AN 2.32: Gratitude and Ingratitude (The Ground of a Good Person)

In this sutta, the Buddha draws a stark contrast between the character of a “bad person” (असप्पुरिस - asappurisa) and a “good person” (सप्पुरिस - sappurisa), defining their entire “ground” or foundation based on a single quality: gratitude.

1. The Ground of a Bad Person

The defining feature of a bad person is their lack of gratitude for what has been done for them.

Pali

“कतमा च, भिक्खवे, असप्पुरिसभूमि? असप्पुरिसो, भिक्खवे, अकतञ्ञू होति अकतवेदी। असब्भि हेतं, भिक्खवे, उपञ्ञातं यदिदं अकतञ्ञुता अकतवेदिता। केवला एसा, भिक्खवे, असप्पुरिसभूमि यदिदं अकतञ्ञुता अकतवेदिता।”

Sanskrit Chaya

“कतमा च भिक्षवोऽसत्पुरुषभूमिः? असत्पुरुषो भिक्षवोऽकृतज्ञो भवत्यकृतवेदी। असद्भिर्हि तद् भिक्षव उपज्ञातं यदेतदकृतज्ञता अकृतवेदिता। केवलेयं भिक्षवोऽसत्पुरुषभूमिर्यदेतदकृतज्ञता अकृतवेदिता।”

“And what, monks, is the ground of a bad person? A bad person, monks, is ungrateful and unthankful. This is what is known by bad people: ingratitude and unthankfulness. The entire ground of a bad person is just this: ingratitude and unthankfulness.”

2. The Ground of a Good Person

Conversely, the defining feature of a good, noble person is their recognition of and thankfulness for the good deeds of others.

Pali

“सप्पुरिसो च खो, भिक्खवे, कतञ्ञू होति कतवेदी। सब्भि हेतं, भिक्खवे, उपञ्ञातं यदिदं कतञ्ञुता कतवेदिता। केवला एसा, भिक्खवे, सप्पुरिसभूमि यदिदं कतञ्ञुता कतवेदिता”ति।”

Sanskrit Chaya

“सत्पुरुषश्च खलु भिक्षवः कृतज्ञो भवति कृतवेदी। सद्भिर्हि तद् भिक्षव उपज्ञातं यदेतत् कृतज्ञता कृतवेदिता। केवलेयं भिक्षवः सत्पुरुषभूमिर्यदेतत् कृतज्ञता कृतवेदिता इति।”

“But a good person, monks, is grateful and thankful. This is what is known by good people: gratitude and thankfulness. The entire ground of a good person is just this: gratitude and thankfulness.”

Summary

Character / Ground	Characteristic (English)	Pali	Sanskrit Chaya
The Bad Person Pali: असप्पुरिसभूमि (asappurisabhūmi) Skt: असत्पुरुषभूमि (asatpuruṣabhūmi)	Ungrateful & Unthankful	अकतञ्ञू अकतवेदी (akataññū akatavedī)	अकृतज्ञः अकृतवेदी (akṛtajñaḥ akṛtavedī)
The Good Person Pali: सप्पुरिसभूमि (sappurisabhūmi) Skt: सत्पुरुषभूमि (satpuruṣabhūmi)	Grateful & Thankful	कतञ्ञू कतवेदी (kataññū katavedī)	कृतज्ञः कृतवेदी (kṛtajñaḥ kṛtavedī)