Desa Kaṇḍa — The Section on Countries and Places of Dwelling

81. A Place Lacking Five Things Is Not Fit to Live In

A wealthy person represents access to capital, trade, and economic activity. A learned scholar provides education, wisdom, and guidance in the Dhamma. A king represents law, security, and social order. A river ensures the essential supply of water for drinking, farming, and cleanliness. A physician provides care and treatment for illness. To lack any one of these is a serious deficiency, but to lack all five renders a place unfit for a thriving life.

82. A Place Without Respect, Joy, and Knowledge

One should not live where there is no respect for people, for this leads to conflict and indignity. The absence of shared joy indicates a gloomy, oppressive atmosphere. Having no kinsmen or friends means lacking social support and a sense of belonging. Most importantly, a place where no knowledge can be gained—whether practical, worldly, or spiritual—obstructs growth and purpose. A land devoid of these four things is a cultural and spiritual desert, unworthy even of a brief stay.

83. A Place That Exalts the Wicked and Scorns the Good

One should not live where disrespect is widespread, for it erodes social harmony. Moreover, the verse condemns a place where the good and virtuous are belittled or looked down upon, indicating a society that rejects moral worth. Conversely, it warns against a place where the wicked, the foolish, or the unprincipled are instead honored and esteemed. This is a society with inverted values, rewarding evil over good. Such a place is not fit for one who seeks a righteous life.

84. The Noble Choose Their Place; the Base Are Imprisoned by Theirs

The lion, the good person, and the elephant—symbols of strength, dignity, and wisdom—move on with purpose and independence, choosing and determining their own place. In contrast, the crow, the base person, and the ordinary beast die or are imprisoned by their circumstances, with no power to bargain; they simply end up there and remain confined. The noble actively choose and shape their environment, while the lowly are defined and confined by theirs.

85. Where Good and Wicked Are Not Distinguished, the Virtuous Do Not Stay

A place that honors the lazy equally with the diligent, and the brave equally with the cowardly, shows a failure to distinguish valuable qualities from worthless ones. When effort goes unrewarded and wickedness goes unblamed, a distorted system of incentives arises, undermining excellence and integrity. The virtuous therefore seek out a community where goodness is recognized and moral boundaries are clear, for these conditions are essential to growth and a just society.

86. Move One Foot While Standing Firm on the Other

The image of standing firm on one foot while moving the other symbolizes a person who is steady, grounded, and not easily swayed. The wise do not abandon their present position—whether a dwelling, a livelihood, or a stage of life—merely on the speculation that something better exists. This is a principle of prudent management, warning against restlessness that would trade a secure foothold for an uncertain hope.

87. Teeth, Hair, and Nails, Once Out of Place, Are Worthless

Teeth, hair, and nails are useful and appear beautiful only when in their natural place on the body; once they fall out, they become worthless and repugnant. In the same way, a person's rightful position or place—the duties and roles in which his skills and virtues bear fruit—is where he finds meaning and distinction. The wise, understanding this, do not lightly abandon their place, knowing that to uproot oneself without cause is like a strand of hair that loses its beauty and usefulness once cut off. (This verse corresponds to Mahārahanīti, verse 78.)