possesses wise moral consideration; he understands and is 
learned in The Dhamma; he is generous; and he is wise. In this way, Bhikkhus, you must 
remember and always bring to mind how the householder Hatthaka of Ālavi is endowed with 
these seven wonderful and amazing qualities.” 
Then, Hatthaka of Ālavi said: 
“Bhante, were there any other white-robed lay disciples there, when The Blessed One spoke 
these words?” 
“No, friend, there were no other white-robed lay disciples there, when The Blessed One spoke 
these words.” 
“Ah, that is good to know, Bhante, that there were no other white-robed lay disciples there, when 
The Blessed One spoke these words!”  
Then, after accepting the food offered at the home of the householder Hatthaka of Ālavi, that 
Bhikkhu rose from his seat and went on his way. And once the mealtime was over, the Bhikkhu 
approached The Blessed One, and after paying homage to The Teacher, he sat to one side and 
related the entire conversation that took place between himself and the householder Hatthaka of 
Ālavi.  
In response, The Blessed One said this:  
“Good, good, Bhikkhu! That clansman is contented internally, and is of fewness of desires, as he 
does not wish others to know about his wholesome qualities. Therefore, Bhikkhu, you must 
remember and always bring to mind how the householder Hatthaka of Ālavi is, in fact, endowed 
with eight wonderful and amazing qualities, not seven, the last of these eight being the fewness 
of his desires.” 
 
Dutiya Hatthaka Sutta (Hatthaka of Ālavi – Part 2) 
 
At one time, The Blessed One was staying at the Aggālava shrine in Ālavi, when 
Hatthaka of Ālavi, together with five hundred lay disciples, approached The Blessed One and 
after paying homage to The Teacher, they all sat to one side. Then, The Blessed One said to 
Hatthaka of Ālavi:  
“Hatthaka, you have a great number of followers accompanying you. Hatthaka, how did you 
come to have a great number of followers to accompany you?” 
“Bhante, it is by practicing these four methods of relatedness that take into account the 
consideration and love for others, as taught by The Blessed One.

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“Bhante, when I know the method to show consideration and love to a particular person through 
the offering of gifts, then I offer them gifts.  
“When I know the method to show consideration and love to a particular person through kind 
and sweet words, then I offer them kind and sweet words.  
“When I know the method to show consideration and love to a particular person through 
assisting and taking care of them, then I offer them my assistance as I take care of them.  
“When I know the method to show consideration and love to a particular person through 
impartiality that is wise and perceptive, then I offer them my impartiality that is wise and 
perceptive.  
“In addition, Bhante, there is also the fact that I am quite rich and come from a very wealthy 
family. Therefore, I think they would not be so eager to hear the words of someone who is 
destitute.” 
“Sadhu, Hatthaka! Excellent! You have wisely gathered this great number of followers that are 
accompanying you. For, in the past, if anyone had gathered a great number of followers to 
accompany them, they did so by practicing those very four methods of relatedness that take into 
account the consideration and love for others. So too in the future, if anyone would gather a great 
number of followers to accompany them, they would do so by practicing these four methods of 
relatedness that take into account the consideration and love for others. And in the present too, if 
anyone gathers a great number of followers to accompany them, they do so by practicing these 
four methods of relatedness that take into account the consideration and love for others.” 
Then, after The Blessed One had instructed, encouraged, uplifted, and gladdened the hearts of 
Hatthaka of Ālavi and his companions with a Talk on The Dhamma, Hatthaka of Ālavi along 
with his followers arose from their seats, worshipped and circumambulated The Blessed One 
three times, and then went away. Soon after Hatthaka of Ālavi had taken his leave, The Blessed 
One addressed the Bhikkhus thus:  
“Bhikkhus, you must remember and always bring to mind how the householder Hatthaka of 
Ālavi is endowed with eight wonderful and amazing qualities. And what are these eight?”  
“Remember, Bhikkhus, that Hatthaka of Ālavi possesses faith; he is of a virtuous character; he 
possesses wise moral shame; he possesses wise moral consideration; he understands and is 
learned in The Dhamma; he is generous; he is wise; and his heart is ruled by fewness of desires. 
In this way, Bhikkhus, you must remember and always bring to mind how the householder 
Hatthaka of Ālavi is endowed with these eight wonderful and amazing qualities.” 
 
 
Sādhu 
 
Sādhu 
 
Sādhu
