At one time the Buddha was staying near Āḷavī, at Āḷavī’s premier shrine. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants:

“Mendicants, you should remember the householder Hatthaka of Āḷavī as someone who has seven amazing and incredible qualities. What seven? He’s faithful, ethical, conscientious, prudent, learned, generous, and wise. You should remember the householder Hatthaka of Āḷavī as someone who possesses these seven amazing and incredible qualities.”

That is what the Buddha said. When he had spoken, the Holy One rose from his seat and entered his dwelling.

Then a certain mendicant robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to the home of the householder Hatthaka of Āḷavī, where he sat down on the seat spread out. Then Hatthaka went up to that mendicant, bowed, and sat down to one side. The mendicant said to Hatthaka:

“Respectable sir, the Buddha declared that you have seven amazing and incredible qualities. What seven? He said that you’re faithful, ethical, conscientious, prudent, learned, generous, and wise. The Buddha declared that you possess these seven amazing and incredible qualities.”

“But sir, I trust that no white-clothed lay people were present?”