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# AN 5:165 · On Asking Questions (Pañhapucchā Sutta)
- URL: https://www.journal.ninthheaven.co/civilisation/trad-buddhism/an-5-165/
- Published: 2026-06-01T04:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-07-13T17:06:25.000Z
- Description: Aṅguttara Nikāya · AN 5:165. Translated by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu.
- Author: Ninth Heaven Literature & Arts Association (NHLAA)
- Tags: Buddhism, Sutta Piṭaka, Text, Indian, The Buddha, Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu, Aṅguttara Nikāya, Discourse, Pali, Early Buddhist, Library, #Import 2026-07-06 03:33

Then Ven. Sāriputta addressed the monks: “Friend monks.”

“Yes, friend,” the monks responded to him.

Ven. Sāriputta said: “All those who ask questions of another do so from any one of five motivations. Which five?

“One asks a question of another through stupidity & bewilderment. One asks a question of another through evil desires & overwhelmed with greed. One asks a question of another through contempt. One asks a question of another when desiring knowledge. Or one asks a question with this thought,[1](https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/AN/AN5%5F165.html?ref=journal.ninthheaven.co) ‘If, when asked, he answers correctly, well & good. If not, then I will answer correctly (for him).’

“All those who ask questions of another do so from any one of these five motivations. And as for me, when I ask a question of another, it’s with this thought: ‘If, when asked, he answers correctly, well & good. If not, then I will answer correctly (for him).’

Note

1\. Reading *panevaṁ-citto* with the Thai edition. The PTS reading—*pakuppanto citto,* “with a provoked heart”—does not fit the context at all.

See also: [AN 3:68](https://www.journal.ninthheaven.co/civilisation/trad-buddhism/an-3-68/); [AN 4:42](https://www.journal.ninthheaven.co/civilisation/trad-buddhism/an-4-42/)

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*Translated by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu. © 2014 / rev. 2017 Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu — released under the [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/?ref=journal.ninthheaven.co) licence, for free distribution only. Source: [dhammatalks.org](https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/AN/AN5%5F165.html?ref=journal.ninthheaven.co) (Metta Forest Monastery).*