[Verse 1]
Do not kill, do not steal, do not harm another
Do not speak lies, do not fall into heedlessness
Leave evil behind, begin within the heart
Walk upon the Dhamma, steady from the start
[Verse 2]
When goodness grows, don't keep it for yourself
Let others find the path, let wisdom be their wealth
With faith and conscience, mindfulness and care
With learning and wisdom, bring goodness everywhere
[Pre-Chorus]
The harmful one does harm and leads others astray
The good one does good and shows another way
The difference is found in what we choose to do
The Dhamma shines brightly, making our hearts true
[Chorus]
Sappurisa Vagga, teach my heart to be good
Let go of greed and anger, as a wise person should
Right speech, right action, right livelihood we find
Right view and right intention, bringing peace of mind
[Verse 3]
Do not speak harsh words, do not divide the heart
Do not spread falsehood and tear the world apart
A single word may change another's life
So speak with truth and kindness, not with anger or strife
[Verse 4]
Eight noble pathways guide us through the night
Right view, right intention, making life upright
Right speech, right action, right livelihood too
Right effort, mindfulness, concentration guiding you
[Bridge]
Doing good ourselves protects the heart within
Helping others do good lets goodness also win
From one heart to another, from one life to many
The Dhamma grows brighter when our hearts are steady
[Final Chorus]
Sappurisa Vagga, teach my heart to be good
Let go of greed and anger, as a wise person should
Do good by ourselves and inspire others too
Let the light of Dhamma make the whole world new
[Outro]
A good life is more than simply avoiding wrong
It is sharing wisdom, helping others grow strong
One heart filled with Dhamma can bring peace to another
One person walking wisely can inspire the world.
Sappurisa Vagga: The Measure of a Good Person Is Not Only Personal Conduct but Also Positive Influence on Others
Teachings found in the Sappurisa Vagga, within the section not arranged as a Paṇṇāsaka of the Aṅguttara Nikāya, offer a systematic Buddhist framework for understanding different levels of human conduct. The Buddha distinguishes four categories: the bad person, the worse-than-bad person, the good person, and the better-than-good person.
The teaching begins with basic ethical conduct. A person who kills living beings, steals, engages in sexual misconduct, lies, and consumes intoxicants that lead to heedlessness is described as an “asappurisa,” or an unworthy person. A person who commits such actions personally and also encourages others to do the same is regarded as worse, because the harmful behavior extends beyond the individual.
In contrast, a “sappurisa,” or good person, refrains from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, false speech, and intoxicants. A person who not only follows these principles personally but also encourages others to refrain from harmful behavior is described as a person who is greater than an ordinary good person.
The teaching then moves from outward conduct to inner qualities. Faith, moral shame, moral fear, learning, energy, mindfulness, and wisdom are presented as important qualities of a good person. A person who lacks these qualities is considered unworthy, while one who possesses them is considered good. The higher level is reached when a person develops these qualities personally and encourages others to cultivate them as well.
Speech is another important dimension. The teaching identifies false, divisive, harsh, and frivolous speech as forms of harmful conduct. A good person refrains from such speech, while a person of higher virtue also encourages others to abandon harmful forms of communication.
The teaching also emphasizes freedom from greed, hostility, and wrong view. A person dominated by greed, ill will, and wrong understanding is described as unworthy. In contrast, a person who is free from greed, free from hostility, and established in right view is described as good. The higher standard includes helping others develop these qualities as well.
The framework is further connected with the Noble Eightfold Path: right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration. The teaching contrasts these wholesome qualities with their wrong counterparts and identifies the cultivation of the wholesome path as characteristic of a good person.
For contemporary society, this teaching carries an especially relevant message. Ethical responsibility does not end with personal behavior. Every person also has the potential to influence others. In the age of social media, a single message can reach thousands or millions of people. Therefore, responsible communication should be evaluated not only by whether it benefits the speaker, but also by whether it promotes truth, wisdom, compassion, and wholesome conduct.
The central progression of the Sappurisa Vagga can therefore be expressed as:
Refrain from evil → cultivate goodness → develop inner virtues → establish right view → encourage others to live well.
The teaching presents goodness as an active process of personal development and social responsibility. A truly admirable person is not merely someone who avoids wrongdoing, but someone who develops virtue, mindfulness, wisdom, and right understanding—and becomes a positive influence on others.
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